1. Tackle Maintenance Details:
         Mow the lawn, trim the borders, and edge the driveway and walks. Every line should be straight and every edge crisp. Refresh the mulch. Power wash the siding, and scrub the soffits and eaves. Wash the windows, and polish every reflective surface until it gleams.
 Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images 

2.  Clean the Walks and Driveway:
      Clean and patch the sidewalks, steps and driveway.   Clean each  surface, then patch small holes and fill any cracks. If you’re feeling creative, define the edges of a sidewalk or driveway with brick.

                                                                                                                                 Kim  Gunkel/iStock Photo 

3. Add Trees or Planting Beds:
               Mature trees in a well-landscaped yard add significant value to a home, but there may be an even better reason to dig         this project. Shading a home’s windows and walls can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, according to the American Public Power Association. Even small trees provide a little shade, and there’s no timelike the present to get them growing.
  

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4. Paint or Replace the Front Door:
                If the front door is in good shape, remove the hardware, sand it thoroughly, and apply two coats of exterior enamel in a color that contrasts with or complements the siding. Or, replace the whole thing. In “Remodeling” magazine’s “2010-11 Cost vs. Value” report, replacing a steel entry door recouped more money upon resale than any other project – 102.1 percent of the cost.
  Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images 

5.  Hang Shutters:
          Few weekend projects change a house faster than adding shutters. Well-placed shutters define windows and add dimension and color. When hanging wood shutters, use shims to create at least a 3/8 inch gap between the shutter and the siding. Without this air space, moisture trapped behind the shutter may damage the wood.
 Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images

6.  Upgrade Exterior Lighting:
            Good lighting warms the night and makes your home sparkle. Try lining awalkway with solar landscape lights, uplighting a tree or spotlighting an architectural feature. Or, swap out a recessed spot or small pendant with an impressive chandelier. Any of these projects can be accomplished safely as long as you turn off the powerand test to confirm the power is off before handling circuit wires.
  Dana Hoff/Getty Images 

7.  Renew Home Hardware:
                Beauty lies in the details, especially when it comes to your home's hardware.   Take a weekend to update items like the front door knocker, knob and address numbers. Try finding hardware that complements your home's architecture and colors. Choose timeless items that will maintain their patina, or at least weather in an elegant way that you like.
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8.  Makeover Your Mailbox:
              Make your mailbox beautiful and move beyond its utility status with a makeover. A fresh coat of paint, new flag and fresh set of numbers to provide a much needed update to an often ignored aspect of your home's curb appeal. Plant flowers at the base of the mailbox stand to provide a bloom of color that will make your home even more inviting to visit.
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You never have a chance to make a Second 1st Impression!
  How is yours looking?

Brenda Hughes 

 Home Staging & Re-Design Specialist, Southern IN, Northern KY

I am your Home Staging & Re-Design Professional for the Tri-State area.