Preparing your home for sale usually means some serious elbow grease, but the benefits definitely outweigh the hassles. This time of year in particular, focusing on curb appeal and making the exterior of your property as attractive as possible should be a priority.

When you list your house for sale, potential buyers will often drive by prior to making an appointment to view the property. If they don’t like what they see on the outside, you’ll never get them inside the front door!

Take a few minutes to stand outside and look at what other people are going to see when they pull in your driveway or drive down your street. Take notes of what you see that should be fixed or spruced up, and really do your best to make those changes.

A quick curb appeal checklist:

1) Keep the lawn mowed and walkways trimmed neatly.

2) Examine your front door. Depending on your budget, if your front door is old and outdated, a new one might be a wise investment. After all, that is the first part of your house that potential buyers see up close. If not a new door, can it be painted a fresh new color? How about new hardware? Also, if you have a front porch, make it as welcoming as possible – maybe a rocking chair and a nice arrangement of flowers.

3) If your house exterior is painted, make sure the paint is in good shape. Scrap and re-paint any areas that have worn. Same with the trim.

4) Landscaping can do wonders! If you have flower beds around the house that have been ignored, be sure to weed them and maybe add some new flowers to freshen it up. Mulch is always a nice touch! And, if you have old overgrown bushes or trees that are hiding the finer features of your home’s exterior, trim them back so buyers get a nice view.

5) Lighting along walkways or incorporated around decks or flower beds lend a nice touch and show off your landscaping in the evening. Solar lights with stakes are easy to place in the ground and are quite inexpensive.

6) Last, but definitely not least: Keep your windows sparkling clean!

If ever there were a weekend to get out and enjoy the Finger Lakes region, this would be it!

In Watkins Glen, July 16-18: The Finger Lakes Wine Festival
Showcasing more than 80 wineries, regional artisans, music and more! The event, held on the grounds of the Watkins Glen International Racetrack, will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday with the Launch of the Lakes, and will continue with numerous events thru the weekend. For more information: www.flwinefest.com

In Canandaigua, July 16-18: The Canandaigua Art & Music Festival
The event will be held in historic downtown Canandaigua and will feature more than 100 vendors, music and children’s activities. Events will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. and Sun. For details: www.canandaiguaartfestival.com

In Hammondsport, July 17-18: The 28th Annual Antique Boat Show and Regatta
Sponsored by Wine Country Classic Boats, Inc., the event will be held on Keuka Lake. Featuring boats of the 1960s, among the highlights will be a parade of boats featuring the Esperanza Rose. For more information: www.winecountryclassicboats.com

Nestled in the valley at the end of Keuka Lake, the quaint village of Hammondsport comes to life this weekend (July 10-11), with the 44th Annual Art Show sponsored by the Keuka Lake Art Association. The event will be from 10-5 on Sat. and noon-5 on Sun. in the village square.

Once you’re there, take advantage of the neighboring street of shops – great gift ideas, antiques and other unique items. Just want to relax? Take a stroll down to the waterfront park where there are shade trees and a magnificent view of the lake.

The Hammondsport area is also home to a number of wineries and other attractions. Bully Hill Vineyards is situated on a sprawling setting complete with a museum, gift shop and restaurant. And a view to die for! If you’re interested in early aviation and aircraft history, a trip to Hammondsport wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Glenn Curtiss Museum.

And when you’re making plans for the visit, don’t forget to schedule time for dinner there – everything from pizza to exquisite dining is at your fingertips!

Check out the Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce website for details about a number of local attractions and activities. www.hammondsport.org

Terry Zayac, broker/owner Finger Lakes Choice

This site was created to showcase our new real estate company, Finger Lakes Choice. The name pretty much says it all: We cover the Finger Lakes region and we offer clients a choice in terms of the level of service – providing them with the opportunity to participate in the process of selling their home, and saving equity in the process. Please take a few moments to explore the site and see what we’re all about!

Our business is real estate, but I’m also hoping to have a little fun exploring the region in the process. I’ll be doing a lot of driving while I’m out listing homes, there’s bound to be some entertaining happenings along the way! Keep coming back to the site for future YouTube features, upcoming local events, and of course, the latest in real estate news.