You've trimmed and tidied, clipped and pruned, swept and raked. Your front yard looks like a feature from Better Homes and Gardens and eager buyers are sure to be lining up first thing in the morning. It's dusk; time to head indoors, put up your feet and look forward to that imminent house sale.

Not quite. Buyers are savvy and will want to view the house in which they are thinking of investing thousands of dollars, from every possible angle. And that includes in the dark.

It is common for potential buyers to drive by the property in the evening, perhaps on a whim or maybe just to check there are no undesirable elements that they missed during the day. While your house is for sale, you should maximize your evening curb appeal for those unscheduled drive-by viewings.

Lighting is the key to evening curb appeal.
At dusk, strategically placed outdoor lights add a new dimension to your property. Investing in some simple lighting for your front yard could increase your chance of a sale. So, go back outside and look at your house in the dark. What can you see? Or more importantly, what can't you see?

Can a homebuyer see your home's entrance?
If a prospective homebuyer drives by your house at night, is the sidewalk well-lit enough for them to clearly see the entrance to the property? Consider a gatepost or lantern-style light to define the start of your driveway.

Is the route to your front door well-lit?
Are your buyers going to trip over an unlit step, or brush past a prickly shrub in the dark? Add ground lighting or bollards to light the pathway. Low voltage string lighting along path edges is an effective and inexpensive solution.

Show off your front porch with accent lights.
This is the entrance to your house and is where the buyer's eye will be drawn. If your porch flooring is made from an attractive material such as quality hardwood, cut stone or mosaic tiles, use lighting to make your doorstep a desirable night-time feature.

Bring your front yard to life with lights.
Strings of garden lights are a low cost and appealing way to bring your front yard to life at night. They can be used all year long and add a magical touch. Solar garden lights are easy to install and can be taken with you when you move house. Up-lighters can turn an interesting tree or rock into an enchanting night-time feature. Consider underwater lights to give a pond an ethereal quality.

Keep the porch light on.
While your house is for sale, remember to leave on your porch lights at night. An inside hall light gives a warm glow through any glass panels in the front door. Switch on at least one small lamp in each of your front rooms. You can set timers to have your lamps turn on at dusk and off at dawn. Potential buyers driving by will see a welcoming glow at any time of night.

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