Prospective homeowners are hypercritical. Ensure that you do everything you can to make the best impression from their first visit to (hopefully) their follow-up visits.

The first impression you get when a buyer is looking for a new home comes from the outside of your home. If the outside isn't the right shape, size, or even color, a buyer usually won't look any closer; however, if you meet the style criteria, you can still make a few changes outside to further entice a prospective buyer into your home.

1. Make sure your driveway is clean. If it's concrete, you should especially ensure you wash off oil and dirt. New sealer on asphalt makes a huge impact on an older drive. Ensure any nearby flowers or grass is properly edged for a crisp, clean appearance.

2. Do some minor landscaping. You don't need to do anything too expensive, but you can add color with seasonal annuals, pull weeds, add new mulch, cut back overgrown bushes, and trim trees that hang over the home. Above all else, keep your lawn mown. No prospective homebuyer wants to wade through knee-high grass to view a home.

3. Ensure your lighting works. If your home is viewed on a rainy day or in the evening, the outside lighting should be on. If you have two bulbs in a fixture, replace them both to ensure they emit even light. (Save the other bulbs if they still function to use elsewhere.)

Once the prospective buyer enters your home, ensure the area is clean, neat, and inviting. While most agents bring buyers in the front door, they will surely visit the back, side, deck, and garage areas.

4. Clean all entry doors. From shining kick plates and washing sliding-glass doors to pulling down cobwebs and sweeping out dirt, dust, and leaves, taking the time to clean up entries is important. Old wet newspapers, muddy mats, and dead bugs are just a few things that will make a buyer not want to enter your home. If the door won't come clean, consider a quick coat of paint to brighten the appearance.

5. Make sure your garage is clutter free. Garages tend to get the worst of our "stuff." If yours has slowly accumulated odds and ends over the years, take the time to clean it out. Organize what you want to keep and make the most of the storage space while leaving plenty of open shelf space.

When the prospective buyer gets into your home, now is the time to shine. One-time easy updates, weekly thorough cleanings, and daily spot cleaning will keep your home ready for its new owner's first visit.

6. Paint your home a neutral color. If your teenage girl loves pink walls, tone them down while your home is on the market. Choose a light, neutral color throughout the home that will allow prospective buyers to imagine how they would decorate. Touch up trim and fill in any gouges or small holes in walls as you go.

7. Replace bad flooring. Consider adding new low-cost carpet, peel-and-stick tiles, and area rugs to cover problem areas. Peel-and-stick tiles are more "realistic" than ever and are an easy do-it-yourself project. If stains or problems are surface only, have carpets cleaned and floors polished. Make sure you check under furniture, beds, and movable objects for dust bunnies and stains.

8. Empty attics and basements. Like the garage, these areas can accumulate "stuff." Purge, donate, and repurpose to get rid of old furniture and décor. Make sure they don't smell musty or mildew. If they do, air them out whenever you're home and add HEPA air cleaners or non-scented odor neutralizers.

9. Make windows sparkle. Clean windows thoroughly – get rid of every stray bit of paint, dust, or cobweb. Make sure they open easily. Add a small bit of petroleum jelly to sash channels to help them open easily.

10. Clean, Clean, Clean. Every week, take the time to clean your home top to bottom. Yes, it's time consuming, but two or three hours can mean the difference between a sale and not selling. Get up 30 minutes earlier on work days so you'll have time to vacuum when the family leaves. Buy mops with disposable cleaning pads to mop bathroom and kitchen floors. Spot clean refrigerator shelves and bathroom mirrors. Empty all trash cans and give the rooms a quick spritz of an odor-neutralizing spray. Put out fresh flowers if you can, or use essential oils to give the home a natural fragrance.

Follow these steps to help sell your own home fast!

About the Author:
Abby Johnson is the real estate blogger at Express Homebuyers. Serving the Washington, DC, Metro area, they can help you http://www.expresshomebuyers.com">sell your home fast if small fixes aren't enough. http://www.expresshomebuyers.com/contact-us.html">Contact Express Homebuyers now or call them at 1-800-SELL-2-US (1-800-735-5287) to get on your way to a fresh start.

(c) 2010 Abby Johnson