Many metal basement window wells get rusty and dirty and allow very little light to enter the window. In this article, we explain how to fix this issue and add light below the grade using basement window wells.

Just because a window is in the basement does not mean a person cannot look out through it, or that light should not come in the window. Unfortunately, many metal basement window wells get rusty and dirty and allow very little light to enter the window and when a person looks out of the basement window, all they usually see is basement window wells.

The purpose of basement window wells is to provide light into the basement when the window is located below the grade outside the house. It is also designed to allow a view from inside, but most basement window wells are too small to be effective at either function. Today, there are several new designs of window wells that protect windows below the grade as well as provide light and a view.

Not all of them are made of corrugated metal; some basement window wells have a screen on the top to protect against leaves and other debris from filling the well and adding dirt to the outside of the window. Light colored wells can also appear brighter and will advance the appearance of the home, by removing the traditional rusty appearance surrounding the basement windows.

Lighting Help For Remodeled Basements

When a person undertakes a remodeling project to turn their utility basement into usable space, they often forget about the basement windows, with the usual thought being that it is only a basement window and not much is expected out of its performance. With new basement window wells, light can be funneled from inside with a light color interior of the well and protective covering to keep out debris, it can greatly enhance the appearance of the newly remodeled basement.

Adding wood shades to the interior of a basement room can make it appear as though the room was not an afterthought and perhaps was designed with using the room in mind from the start. New basement window wells can dress up a home on the exterior as well, but the right well for the right window should be chosen. With several depths available, regardless of how far below grade the windows are located, there are basement window wells to fill the gap to ground level with an avenue for light to travel into the basement.

Since most basement remodeling is done to enhance and add room to the home’s interior, improving the appearance and function of the basement window wells should be included in the plans for the improvement job.

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CHOOSING A SLIPCOVER FABRIC

Heavier weight fabrics tend to stay in place and drape better on your furniture. They also wrinkle less than lighter weight fabrics do. Fabrics that are a blend of polyester, cotton, or other materials tend to wrinkle less and are more durable.

Our slipcovers are machine washable - there is no ironing or dry cleaning needed! Just wash them in cold water on the gentle cycle using a gentle soap.

HARD TO FIT FURNITURE

The perfect solution for unusually shaped or large furniture is the stretch-to-fit slipcovers. The fabric stretches for an easy fit, and takes the shape of your furniture. It has an elasticized bottom which you can pull to desired tightness and helps to ensure the slipcover stays in place.

SMALL ARMS - NO PROBLEM

If your furniture has low, narrow or wooden arms you can build the arms up by wrapping them with batting, available at most fabric or large department stores. Secure batting on arms then just put the slipcover on normally.

GETTING THE WRINKLES OUT

Place your slipcover into the dryer with a wet face cloth and tumble on low heat for ten minutes. Check. If still wrinkled, rewet the face cloth and tumble dry for another 10 minutes or so.

To avoid wrinkles after laundering, just pull the cover out of the dryer once the cycle is complete and immediately place it on the furniture. If your cover gets wrinkled in storage, simply toss it in the dryer with a wet face cloth on low heat for ten minutes to remove the wrinkles. If the cover is wrinkled while on your furniture, try spraying a mist of water on the cover with a spray bottle and pressing out the wrinkles with your hand. (Do not tumble dry fabrics that have instructions to line dry.)

TUCKING TIPS

The key to a successful installation and a pretty slipcover is to tuck, tuck, and tuck. Distribute the excess fabric evenly and tuck excess into the crevice between the seat cushions and the body of the furniture and also the crevices between the back and the arm of the furniture.

USE A WOODEN SPOON

Let a common kitchen item do the work and save your hands and nails from wear and tear. The key to a good-looking slipcover is to tuck. You can use a wooden spoon or spatula to tuck the excess fabric deep into the crevices between the seat cushions and body of the furniture and the tucking area between the back and the arms.

KEEPING YOUR SLIPCOVER TUCKED IN

Once you have your slipcover tucked in tightly you can use our Snuggers rectangular foam pieces.

You can also use items found around the home such as rolled up magazines with rubber bands wrapped around them, any long foam pieces such as pipe insulation tubing or rolled up terry cloth hand towels work well too.

Simply place into the crevices between the seat cushions and the body of the furniture along the back and sides of the furniture.

TIES - WHAT TO DO WITH THEM

Many of our styles of slipcovers come with ties at the four corners. These ties are both functional and decorative as they pull the slipcover together for a neat fit. You can either knot or tie these ties into a bow. If ties are not to your liking you can also tuck the front ties into the crevice between the seat cushion and arm by bringing the outer tie across the front of the arm and tucking it along with the other tie into the crevice.

CUSHIONS - A DECORATOR’S BEST FRIEND

An easy, inexpensive way to change the look, colour and feel of a room is to use decorative cushions. They give your décor a finished, professional look.

Cushions can also hide imperfect arms by placing them in the corners of your furniture.

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Containerized moving is the latest development in relocation technology, and it has opened up a new world of flexibility. Simply put, moving containers are portable storage units (sometimes called pods) that allow people to load their possessions at their home or office, lock them away safely and then have them picked up by the container company. Once the pods are picked up, they can either be delivered to their final destination or put into a warehouse with other containers to await moving.

