Home exterior expert Mike Hoffman working on the lawn.

If you're selling any home, clean up and update the exterior. After all, if potential buyers don't like what they see outside, they may never see what the inside has to offer.

Expert: Mike Hoffman, Landscape Expert

Some solutions:

• Paint the front door red to draw the eye to the house. In Feng Shui, a red door brings good luck and is an inviting contrast to neutral house colors.
  
• Remove the storm door.
  
• Add lighting to the trees and the front of the home.
  
• Replace the mailbox with a red mailbox to tie in with the door. The mailbox is the first place people look when going to the home. Place rocks in the bottom of the hole for drainage, to help keep the wood pole from rotting.
  
• The U.S. Postal Service requires the bottom of the box to be 42-48 inches above the ground.
  
• Show an inch of soil on the edge of the bed when mulching. This will help highlight the edge of the lawn better.
  
• Cutting grass short will help keep leaves out of the yard. They'll be more likely to blow off.

Product Information

Mail Box, $95, Walpole fence
Morning Star post, $190, Walpole fence
Holly bush, $7, Home Depot