A good first impression is important in real estate. Online appeal gets buyers to view the home in person, and curb appeal gets them in the door.

With 90 percent of buyers looking for homes online, listing photos are crucial and should not be blurred or distorted, taken at the wrong time of day, or overly focused on furniture or other items.

When it comes to curb appeal, here are some suggestions for sellers:

Add plants at the front corners of the yard, along driveways or walkways, and in front of the house

• Fertilize grass and shrubs
• Replace worn gutters
• Patch driveway cracks
• Spruce up or replace the front door
• Install exterior lighting
• Ensure that entry hardware matches

To jazz up the entryway, sellers should remove clutter and personal items, remove dated carpeting, and ensure that the home smells nice. As for other improvements, experts say sellers should pay close attention to return on investment, spending most of their money in the kitchen and bathrooms but avoiding major overhauls given that buyers are likely to make changes when they move in.

Source: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/06/25/first-impressions-matter-more-ever?om_rid=AAEBaY&om_mid=_BRydt3B8zibJ7M&om_ntype=RMODaily