Containers also offer practical options for long distance moving. Once a pod is packed and locked, trucks equipped for its special loading and unloading requirements can take it anywhere in the United States. And for international moving, it can easily be placed on a ship that will take it overseas. But you don't have to move to make use of containerized storage. Pods are just as useful at home or business locations during renovations or when extra storage is needed for any other reason. They can also be helpful when organizing items for garage or estate sales, because they offer a clean temporary location for sorting and storing. The unique ability of a storage container to be placed virtually anywhere you need it for any length of time, makes it a truly valuable tool.

Containers are available in a variety of sizes, which means you don't need to pay for a large-sized truck or storage facility if you have only a small number of items. You can just choose the container that fits your needs. Another great benefit is that you can take your time to pack it. You set the schedule, so you can take as long as you want if you need time to pack and load. This can help ensure the container is well-packed and organized, because no one will be rushing the process.

If you opt to store the container rather than move it right away, it will be protected from pests, vandalism, and usually from temperature and humidity variations. The warehouses are locked and secure, treated for pest control and in many cases they're also climate-regulated. This last aspect is particularly important if you live in an extreme climate, either hot or cold, so be sure to ask about its availability when you order the container. And if you live in an apartment or a condominium complex, you may need to check with several container moving companies to find one that can deliver to your property. If there are low-hanging trees or other obstructions near your building, the truck that carries the containerized moving system might not be able to get onto the premises. You'll also want to check with your apartment or condominium management company to make sure that containers are allowed.

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Full-service moves are definitely a great option. You simply pay people to come to your home to do most of the work for you, like packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking your goods. However, just because someone else is doing the hard part doesn't mean that you should be out of the house or sitting around doing nothing as the movers go about their work.

At Your Old Home

While you don't want to be looking over your movers' shoulders all day and micromanaging them, you shouldn't be completely out of the picture either. Instead, you should plan on being close by, like in the next room. This way, you won't be a distraction to the movers, but you'll be close enough if they have any questions for you. At the same time, it might be a good idea to drop in on them every so often, in case you have any questions or concerns about the move.

There are also several things you can do to help out your movers. As they go about your house packing everything up and making trips from your home to the truck, here are some things you can do:

Keep kids and pets occupied and out of the way.

Serve refreshments or even lunch to the movers. By doing this, they won't have to spend the time going somewhere else for food and drinks

Avoid confusion by clearly labeling and pointing out any boxes or other containers that you plan on taking yourself.

On the Road

During the transportation stage, there isn't much you should be doing aside from focusing on getting to your new home. Prior to leaving though, make sure that the movers have your correct new address. (Though they should already have this, double-checking with them can never hurt.) Also, provide them with your cell phone number, so they can keep in touch and let you know if they encounter any problems or delays.

At Your New Home

Upon reaching your new home, your responsibilities will be similar to what you did at your old home. Again, you'll want to let the movers do their jobs but still be close enough in case of any questions or issues.

There is an additional responsibility though, as the movers bring everything into your home. You'll have to let them know where you want your large furniture pieces to go. This way, they can work efficiently by knowing where to put everything.

Although the movers do all of the grunt work during a full-service move, you will have plenty of things to do yourself. By following these tips, you can help keep things running smoothly on your moving day.

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There can never be as elegant and fancy looking as a tiled countertop. Tiling your countertop has never been easy if you will follow some simple steps stated below. However, before doing so, it is important to keep the area clean and free form dirt and oils. Place the tiles in areas where they will go. Make sure you have space for the grout lines and make sure you have aim a symmetrical look.

It is best also to place all cut edges at the back of your countertop because the backsplash tile can cover them. Use your wax pencil in marking the areas where your tiles will be cut. Using a tile cutter will help you do the scoring and snapping your tiles to have a perfect fit. If you are using a hard tile, using a wet saw, which could be rented in a good choice. On the other hand, if your tiles need some fine-tuning, using a tile nipper will help you out, as it can break off tiny pieces.

After you have prepared the surface and all the necessary materials for your tiling job, it is now time for you to do the first step.

If you are using edging tiles, mark a line along the edge of the countertop and place a guide strip along the line then temporarily attach it to the countertop with nails. This step will allow the tiles and grout to joint. Afterwards, layout the field tiles from the edge of the strip to the back of your countertop in order to align them using a straightedge.

Now, it is time for you to mix a sufficient amount of mortar for the job and allow it to rest for a while as specified by the manufacturer. Start working on the corner, apply enough amount of mortar to the backer board, and spread it over a recommended working area of 2 to 3 square feet.

Starting on the corner is advisable. Press your tile firmly into the mortar and wiggle it slightly while pressing down. Repeat the steps until you have filled the whole countertop. Use plastic spaces for your grouting job later. After you have installed all the tiles, time now to cut tiles to fill gaps if needed.

Now that you have your tiles set, you can now remove the edging strip guide and start putting the edging pieces. Doing the back buttering style can be the simplest way to add the edging pieces. Doing this is simple, for one will only have to smear some amount of mortar on the back of the edging tiles just like putting some butter unto your bread. After you have applied the mortar, time now to position the edging tiles, press down, and wiggle to set.

