Your front yard and porch are the first things people see when they come to your home. When you are planning to sell, it's essential to present your home in its very best light and make a great first impression. Thankfully, you've already got something going for you: the beautiful Roanoke Valley spring! In addition, a few inexpensive upgrades can do wonders for the front of your home, giving it a warm and welcoming appeal for potential buyers and their agents.

1. Keep grass mowed, seed any bare spots, and clean up uneven lawn edges along walkways, shrubs, gardens and trees.

2. If you have a porch, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Repair any broken or weak steps before staining or painting them. Clean your lights to get rid of last year's accumulation of bugs, and replace the bulbs. Adding a few well-placed potted plants will add additional color and charm, especially if you go for some of the vividly colored annuals that are available right now.

3. If you have a flagstone walkway, be sure to pull all the weeds. Concrete walks should have any stains removed. Wooden walks should be pressure-washed. Edge the grass along any kind of walkway or path.

4. Your front door welcomes potential buyers to your home. If it's old and unattractive, replace it. If it needs repainting, choose a neutral color.

5. Put fresh mulch around shrubs, plants and trees. Add new plants to fill in sparse areas to be sure garden and shrub areas are well-balanced.

6. Purchase an attractive mat to put in front of the door. People will be coming in and out to look at the house, and a good mat will help keep floors clean.

7. If your home has an exposed slab foundation, invest in some faux rock, stone or brick panels to cover it. If that's out of your price range, a neutral coat of exterior paint designed for concrete can make a really big difference.

8. Place inexpensive lattice panel fences around three sides of your air conditioner to hide it from view.

9. Evaluate your mailbox. Has it seen better days? Replace it. Ugly and scarred mailboxes distract from the attractiveness of your home.

Let's talk more about getting your home ready for a spring sale! Call me at (540) 353-0123 or email me at sonya@sonyadickinson.com. Be sure to like my Facebook page.