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Give potential buyers a safe path to your front door by making sure your driveway, walkways and stairs are free of snow, ice and leaves.

Just because it's cold outside, doesn't mean you can slack off on curb appeal. If you're trying to sell your home during the holiday months, making a good first impression is just as crucial as ever. Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your home's exterior for a fall or winter sale:

• Safety first. First and foremost, you want to ensure that buyers can make it to your front door without any accidents. Prevent slips by clearing your driveway, walkways and stairs of snow, ice and leaves.
• A tidy lawn. Your grass may no longer be green, but you can still keep your lawn looking neat so buyers can picture what it will look like in the spring and summer. Keep your lawn clean by periodically raking up leaves and other debris.
• Clean gutters. Leaves will accumulate in your gutters in the fall, so clean them out before putting your home on the market to show buyers that you care about exterior home maintenance.
• Fresh paint. Because of bare trees, buyers have a clearer view of your home in the fall and winter than they do in the spring and summer. Faded or chipped paint will really stand out, so give your home a fresh coat if it needs it.
• Outdoor lighting. As the days get shorter, having proper outdoor lighting will make your home safer and more attractive for buyers who come to visit at night. Use a series of path lights to illuminate the way to your front door, or flank the door with decorative sconces or lanterns.
• Winter decorations. A giant inflatable Santa Claus in the front yard is sure to distract buyers, but subtle wintry decorations can bring out the best in your home. Try a simple wreath on the front door, small white lights strung around shrubbery, or a pile of firewood stacked neatly against a wall. Read up on staging tips for the holidays.
• Cold-weather plants. Evergreen trees or plants that can stand up to the cold weather such as pansies or witch hazel can liven up a drab landscape.

Read the Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays:

1. Deck the halls, but don't go overboard
2. Hire a reliable real estate agent
3. Seek out motivated buyers
4. Price it to sell
5. Make curb appeal a top priority
6. Take top-notch real estate photos
7. Create a video tour online
8. Give house hunters a place to escape from the cold
9. Offer holiday cheer in the form of financing
10. Relax -- the new year is just around the corner

More on FrontDoor:

• FrontDoor's Top 10 Tips and Advice on Everything Real Estate
• Home Seller's Guide
• How to Sell Your House in a Buyer's Market
• 10 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home
• Set the Stage for a Quick House Sale