This might come as a surprise to you, but despite today’s economy, most people still buy houses based on the first impressions. So if you want to pass the key and get the money, there are a few things you should consider doing, in order to help your curb appeal.

Whether you live in Las Vegas or New York, a house that looks good on the outside will always draw attention. A nicely trimmed hedgerow, a healthy lawn and a clean sidewalk can be the difference that seals the deal with your client.

Have we told you how concrete restoration can increase the value of your home? It does! Nobody likes a stained and cracked concrete sidewalk or a garage with a neglected concrete floor. If you ignore these aspects when you put your house on the market, people will think you’re just interested in your profit and not in offering them a new place to live.

If you don’t know where to start with concrete restoration, here’s a shortlist:

• Take a good look at your concrete sidewalk or garage floor and observe what needs to be fixed. If the concrete is dirty, dust it off with a patio broom and pluck out the weeds grown through the cracks.
• Use sand to patch the smaller cracks, but purchase a patching compound if you need to cover large cracks. Large cracks form in time, due to poor structure, transit or weather.
• Silicon latex works great for concrete restoration and is available at most hardware stores.
• Remove the stains in your concrete sidewalk by pressure washing it. Make sure to cover everything surrounding the area, because pressure washing can blast tiny concrete pieces.
• For enclosed surfaces, such as the garage floor, make your own concrete cleaner by mixing water with oxygenated bleach. Be sure to keep the windows open while you mop the floor, to allow the fumes to evacuate.