A recent Real Estate Agent Community Trends survey, sponsored by Jeld-Wen Inc., found 82 percent of real estate agents had buyers refuse to look inside a house based on its exterior appearance.” Now that doesn’t surprise me at all. I clearly remember house hunting for my first home and pausing outside many a home, only to drive off if the exterior lacked appeal.

It’s that time of the year that the sun reappears, flowers bloom, trees bud and people shed their winter woolies. Something else we can’t help but notice is ‘For Sale’ signs, lots of them. It’s ‘show time’ folks. Now, think of a birthday party, a table resplendent with gifts. What makes one gift outshine all the rest? It’s all in the presentation. It’s the bright colored gift wrap tightly wrapped around the box, decorated with a vibrant bow. What goes through your mind as you reach for the beautifully wrapped present? Now think your listing exterior as the gift wrap. Ensure that everything about the home attracts you, intrigues you and makes you want to peep inside.

As we face the challenges of a lethargic economy we are reminded of the importance of outshining the competition, right from the onset. Follow the AHS Designation Exterior Staging checklist and you won’t go wrong. It will assure you a spectacular looking exterior, something that will grab the attention of house hunters, and make them want to go inside.