Leave your tiled countertop overnight. The following day, mix enough amount of grout to fill in the gaps following the manufacturer’s instruction. Apply the mixture using a gout float and remove any excess grout using a damp sponge once the grout is already firm and you are done.

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Are you curious about the affordable home decorating ideas? If you are at all curious, then the inexpensive and simple home decorating tips mentioned in this post will certainly come handy. Continue reading to find out about some inexpensive home decorating suggestions.

The reason we shell out lots of money in purchasing our dream house is that we like to ensure that our home appears perfect on every occasion. Therefore it is no surprise that home decoration is one of the more important tasks in our life.

We would definitely like it when people command us for the wonderful decorations of our dwelling. It is a common belief that we have to purchase expensive goods to make a house look wonderful. On the other hand, this isn’t true as low-cost home decorating ideas can help to beautify a home and make it look outstanding. The affordable home decorating concepts pointed out in the following paragraphs will assist you effectively in this aspect.

Painting

Appropriate rendering of the low-cost decorating concepts is extremely important to make your house look amazing. The most effective idea is to color the wall surfaces with alluring colors. Wall coloring won’t cost you considerably and by selecting the most appropriate color tones for your wall surfaces, you can make the room a livelier place. You may consider painting the walls with light hues as this will make the rooms look sizable. It is best to stay away from dark shades for your rooms.

Wall Hangings

One more cheap decorating which can be accomplished by any homeowner and does not require skill is to hang beautiful decorative objects on the to enhance the entire look of your place. Unless you prefer to spend cash on purchasing them, you possibly can make them on your own or get assistance from family members or a colleague who is doing the same job. The family room and the dining areas are common places for you to hang paintings and picture frames.

Decorative Plants & Flowers

Why not bring the outside beauty to your home. We always marvel at the beauty of nature with its colorful flowers and plants. Now you can decorate your home by placing colorful flowers and plants such as orchid at various locations in your home. For decoration purposes you can use fake flowers and plants so your home looks beautiful all year round. The benefit of using these fake plants is that you are not limited to just placing them on floor or away from your more sensitive furnishings. You can use these types of plants and flowers on your dining table, on your rug or next to your TV stand.

Curtain and Window Covering

Another inexpensive home decorating idea is to use stylish curtains or window covering. Today you can find beautiful rods to hang your curtain on. You can find these at your local decoration store or home hardware stores. Choose a style and color that matches your furniture and goes well with the room color. Selecting the right fabric and color for your curtain is absolutely essential as it will be very visible by anyone visiting your home. Make sure that the style and color matches the surrounding.

Lighting

Home decoration is never complete without proper lighting. Lighting sets the mood of the room as well as it serves as a decoration object in case of chandeliers. You may be able to find a great chandelier at a reasonable rate if you search the online and as well as on the classified sites. However, if you find it to be too much for your budget, you can take advantage of installing pot lights. Pot lights are very fashionable and almost all new build and renovated homes use pot lights. You can rent out the tool that makes the hole in ceiling for installing the pot lights but you should definitely seek the assistance of an electrician to run the electrical wire.

Floor Decoration

Now, dealing with the floor coverings, you should be well conscious that marbled or granite floors for a huge place can cost you dearly. If you’re not prepared to spend a lot on floors, then you can certainly have simple white tiles which seem decent. You can then place a beautiful rug to give it more color and beauty. You can find attractive yet inexpensive rugs at your local home decorating stores.

Furniture

Now, coming over to the furnishings, rather than purchasing new furnishings from the furniture shop, it is possible to find great deals online or search classified website as many people that are moving or downsizing are getting rid of their furniture at very affordable price. Another idea is to redress your existing furniture. You can stain old furniture wood and buy new fabric to replace the worn out and old fabrics.

Be sure to check decorating magazines to find out what type of furniture looks right for your home. The trick is to find the right size furniture and place them at the right location and the angle to make the most out of your space so that you don’t waste too much space.

By doing this, apart from saving cash, you would be capable to save a huge area and make your rooms seem larger. These are a few helpful low-cost home decorating tips which you can put into action.

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It's hard to deny that wallpapered rooms look lovely. There are just so many beautiful designs to choose from. Taking a look at the wallpaper books in the home decorating stores inspire even the least creative mind to want to change how their rooms look - but a look at the price of those rolls of wallpaper can soon dampen even the most enthusiastic home decorator. If budget is something that holds you back, then buying your wallpaper discounted is the smart way to shop for your supplies.

As anyone who has ever waited for a store sale knows, the sale never has the things that you want. Or there's never a sale when you need one. The home decorator's answer to this is very simple. You need a notepad, a measuring tape, a pencil and a dry storage area. Because you are buying your wallpaper discounted, you have to be ready to buy when it's on discount - that's where the notepad, tape and pencil come in handy. You need to measure up every room in your home that could possibly be wallpapered. It doesn't matter if you can't see that room with wallpaper on it, you're doing the rest of the house so do that one at the same time - you never know when you'll see just the right paper that'll make you change your mind.

