Getting the highest possible offer, or even starting a bidding war, is a Fresno homeowner’s dream. Focusing on curb appeal is one way to ensure your home sells quickly. Curb appeal now starts online thanks to gorgeous pictures that your real estate agent will take when you list your Fresno home. Making sure your home looks great before you list is an essential part of bringing in the highest offer. Check out these six easy ways to increase your home’s curb appeal.

In real estate, an attractive face isn’t just memorable. An attractive exterior can also make or break a home sale. That is why crating a sparkling outside that beckons potential buyers inside is a must when preparing your Fresno CA home for sale.

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions are everything. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, around 63% of homebuyers will take time to view a home which they like online. When they visit a home, the first thing that they see is the home’s exterior—including the front yard, front entry, driveway and sidewalk. Hence, these parts of your home’s exterior should serve as a snapshot of what they will see when they enter your home.

Tackle the Landscaping

Knowing your house will soon be on the market will give you a fresh perspective of your landscaping. You’ll suddenly notice overgrown bushes, trees, and weeds that you always intended to get to. Take an afternoon to prune overgrown plants in the garden to create a trimmed look. Clear away weeds or dead and drooping plants. Spread some mulch around the plants that you keep to create a polished front lawn.

According to landscape designer Sheri Silver, except for the dead of winter, several types of annual plants are always in bloom throughout the year. If you want to boost your curb appeal, spruce up your porch containers, window boxes and front beds with colorful flowers for instant lift. She also advises not planting artificial flowers, as a few inches of dark mulch can brighten up the beds without screaming “fake.”

Focus on Lawn Care

Many California homes feature beautiful front lawns that help soften the look of a home. Proper lawn care is an essential part of creating the best curb appeal in the neighborhood. Have your lawn trimmed on a regular basis and take care of any weeds or eyesores that could be plaguing the grass. Consider mowing the lawn at an angle for a modern look. Edge the sides of the yard and blow away any trimmings that may hang around afterward. A well-manicured lawn shows you take pride in your home.

Power Wash Everything

Well, maybe not everything, but definitely those hardscaped areas around the home. Sunlight, weather, and years of outdoor wear can create a darkened film on the hard surfaces of the yard. Rent a power washer, or hire someone to power wash, to revive the color of your pavement and hardscaped areas. Power washing doesn’t take a lot of time and can create a massive difference in brightening the look of your home. Don’t forget to power wash the exterior of the house to clear away dirt and cobwebs.

Especially if you are a budget-conscious homeowner, pressure washing is one of the best ways to improve your curb appeal. Pressure washing the dirty siding and deck of your exterior, as well as your old driveway and faded sidewalks is one of the most cost-efficient yet effective ways to boost your curb appeal. Not owning a pressure washer won’t be a problem, as you can always rent one from your local home improvement store for the day.

Plant Native Blooms

One of the easiest ways to increase the beauty of your home is to plant colorful flowers. Native options, such as moonshine yarrow and California poppy, will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the yard. Potential buyers will also notice the bright colors of the flowers. If you don’t have time to plant a new flower bed, consider placing a few containers around the yard for an easy way to add color.

Update Light Fixtures

Get rid of old, worn-out lights around the front door and garage. Replace them with matching fixtures. Place some solar lights around your flower beds and along pathways leading to the house. A well-lit yard will draw attention to your landscaping and serve as an important safety feature.

Remember also to fling open your shutters, curtains and blinds, since homes that are brighter inside sell faster and open curtains look pretty on the street. When it comes to enhancing your curb appeal, going outside and looking at your window treatments from the street will help.

You can also give your walkway an edge with solar light fixtures, which are affordable and easy to install. Solar lights are also inexpensive and efficient since you can place them where they highlight your home’s best attributes—walking paths, landscaping and any custom fixtures.

Hang Door Décor

Many potential buyers tour several homes in an afternoon. Make sure that yours stands out by placing a beautiful wreath or decoration on the front door. This will help potential buyers view your home as a welcome and cozy place to live. Unique door decorations that add to the charm of your home will also help buyers remember it after a long day of touring.

Increasing the curb appeal of your home doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. Consider these six easy ways to increase your home’s curb appeal when putting your house on the market this year.

This is a guest post by Meredith Hale.