Many buyers look at properties from the seat of their car before they ever request a viewing. And what they see from that position implies something about what they're going to find inside. A manicured entry with a swept walk, healthy plants, mowed lawn, clean windows and windowsills and freshly painted front door suggests that someone cares about this house and has probably maintained it inside, too.

Of course sellers can't rely on the outside alone. The interior of the home should also be freshly painted, spotless and, most importantly, depersonalized and decluttered. That means removing the family photos, the kids' artwork, the dropped sports equipment and all the little knickknacks that make it feel like home.

Take extra care with odors - from smoking, pets, fragrances - that you might not even smell but buyers might find offensive. And one more thing: keep the AC set no hotter than 85 on days your house might have visiting buyers. Any hotter than that and people won't stay long enough to seriously consider your home.

We have LOTS of suggestions for ways you can make your home more appealing to buyers - and ways that buyers can look past the obvious to the real quality of a home. Please give us a call. We'll be happy to answer your Coachella Valley real estate questions.