Now, make a copy of these figures and put one copy somewhere safe where you'll know where to look for it when you need it, and carry the other with you - if you carry a PDA or filofax, then transfer the information there. Now you're ready for the stores to bring out their wallpaper discounted into your price range!

Make a habit of going into the wallpaper stores every few weeks. Each time check out the wallpaper discounted prices so that you get some idea of how much each roll is discounted. Now that you know how big your rooms are, you're ready for the day that the perfect wallpaper is in the discount box. It doesn't matter if you're ready to change the wallpaper in that room at that time - all that matters is that you're ready with the wallpaper when that time comes. Meanwhile you put it in that storage area that you've set aside.

Just be careful to get carried away and have too many rolls of wallpaper stashed away. Buying wallpaper discounted from it's normal price to something relatively cheap can be quite addictive!

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Remodeling a home is a very big project which calls for a lot of decisions! When you are remodeling a house, sometimes it is hard to know exactly when you should demolish everything and start fresh. Sometimes the sentimental value that we attach to things also can keep us from saving things that really need to go. Other times, people simply do not know if there are things that really can be improved or changed by starting fresh. Here are a couple of tips so that you can know when you should demo and start fresh:

1. Focus on the existing value: Before doing any remodeling, you should first focus on the existing value of all of the things you have in the room to be remodeled. For example, if you are in a bathroom, you should examine the toilet carefully to figure out its value. How efficiently does the toilet flush? Are there any signs of wear and tear on the toilet that could become a potential problem in the near future? If the toilet is in fairly good condition and it does not waste a lot of water, then you might just want to hang onto your toilet instead of starting completely fresh. Toilets can be expensive, and it is better to hang onto things that have existing value than waste your money on something entirely new.

2. What items can be modified in the remodel? Sometimes when you remodel, you also can change and modify some of the existing elements that you have, so that they also can be improved with all of the other changes. As you are examining the existing value of things in your home, stop to see if anything can be changed instead of completely replaced. In a kitchen, one of the most expensive items to replace is the cabinets. If you have nice hardwood cabinets, see if you can just refinish the cabinets instead of buying a completely new set. You will save a lot of money if you just modify and remodel existing items instead of completely demolishing workable items in your home.

3. Look for hazards or ruined items: One of the good indications that it is time to demolish is if there are items or areas in the room that are either hazardous or ruined. See if there is any damage to the room or items in the room from mold, mildew, rust, or decay. If these items cannot be replaced or saved with a little bit of modification, then it's time to demolish it! You don't want to keep some partially ruined items in your new remodeled room, because it is likely that you will have remodel or replace those items in the near future. It's better to do all of the replacing and demolishing during the time of remodeling, because you will save time and money in the long run.

Remodeling in your home can be a fun and exciting time, especially because things in your home feel more fresh and new. Remember, though, not everything does need to be completely fresh - you can take many usable times and rework them to fit with the remodeling of your home! Try to reuse as many items as you can in your remodeling, and you will end up saving a lot of money! However, keep in mind that it is alright to demolish things if they are worn or do not have a "bright future" for lasting much longer in your home. Best of luck with all of the remodeling and building projects that you do in your home!

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Are you thinking of buying a home? Learn how the process of buying a home works.

The American dream is to own a home. People love to have a property that they can call their own and the typical American moves once every seven years. But for many people, the home buying process is a mystery. In this article, we examine the basic steps of buying a property.

The first step before you even begins the search for the perfect home is to decide exactly how much you can afford to spend. If you haven't already set up a budget to show you exactly what you are spending your money on, now might be a good opportunity to start.

Many people start by visiting their local bank where they sit with a loan officer who reviews their finances and either pre-qualified or pre-approves them for a loan. The difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval? If you have been pre-qualified, it means that a lender has reviewed your financial situation (your monthly income/expenses) and has estimated how much of a monthly mortgage payment you can afford. Pre-approval, on the other hand, puts you squarely in line for a loan (mortgage) because a lender has actually pulled your credit report, done some serious calculations to determine your debt-to-income ratio, and has told you the amount that the bank is prepared to lend you for your new home. In most cases, it makes sense to get pre-approved rather than pre-qualified since you will know with certainty what you can really afford and if you are already pre-approved, a seller is much more likely to look favorably on your offer.

Other costs to consider? You should budget approximately 1% of the purchase price per year for maintenance and repairs to your property as well as the monthly cost for property tax and insurance. As well, you will have to incur certain closing costs when the transaction gets accepted and goes through. These closing costs, which can run into thousands of dollars, can really eat into your down payment. If you don't have at least 20% for a down payment, count on having to buy private mortgage insurance. Be sure that you discuss all of these costs with your real estate agent and lender so that you have a realistic budget as to what you expect to spend on your new property.

Once you know what you can afford, you can start the fun part of the process - looking for a home. It's really important when you start thinking about the home that you are looking to purchase that you give some careful consideration to what you really need in a home. Many people confuse what they want with what they need. Being within walking distance of a good school might be a need but a skylight in the family room might be a want. Early on, it will be important for you to consider a whole range of properties including condos and townhomes. Until you see a great many homes, you will have trouble really discerning what it is that you actually want as well as need in a home.

