Professor Van Helsing approaches the house with trepidation — the lone light is from the moon, and even that scarcely illuminates the entryway. He wonders what horrors are hidden in the shadows...

A buyer touring Count Dracula's castle might ask the same question: what's tucked into the dark corners and hallways of that eerie abode? Bram Stoker and the old Hollywood horror directors understood the power of lighting. A multitude of dirty, dangerous, unsightly surprises can lurk in the dark, waiting for the most opportune moment to make their presence known.

But while Van Helsing overcame his fears and entered anyway, a homebuyer may not make it past an unlit foyer — no matter how attractive the home is. If buyers can't SEE it, they can't love it. Worse, they fear the unseen (often insignificant) and grow uneasy in a home that might be perfect for them.

Lighting is a relatively inexpensive but effective way to highlight your home's best qualities and downplay the areas that are less flattering.

Start with Natural Light

The most desirable and inexpensive lighting is natural sunlight. Show your home during the day when the sun is bright: throw open blinds and shades, declutter windowsills, and wash the panes to let light in. It's also a good time to move Aunt Gertie's antique walnut wardrobe away from the window. To do its job, light needs to enter a room unhindered.

Unless a window overlooks a neighbor's collection of rusting cars or a graffiti-covered wall, keep the curtains open when showing — it makes rooms feel bigger and more inviting. If the view is less than attractive, hang sheer curtains that let light in while gently distracting from the scene.

Add Electric Light Where It's Needed

If your house is dark or has few, narrow windows, take heart — a trip to the home improvement store fixes that fast. Walk slowly through the house, flip every switch, and look at each fixture and lamp. Replace burnt-out bulbs, and keep a running list of the bulb sizes you need.

Do shades or domes have dead insects or dust inside? Clean them and see how much brighter the room looks. Are fixtures scratched, dented, or tarnished? If they can't be buffed or cleaned, consider replacing them — matching the style to your target buyer and your home's architecture. Traditional homes don't suit polished gunmetal fixtures; a 1970s pea-green mod hanging lamp may need to go if you're courting younger buyers.

Light Can Fix a Room's Flaws

Lighting minimizes a room's quirks and creates optical illusions — making a room seem wider, a ceiling higher, a hallway longer. Long, narrow condo hallways can become an art gallery with a little track lighting. Feel like the ceiling and floor are closing in? Skip hanging fixtures and use floor can lights that throw light up the wall to make ceilings feel higher.

If the ceiling has cracks, do the opposite: light that flows downward pulls the eye away from the flaw. Bowing walls in older homes need light that runs straight up without hitting the wall — place lamps away from the wall, facing the ceiling. Often you can simply move existing fixtures to better spots. Life's little horrors, real or imaginary, tend to disappear when rooms are lit properly.

Have a particularly small room? A mirrored wall makes it look double its size. Position that mirror across from a window and it reflects natural light, making the room brighter still.

Use the Lights You Have

It isn't enough to own the right fixtures — you have to use them. Even during the day, keep lights on in every room: hallways, closets, bathrooms, over the stove, in the oven, under hanging cabinets. At night, prepare for the evening buyer drive-by by leaving lamps on in rooms that face the street. After all, folks need to know Dracula isn't lurking in the shadows.

The Most Expensive Mistake Sellers Make

Failing to "showcase" their home. First impressions matter most. Experience shows that for every $100 in repairs a home needs, a buyer deducts $300 to $500 from their offer. Thoroughly clean and prepare your home before it hits the market if you want top dollar.

Spend a Little, Get a Lot

• More than two cars in the driveway? Park the extras at a neighbor's to give your driveway and yard a spacious look.
• Remove oil and rust stains from concrete with commercial driveway cleaners from any auto or home improvement store.
• The basement needn't be spotless, but change the bulbs and clear the cobwebs before showing.
• Change the AC and furnace filters so the units run efficiently.
• If the washer and dryer are in the basement, add an area rug and a shelf for detergent to create a cozy laundry space.
• Check for termites by jabbing a pocketknife into the support beams near the foundation. If it sinks in easily, you may have a problem.