Who wants to buy a house that looks like nobody's taken care of it for 50 years?

When thinking about selling your house, be sure everything on the outside is in good repair. And two great places to start are the porch railing area and the shutters.

Porches and Railings

After years of taking a beating from the elements your porch railings will have become horribly wobbly. This is not only a safety hazard, but it's also a detractor from the perceived value of your house.

Railings that are loose can also damage the steps to which they're attached, which means the railing will eventually need repaired along with the porch. The cost? Not a pretty sight--and not one that a prospective buyer will want to foot.

If your railing is a bit loose, take a closer look at it. Many times all you need to do is tighten a few screws or lag bolts. Nothing a screwdriver, adjustable wrench and some lubricant can't solve, and the railing is as good as new. Takes maybe 2 minutes. Just remember--leftie loosey, righty tighty.

If the railings have been screwed into the brick of your home, you may have a sheath that's broken or worn down. If this happens to your railing, you need to replace the sheath. Sounds a lot worse than it really is. But don't worry; this is neither expensive nor costly. You can buy them at any hardware store.

Take a screwdriver and remove the screws and sheaths. But be careful--the railing will come completely off. So make sure you're supporting it before it falls.Put in the new sheaths, reattach the screws and you're all set. About a 20 minute job. Just make sure you test the railing to see how secure it is before you're done.

If you're not a Tim Taylor type or you just don't have time to mess with it, go ahead and hire a pro. They can be in and out in not time and only cost you $50 to $100 for the work.

Maintain Shutters

Shutters can really change the look of a home. When they're well maintained and in good shape, they can add a spark of warmth and hominess, as well as added curb appeal.

However, if they're shoddy, dirty , or hanging by a thread, they'll instantly make your home appear to be neglected; especially to prospective buyers.

Fortunately, they don't take a lot of skill or time to repair. Most of the time a quick sanding and one or two coats of exterior house paint can make your shutters look as good as new.

If I were you, I would go ahead and remove the shutters from the house before you start sanding and painting them. Set up a makeshift sawhorse in the garage or driveway using an old plank or door.

Then clean the shutters thoroughly of all dirt, grime, and cobwebs with a clean rag. Give them a light sanding, then wipe again to remove the sanding dust and residue. Now they're ready to be painted.

Both spray paints or brush on paints will give a nice end result. Just make sure they get a couple of coats each so they'll hold up to the elements and look great. Make sure that they've been allowed to dry fully before you reattach them to your home.

Follow these 2 simple steps and you'll see more traffic coming through your home...and more money in your pocket on closing day.