The front porch is the first area of contact with the potential buyers. This is where they will linger the longest while waiting to be let into the house. It takes a prospective buyer only fifteen seconds to size up a house. Any sign of poor maintenance here will affect their impression of the entire house. Make sure the front porch area is pristine with spotless paint, hardware that is polished and working properly, a functioning doorbell, a bright light fixture, and a brand new door mat that is traditional and plain. Add pots of seasonal color, and put fresh mulch in the landscape beds. Make sure there are elements of interest with a splash of color such as a classic door decoration, and if there’s space, a welcoming chair or bench. This area needs to show well from the street in order to draw people out of their cars and into your home.