If you ask a real estate agent what is the most important consideration in choosing a home they will tell you that it is three things - location, location and location. When you consider the location of the home you are thinking of buying, picture yourself in this home for several decades. Sure, you may be able to move to another home down the road, but many people don't end up moving. You should consider if the location of the home that you are interested in would be a home that you could see yourself in at different phases in your life.

Here's a list of some questions for you to consider the location of your next house:

• Close to Good Schools: Ask around. Are there good schools close by that your kids can walk to? Even if you don't have children yourself, the answer to this question could affect the resale of your house.
• Close to Town: How easy is it going to be for you to cruise into town to see a show or for grocery shopping?
• What About Work: How close is your new home for your job? For many people, a long commute is a major source of job dissatisfaction. Why start off on a bad foot?
• What Else is Nearby: If your children play soccer, or you like to play tennis are these or other amenities close by that you can get to easily?
• Crime rate: Just how safe a neighborhood is this? Make sure you are buying in an area that has a low crime rate.
• Public Transit: Sure driving your car everywhere can be fun, but access to decent public transit can be a real plus.
• Taxes: Find out how much you're going to be shelling out for both city and county taxes.
• Zoning: It's extremely important that you do a little research to find out how the area is zoned so that someone can't slap a junkyard up beside your property at some future time.
• Restrictive Covenants: Can anyone build? Find out if the area has restrictive covenants that will limit what can be built in your area.
• Homeowner's association: Is there an active homeowner's association that will be able to help maintain or better yet improve the area?
• Noise: Are you buying next to a freeway? How about being on the path of the final approach for an airport? All of these factors will affect your quality of life.
• Safety/Environmental: Are you planning on moving in next to a nuclear plant (remember Three Mile Island) or is there a landfill nearby?
• Neighbors: Could you live with people like this? Go down to a local park on weekends and observe what they are like. Fights with neighbors are commonplace.

Now that you've thought through some of the major issues, it's probably time to start doing a little looking, but what to do first? Your first step is most likely to contact a real estate agent. An agent can help you sort through what is out there and can help you prioritize your search. Many people forget this key point that real estate agents really are working for the seller and not the buyer. Although they can be helpful, it is best to keep your own council, if are looking to buy a new house of your dreams, contact Becky Bauer The Realtor, she is a professional in the field and will guide you to the best offer.

The search will begin with the agent reviewing all of the appropriate listings in the multiple listing service (MLS). Once you have a shortlist of all of the homes that meet your criteria, you will be off looking at houses. As you start to see your first few homes, you will be struck by certain features that you just can't stand in a home and others you rather like. It is a good idea at this point to create a journal of the items that you like and dislike so that you can refer back to it as you begin to narrow your search. Another way to remember the features and the homes that you liked best is to bring along a camera to record the features that are most appealing.

Once you find a home that really peaks your interest, spend the time to be sure. It makes a lot of sense to view the home at different times of the day and to see what is going on in the neighborhood. Use this time to review any homeowner's association dues (if applicable) and to inquire about any restrictive covenants in the area.

Once you've found the house of your dreams, it's time to get down to business and make an offer. It's during the offer phase that your real estate agent or attorney is really going to earn his/her money. Once you make an offer, you are committing to a legally binding contract so it's important that you think through the offer carefully. The most important feature is the price that you are willing to pay (offer) for the property. But what's a fair price? Your real estate agent should be able to supply some answers by showing you a list of comparable properties in the area that have recently sold and what they sold for. If there are areas of concern about the property you are planning on purchasing, then make the offer conditional upon satisfying your concerns.

Some typical examples of items to include in your offer are:

• Home Inspection: You are laying out a lot of money for this new purchase. This is not an area to scrimp as a quality home inspection can turn up many faults that a casual walkthrough might not.
• Financing: Give yourself a little wiggle room. Make sure your offer is conditional upon your getting the mortgage you want.
• Purchase Price: How much are you offering to pay for the house?
• Timing: What is the deadline for the seller to respond to your offer?
• Items included in the purchase: Make a list of all of the
• items that aren't nailed down (major appliances, shrubbery) that you are interested in purchasing.
• Title contingencies: This is where your lawyer will go to work to do a title search for you and make sure there aren't any liens against the property or other legal claims and that the seller has clear title to the property.

In all likelihood, unless your offer is ridiculously low, you will be presented with a counter-offer from the seller. This is the seller's attempt to get as much from the transaction as possible. While their counter-offer may be perfectly reasonable, it is extremely important that you keep your head and not get emotional at this stage. Many people make the mistake of getting emotionally involved in a home purchase and forget that this is also a financial investment. While it may be exciting to bid for your dream, keep in mind the budget you set out at the beginning and try not to get too carried away.

It is always a good idea to make your offer conditional on a professional home inspection. Professional home inspections cost anywhere from $200 to $500 but are well worth it. A professional home inspector usually has some technical training (engineering, building) and has the advantage of seeing a huge number of homes. A professional inspector can point out the flaws and necessary repairs and give you an idea as to the cost associated with making the house ship-shape. In choosing a home inspector, make sure that he/she is someone who is certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors and will follow a certain standard of practice that will be your assurance that the home you are buying is in the best shape possible. A home inspector will look for any defects that might end up costing you a boatload of money down the road.

