When you home is being shown to prospective buyers, first impressions are the most lasting and the most important to its sale.

Your major role as a seller will be to make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers. The time, effort and limited financial investment involved can give you the competitive edge needed to sell your home when you want ÷ at the price you want.

Your Home's Exterior Creates the Prospective Buyer's First Impression. Since the exterior of your home is the first thing a prospective buyers sees, a little time and effort can make a big difference in the impression your home creates - and pay big dividends when the sale is made.

Use this checklist to make sure your home's exterior looks its best:

• Lawn is well cut and neatly trimmed around the walks and drive.
• Flower garden is weeded.
• Shrubs are trimmed and dead trees and branches are eliminated.
• All debris is disposed of and toys and lawn equipment are neatly stored.
• Fences and gates are repaired and repainted, if necessary.
• The roof, gutters and downspouts are in good repair.
• Cracked windows and torn screens are replaced.
• Screens, windows and windowsills are washed.
• Doorknobs are polished.
• Doorbell and front lights are in good working order.

If you would have planned to paint the house within the coming year, consider painting the house before showing it. A new paint job, well done, will normally enhance the sale value a good deal more than the cost of the paint.

Remember, if your home's exterior looks clean, orderly and in good repair, that's the impression your house will first convey.

A Spotless Interior Will Reinforce Your Home's Good First Impression

Interior dirt and clutter can obscure your home's good points, so start with a full housecleaning from top to bottom. Store unused or unnecessary items in closets and storage areas or hold a garage sale. Eliminate clutter and your home will look more spacious ÷ an important selling point.

Take an inspection tour of your home, observing it as a potential buyer would, and use the following checklist to make sure it's ready to show:

• Walls are clean and free of smudges, fingerprints and dents.
• Woodwork and wallpaper are inspected for problem areas; wallpaper is cleaned and woodwork waxed.
• Badly worn furniture is temporarily stored in a family's or neighbor's attic or basement.
• Curtains and drapes are freshly laundered.
• Rugs and carpets are shampooed. Floors are waxed.
• Loose doorknobs, sticking doors, windows and warped drawers are repaired.
• Leaky faucets are fixed. Water discoloration in sink is eliminated.
• Loose stair banisters are tightened and steps are free of objects.
• Light fixtures are in good working order. Discolored or cracked switch plates are replaced.
• Closets, shelves and drawers are organized to display spaciousness.
• Clothing is hung neatly and shoes and other objects are neatly arranged.
• Bathrooms are sparkling clean. Tub and shower caulking is repaired.
• Bedrooms are neat. Bedspreads and curtains are attractive.
• The kitchen is clean and tidy, including cupboards, stove and oven.
• The basement, attic and garage are clean and well organized.
• Mirrors, picture frames and glass covering pictures are clean.
• Mirrors are strategically placed to create an impression of added space in problem areas.
• Lamp shades are in good condition.
• Consider painting walls and replacing carpeting if cleaning doesn't do the trick.
• Check with your Realtor for an unbiased opinion of your carpet's condition.
• It is also important to keep lighting in mind when you show your home. Good lighting will make your home seem more cheery and spacious. Replace dim, low-wattage bulbs with higher wattage bulbs.

Over-improving Doesn't Pay

Don't plan major improvements on your home. Most home-buyers want to make their own major changes. You are usually wiser to sell them the potential - and at a price they can afford.