We've all had the experience. You're visiting friends or family. You walk up to the door and somehow don't feel welcome. It's not anything anyone said. It's just a feeling. Then you look around.

Maybe it's stuff left on the sidewalk or broken steps. Maybe you had to push back the overgrown trees or shrubs in order to reach the entrance. Maybe the owners left trash and recycling right at the door. Maybe you should forget the whole thing and go back home.

Sometimes home owners get so busy inside that their home's entrance is overlooked. Most of us go in and out from the back door, the garage or the carport. We may never pay much attention to the front where our guests expect to be welcomed. Right now, take a moment to really look at what your guests see. Are there small improvements that might make them feel more welcome and as a side benefit, make your home more attractive to passers-by?

Add good lighting and get double benefits. Besides appearing more bright and beautiful, there's a safety effect. Visitors won't be stumbling around in the dark. Want a third reason for good lighting? It's a deterrent to would be intruders.

Flowers and lush landscaping are always a terrific way to enliven your home's entrance. If that's not possible, put an evergreen in an attractive pot right next to the door. Go a step further with some sort of artwork, a garden bench or wind chimes.

An entryway free of trash and cobwebs is always a welcoming site. Sweep away the debris so there is a clear path. Tell the spiders to set up housekeeping elsewhere. Clean the windows and wipe off the mailbox. Repair broken sidewalks and steps. Now, when your guests see the welcome mat they will know you mean it.

Source PropertySource