The front entrance, including the front door, wooden stairs, the porch, and the windows nearby, are the gateway from the outside to the inside.

Since there will be a moment while the prospective clients - or the real estate agent - knock on the door, or open it, there will be a moment where they pause right in the entry, and will likely get a very close-up, very detailed impression of your home.

These are also an important focal point when it comes to curb appeal, so be certain that they're in tip-top shape. This is where the future owners, as well as all of their guests will enter their new home. It will be important to the eye and to the heart.

The door itself must look sharp. If needed, a fresh coat of paint can make all the difference to a pleasant, inviting, and well-maintained home.

Be certain that the hardware - such as the doorknob, the latch, the hinges, etc - are all freshly painted or polished. It gives an extra level of overall attractiveness.

Other useful steps to improve the entryway include:

A freshly painted/replaced mailbox
Bright, functioning porch lights
A new (un-tattered) welcome mat

If you have a doorbell, make sure that it is working, or remove it altogether. As with the front light, one of the things that can create the worst impression for your home is to have basic elements not functioning properly. This will make the prospective buyer wonder what else has not been your top priority for maintenance.
The front entrance, including the front door, the porch, and the windows nearby, are the gateway from the outside to the inside.

Exterior Cleaning

After the entrance improvements have been made, have a look at the overall building.

Is the siding clean?
Are the windows clean?
Are the gutters clean from the outside?
Are corners and indents free of spider webs and vines?
Is the walkway clean enough that it has a defined edge, and doesn't have mud or other dirt creeping over the sides or across the middle?
How about the stairs?

Remember, your goal for the best possible curb appeal is a neat, clean, well maintained atmosphere. Take care of these different factors to clean up the atmosphere of your home.

All of these items can be easily performed in a few hours, and they'll make an enormous difference for selling your home.