Curb appeal, in a buyers market, it's an essential concept that sellers need to understand. Basically, it means making your home appealing from the curb and beyond. It means that the first view a person has of your home appeals to them. It's about making a great first impression.

So in order to achieve curb appeal, start at the curb. If you've got a fence, repair and paint it unless it's already been done very recently. Consider power-washing your driveway and walk-way to get them looking shiny and new. If they are really old and have cracks or chips, it might even be time to lay new cement. There are a lot of neat things people are doing with cement these days, adding colors and creating patterns, or combining it with areas of paving stones. Done tastefully, this kind of thing can add a bit of glamor to your home, giving a great first impression. But if you've got a complicated pattern in mind, be sure to consult a professional, both for technical and aesthetic advice.

Take a close look at your yard and landscaping to assess what needs doing. Mow the lawn, and feed it a natural fertilizer if it could use a little perking up. Keep the garden borders trimmed and the beds weeded. Prune any hedges or trees in the yard. Again, you may want to seek advice for pruning, even its just consulting a book. Done wrong, pruning can look awkward, and in extreme cases damage the tree or bush being pruned. But it isn't rocket science, and just doing a bit of research ahead of time will be enough.

Now, lets move on to the house itself. Are there steps that could use some attention? If so, give it to them. If the house could use some fresh paint, now is the time. In fact, a new paint job is one of the most rewarding investments for homeowners, making their home really look good enough to sell for what you're asking for it. If the paint isn't too bad, a simple touch-up in a matching color might be enough. Maybe just freshening up the trim paint in an up-to-date color will be enough to make your home "pop".

The next focus would be the front door. If there's a squeaky hinge, you'd better grease it. Same goes for a loose or sticky door knob. If a buyer comes for a viewing and is confronted right away with something that needs fixing, their view becomes obscured. The first impression given was that the home needs repairs, and everything will then be seen through that lens. Do whatever you can to not give that impression.

Once inside, make sure the smell that confronts visitors is clean and neutral. A strong air freshener smell can be just as offensive as pet or smoking odor. Having the carpets and furniture cleaned, and either washing or painting the interior walls and ceilings will go a long way towards keeping the home smelling fresh.

Also, turn all the lights on in the house when it's being shown. A dreary home is a turn-off. Open all the curtains and have the windows washed so they let in as much natural light as possible. Make sure all your light fixtures are working, even those in closets or out of the way places. Someone may want to take a closer look at the area, and they should be able to easily do so.

Of course, you'll have cleaned your whole house and have it looking its best, but in the bathroom and kitchen you want to really go the extra distance. Be sure your counters aren't cluttered with appliances. A buyer wants to see the house, not your handy new gadget. But then again, don't toss everything you have into the spare-room, as seeing the storage space is also important to buyers. That means cleaning the garage and spare-room are just as important as the rest of the house.

When there is a surplus of homes on the market, you need to make your home stand out. Begin by creating a positive first impression, and your home will sell in no time.