Dear TZ - My home isn't getting any showings! Help!

Dear TZ,

My house has been on the market for a few weeks but we've had very few showings. How can I coax people to come see my house?

- Allison Allure

Hi Allison,

Probably you've placed a sign on your front lawn. Buyers won't bother taking down your address or phone number unless the house looks appealing from the street. Here are some things you can do to help make the home more attractive to buyers.

• Your front yard must be immaculately landscaped. The lawn must be cut and trimmed neatly, preferably on the diagonal.
• In autumn, leaves must be removed daily. In winter, snow and ice must be removed daily. 
• Sweep the sidewalks and pathways.
• Your front yard plantings should be neat and attractive. No weeds. No dead branches. New mulch.
• The border between your plantings and lawn must be neat.
• Your front porch must be swept daily. 
• Put out a new colorful welcome mat.
• Paint your front door so it looks clean and bright. A new door is probably worth your investment. Nationally, new front doors recoup 102 percent of their cost in market value.
• Wash the windows in the front of the house. 
• Be sure that there are neat and clean window treatments in the windows. 
• The light fixtures in the front of your house must be in working condition and should provide soft lighting to all walkways and stairs without causing a glare. Take down the fixture and clean it, or replace it.
• Be sure your house number is easily visible.
• Plant yellow flowers. The color yellow sells.
• Buy new hardware for the front door, including a new mailbox.
• Power wash the front of the house to remove dirt.
• Maintain a neat and clean place for your garbage cans, preferably out of view on the side of the house.

Good luck!

-          TZ