Some of the features that an inspector will examine include:

• Foundation: Are there any water or structural problems with the house?
• Plumbing: Has it been properly installed? Is there any evidence of leaks?
• Electrical: Is it in good condition? Is there any evidence of code violations?
• Construction: What is the overall quality of the construction? Has the flashing been properly installed to protect the wood?
• Heating and Air Conditioning: Are they in good condition? Will a repair be needed shortly? Are they properly sized for the job they are being asked to perform?
• Interior: Are the level of the floors? Do the windows and doors function properly? Are the bathrooms and kitchen in good shape?

Once you have conducted the home inspection, your lawyer will take the final step of checking the title to make sure that it is free of liens or any other claims against the home. If there is a free title to the property, your offer has been accepted and your home inspection turns up a clean bill of health, you have yourself a new home.

When home staging is being done by the homeowner or a professional stager, there are 10 steps that can yield a timely and profitable sale. Dividing the steps into four stages: making a good first impression, presenting each room well, removing clutter and cleaning, and attending to details during the home is being shown. These steps are the key issues that real estate agents have observed from various buyers as they look for their new home.

Have you ever wondered “How much is my home worth”? These tips will make all the difference.

How to Make a Good First Impression with Home Staging

First: declutter, declutter, declutter!

      • Create a good first impression by cleaning the entry and making sure the front of the home is appealing to the eye. The homeowner should change or brighten the address numbers, manage any unwanted webs or debris, pay close attention to the front door's appearance, and make sure to mow and trim the front yard to enhance the curb appeal.

      • The homeowner should make the entry and living room welcoming by removing any shoes and toys strewn on the floor. The homeowner should add a nice bouquet of flowers and make sure the lights are on to welcome the guests. Vacuum the floors and sweep. Fluff up any pillows and make sure the area is clean and clutter-free.

Presenting Rooms When Selling a Home

      • Kitchen: Create a spotless kitchen by clearing off any appliances and making sure the counters are clean; washing the dishes and making sure they are put away. The homeowner can wipe off fingerprints and water spots from stainless steel and have a nice bowl of citrus to accent the room.

      • The master bedroom and bathroom: Turn the master suite into a sanctuary or a place of peace and tranquility. The homeowner should make sure it is clutter-free, painted if need be, and with a nice set of bedding and pillows to show off the bed, which is usually the focal point of the room. By making the bedroom shine, the seller makes the buyer feel more comfortable about the potential space. Because the master bath is an attachment to the master bedroom, by adding a nice set of towels in the master bath along with some specialty salts, the homeowner can impress the buyer. The homeowner may want to clean up the closet and reduce the contents to show the storage space better.

      • Present an exceptionally clean and fresh bathroom, by washing everything with a nice disinfectant cleaner, check and repair the shower stall for spots or mold. Clean the areas well and again change the towels, repair or replace the towel rods, replace the bar of soap or fill the soap bottle and have all of the toiletries put away and out of sight.

Maintain The Home During Home Staging.

      • Tidy all closets by clearing out the closet and pack away excess belongings. The homeowner can enlarge the closet by leaving 10% of the contents in the space. The homeowner should allow the closet floor to be empty as well as clean, and they should consider freshly painted walls and scuff marks repaired. This way the buyer or client remembers a large and clean closet space.

      • Brighten the walls if need be, add a nice neutral color to the walls and make sure that any wild colors are minimal. The homeowner must make sure any unsightly areas are clean and freshly painted to show off the home in a pristine manner. The homeowner ought to use the appropriate sheens for every space and try to eliminate any outdated and worn-out wallpaper.

      • Reduce clutter to a minimum, the most important aspect of staging the home is by reducing any clutter that may be unsightly. The homeowner should make sure to pack everything up not being used and store it cleanly in the garage. Buyers want to envision their own items in the home. This is the key to a faster sell.

Attend to Details During the Market

      • Thoroughly prepare the garage, backyard, and pet kennel by making sure that if the garage is full, pack up the belongings in boxes and make sure space is organized. The homeowner is moving, after all, and they want to look as if they are ready to vacate the space. The homeowner should clean up the backyard, and hose it down to make the area fresh and clean. Mow the lawn and add some flowers to various areas to show character. The homeowner must make sure the kennel is clean and the animals are secure. The homeowner can leave a note for the real-estate agent and buyer if there are special instructions for felines or little dogs that like to wander off.

      • Create an attractive environment. Many home buyers have very personal tastes; when a homeowner shows their home; they should remove any personal aspects of the family and any religious or collecting habits. If the buyer has a clean slate to look at, they can perceive themselves in the home and not feel that they are taking something away from the homeowner.

Home stagers apply this 10-step staging strategy and understand by experience that their clients can effectively prepare their homes and promote a quick and successful sale. In today's tough market, the homeowner can use this process to partner with home stagers and real estate agents to prepare the home and guarantee the sale of the home for the best price and if you have ever wondered “How much is my home worth”? You can talk to a professional Real estate agent that may help you out.

