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Spring is here! And that means it’s the perfect time to give a little TLC to your home’s exterior. If you’re planning to sell this year, a little bit of elbow grease and cash can pay off big time. Buyers love properties that look nice inside and out, and a good first impression can make them want your home all that much more.

Try these three tips to give your outdoor space a new life for spring.

1. Spiff up your porch or patio

Your porch or patio is like the face of your home, so you want to make it look pretty. First, fix anything that’s broken or looks a little worn down. Take care of any chipped paint, dirty cement, or dying plants before you jump into decor. Once that’s done, add in some fun details like a trendy entry rug, a cute cafe set, or a new planter with happy flowers.

2. Make your entrance special

Your entryway makes an impression—so spend a little time to ensure it makes the right one! If your door has seen better days, give it a fresh coat of paint. Make sure to keep the paint color a buyer-friendly neutral if you’re looking to sell in the near future.

Light the way to an offer by updating or adding exterior lights to your entrance to enhance the overall look of your entry. New house numbers can also add a fresh feel to your home. If you love your current house numbers, give them a good scrub and a fresh coat of paint to give them a new life.

3. It’s the little things

Buyers love homes with lots of light, so make your windows look larger by painting the trim white. Got shutters? Paint them a contrasting color to make them pop against your exterior. And if you have mulch in your yard, add fresh mulch. New mulch makes your home look newer and well cared for, which is exactly what high-paying buyers look for.

Take advantage of the beautiful weather and try these tips to freshen up your curb appeal.

A handwritten letter is part of a growing trend among buyers who are opting for a personal touch in order to stand out in today’s hyper-competitive housing market. Why? Because the personal touch really works.

Common themes in those letters include mentioning how much the prospective buyers love features of the home such as a spacious kitchen, a large backyard, flawless wooden floors, or something unique about the home.

A good letter will try to establish a common ground between the buyer and seller by mentioning the buyer’s occupation, hobbies, and how they plan to enjoy the property. Mentions of single parents, young family's working hard to save up for their first home’s down payment, or a young couple’s hoping for the right home to raise a family, may also help soften the seller from making a purely financial decision to a more emotional decision. And it doesn't hurt to include a family photo.

Of course, the biggest determining factor for accepting an offer continues to be the asking price. However, selling or buying a home is a highly emotional decision, and sellers often consider sentiments when choosing which buyer will keep their home. This is especially true if you are up against another offer that is very close in price and the seller has an emotional attachment to their home. Sellers who have a personal attachment to their home don’t always just care about dollars and cents. Knowing that their home will be cared for by a family who loves it as much as they do matters and can make a world of difference.

So if you're ready to step up your offer game, consider this tip when you're ready to make an offer on your dream home!

Your front door color shouldn't be an afterthought. After all, it's the first thing people see when they visit your home.

With these tips, you can make your door stand out or blend in, or create a design aesthetic of your choice, depending on your vision.

Plus, if you live in an older home, repainting a worn front door is an easy weekend refresh that'll score you major curb appeal points. Follow these dos and don'ts for choosing the perfect front door color.

Do: Stick with the Classics

Use neutral hues such as brown, black, or gray for a look that will withstand the test of time. Even deep reds and navy blues are classic front door colors that work as neutral colors. If your style changes or you make changes to your home's exterior later, neutral hues will always work with your new design.

Don't: Be Afraid of Color

Some people are nervous about using bright or bold colors on their front exterior, but a door is a smaller commitment than painting an entire house. So why not have some fun? If you're feeling adventurous, try it out!

Do: Purchase the Right Paint

Your door will be exposed to outside elements, so it's a must to use the proper paint to prevent peeling and fading later. Latex exterior paints provide weather-resistant coverage. If your door is metal, look for one with built-in rust protection. No matter what you choose, you will need to go over the door with an exterior primer first.

Don't: Ignore the Trim

Your front door trim is also a candidate for painting. One option is to make the door pop with contrasting trim. Rich brown tones, for example, can warm up a cool-colored door. Or go with a classic white door and spice it up with a fun bright color trim! You can easily change out the color down the road.

Do: Make it Monochrome

if you have a small house, try this tip out. Visually expand your home by painting the door, trim, window frames, and exterior the same color. A monochromatic color scheme also provides a neutral backdrop for accessories to shine, such as the planters and sconces

So if you're ready for a front door refresh, take these tips and make a weekend project out of it!