There are many people involved in the sale of a property including contractors who might be needed to make repairs, gardeners who may be required to mow the lawn or remove snow (if you're unable to do it yourself), a surveyor who may be needed to prepare a survey of the property, and a good Real Estate lawyer to handle the paperwork and other legalities as required. As you begin to think about who you might need to make things happen, don't forget to include the people who will be responsible for monitoring pets, or looking after the needs of your children during showings.

The General Contractor

Every house will need some level of repair, and a general contractor may not be the most economical source for having needed repairs done, but will be the most complete and easy to use. A good general contractor will have access to carpenters, painters, electricians, landscapers, and any other tradespeople that may be needed to perform various types of repairs to your house. General contractors usually charge a management fee for their services, but they may save you a lot of stress and worry as the repairs are done. In any event, you are wise to get several quotes from various individual contractors and compare them to those you get from different general contractors. You may find that the quotes you receive are not always what you might expect and that using a general contractor may not be as expensive as one might think.

The Property Surveyor

A property survey defines your property's lines and boundaries. If you do not have a recent survey (one that is less than two years old) or if significant changes to your property or grounds have been made (like an addition, fencing, installing a pool, or building a utility shed, etc..) since it was last surveyed, then you will want to invest in the services of a licensed land surveyor. Be forewarned that a proper survey can take several weeks to complete, so if you intend to have a property survey done, then get it started without delay. You can still proceed with the other aspects of preparing your property for sale while the survey is being done, and in the event, you get an acceptable offer to purchase, the delivery of this document will already be in progress.

Remember that in order to properly complete the survey document, the surveying team will have to investigate and verify your property lines and boundaries, and then draw those onto an official survey document. This document is then stamped and signed by the surveyor before it can be used for sale. The property and grounds are what the buyer is buying, so you should expect that the buyer's lawyer will demand an original copy of a recent, accurate, and stamped property survey document to proceed with the sale.

CAUTION!! If you are not exactly sure of the boundary lines of your property, then do not attempt to represent their location to a buyer. A proper survey is the only tool that should be used to define the property lines to a prospective buyer. Using conjecture and opinion in place of a good survey is a good way to get into trouble, avoid any off-hand guessing.

Property survey documents are expensive legal papers, therefore you should never give an original copy of your survey to a prospective buyer. The original copies of the survey document should remain safely in your possession with another true original copy in your lawyer's office. If a buyer demands a copy of the survey, then make them a photocopy, otherwise, your attorney can provide any necessary copies of the survey to the buyer's attorney as required to make the sale.

In any event, when it comes to surveys, if you are unsure about whether or not your current survey will serve its purpose, then consult your Real Estate attorney.

The Real Estate Attorney

The Real Estate lawyer is a key player in the whole sales process, therefore it is critical that you find a good Real Estate attorney who has experience in working with private sellers like yourself. It is worthy to mention that some lawyers prefer to work with Realtors because that frees the attorney to handle a greater client load with less effort. While this may be good for that lawyer, it is not necessarily good for you. Make certain that you get your legal advice from a Real Estate attorney who is both willing and able to work with private sellers. Once you have found a good Real Estate lawyer, meet with them to discuss your sales plans. Find out how they can help you with the legal paperwork, and ask them to give you a blank copy of an Agreement of Purchase and Sale (a.k.a Offer To Purchase) so you can familiarize yourself with this document.

A good Real Estate lawyer can make the whole process more rewarding and enjoyable and can help you to deal with many unforeseen circumstances. On that note, I should mention that when you sell privately you are not compelled to avoid all contact with real estate agents, but if you intend to cooperate with them, then make sure to ask your lawyer to show you how to use a cooperation agreement. This agreement spells out the terms of your cooperation with agents and outlines the exact commission that you are obligated to pay them for bringing buyers that actually buy your property. It also helps you avoid being forced to pay commissions to a Realtor who tries to claim that a buyer was introduced to your property through them. A good Real Estate lawyer is an old hand at dealing with these kinds of circumstances so you won't have to worry.

One last thing about dealing with lawyers, it is important that you ask them about all anticipated legal fees and disbursements for handling the legalities of your sale and the conveyance of title. This is why it is imperative for you to find a good Real Estate lawyer with experience in working with private sellers, since he or she will know what to expect, you won't get any ugly surprises with legal fees that are significantly higher than expected. Ask lots of questions and get commitments on fees, this way you can be certain that you'll be well represented when the time comes to transact the sale, or if a problem rears its ugly head.

For more information on how to sell your home, visit Becky Bauer The Realtor’s website.

Besides giving you feelings of pride and comfort, homeownership can be a great investment tool. Consider homeownership as a type of scheduled savings plan. As a benefit, you often can borrow against the equity you build or convert it to cash if you sell the home.

Think owning a home can't save you money? Think again. Another benefit of homeownership is the amount of money you'll likely save in taxes. The interest paid on your mortgage is usually tax-deductible and can save you a substantial amount each year in federal income taxes. Any payment you make on your loan may also be deductible.

Houses can increase in value over time. In many parts of the country, homes sell at a higher price than when they were purchased - this is called "appreciation." This increase in value means the homeowner has essentially increased his or her net worth.

And don't forget the other benefits of homeownership, the opportunity of owning a home will increase your self-esteem, and brings you a huge step closer to achieving self-sufficiency. You often feel that you play a bigger part in your community while realizing the American dream of homeownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Does my work history play a role in getting a mortgage?

Answer: Yes! A lender considers you to have steady employment if you have been working consistently for at least the past two years. However, even if you have been working continuously, you still may not automatically qualify for a mortgage. Likewise, not working continuously for the past two years does not necessarily mean you won't get a mortgage. Lenders are looking for work stability.

Can you reasonably explain any gaps in your employment history? Lenders will ask you this question. Reasons for gaps in your employment history include:

      • Recently finishing school

      • A temporary layoff

      • Suffering an illness that prevented you from working

      • A discharge from the military?

Question: How does my existing debt affect my getting a mortgage?

Answer: Lenders want to see a history of debts being duly repaid. Your lender will order a merged credit report from the three major credit bureaus to verify your amount of debt, your monthly payments, and how many months or years you have left to pay off your debts.

Having a good credit record means you have a provable history of paying your rent and other bills on time. This report tells the lender that you pay your obligations on time and use credit wisely. If you have an unfavorable credit report, it may mean you do not pay your bills on time or you currently have more credit obligations than you have been able to handle. Lender credit standards vary, but being late on a payment or having gone over your credit limit once or twice doesn't necessarily mean you don't have good credit. But a pattern of not paying accounts will affect your ability to get a mortgage loan and could mean you will pay higher interest rates.

If your accurate credit report shows you do not have a good credit rating, now may not be the best time to apply for a mortgage loan. Instead, take some time to improve your credit report by bringing your payments up to date, paying off some of your debts, and working on paying your bills on time. You can still build a profile over time that shows you are a good candidate for a loan, even if you have had serious credit problems in the past.

To learn more about buying a home, click here.

Where does one begin to prepare a house after the decision has been made to sell it? The process starts with clearing out all of the clutter and personal possessions. The word clutter sounds like garbage, mess, and junk - but it's not necessarily. It's everything the family lives with day in and day out that has (or seems to have) no permanent home. So it takes up space on any flat surface waiting to be dealt with. It needs to go.

Identify the Clutter

Take the time to categorize all of it - into the trash, to another home, or into storage. Taken in small chunks this task doesn't have to be daunting. Asking for help is appropriate at this point, and it's time to begin packing up belongings anyway.

The mail stacked on the dining room table, the kids' school projects magnetized to the fridge, the pile of magazines by the bedside, family photos on the walls, and the trophies on shelves in the family room - all qualify as clutter to a potential buyer. These items stamp the home with the current family's mark, making it difficult for prospective buyers to make the emotional leap to imagining themselves living in that home. If buyers can't envision themselves living their own lives there with their own stuff, they won't buy it. It's as simple as that.

Now that the clutter has been sorted, tossed, or stored, it's time to move on to the cleaning phase. This means the deep spring-cleaning kind of cleaning that can take a bit of time to accomplish. Go room by room if need be - get all the moldings cleaned, carpets shampooed, windows sparkling, and walls de-greased.

Maintenance and Cleaning Issues

Next, examine the home thoroughly to see if it needs repairs or a new coat of paint. Country green or dark red walls, wallpapers, and borders all should go. The home is crying out to be neutralized, and there are plenty of choices that don't return it to boring contractor's white. A warm taupe, a light to medium gray, a honey color - all excellent, fresh choices.

Once the home is de-cluttered, cleaned, fixed, and painted, it's time to stage the furniture to show off space to its best advantage. Pare down the number of pieces of furniture that go back into those rooms. Open areas for people to move through the home are important, and give the buyers a feeling of spaciousness and light.

Some say that the potential buyer takes about 10 seconds to form an impression, good or bad, from their initial view of the property. The theory is that they make snap judgments about the home within the first few seconds, and everything from that point on either confirms or denies their first impression.

Before the sign goes on the lawn, be sure to examine the home with a critical eye - in fact, use all of the senses. Make sure the home doesn't smell of smoke or pets - that's a number one turn-off, according to realtors. Before an Open House or viewing, leave the windows open for an hour to air out the house and bake some cookies in the oven. Nothing says home like the smell of baking cookies.

Ready, Set ... SOLD!

Today's buyers have armed themselves with tips and strategies to get the most house for the least amount of money. Sellers also need to seek out information if they expect to sell their current home for the most money in the least amount of time. Remember that success is in the details - right down to the bouquet of fresh flowers on the dining room table or mantle. Of course, you can’t do it all on your own. If you need more help selling your home, visit Becky Bauer The Realtor.

Real Estate Agents advise sellers to put as much effort into this transaction as they can, even investing a few hundred (or thousand) dollars. It's been shown to pay off with huge dividends in time and money.

Minimize Time On The Market And Maximize Profits With Home Staging

Have you ever walked through a builder’s model home? They spend tens of thousands of dollars having professional designers select furniture and accessories; they know the return on investment is a given. Think of home staging as taking the ‘secrets’ that were once available only to those selling new construction and bringing them to the home resale market.

What Exactly is Home Staging?

When someone moves into a new house, they personalize it with their furniture, accessories, and treasured photographs. They impart their own personal style and aesthetic into the rooms, turning a house into a home.

When it is time to sell that home, those personal effects need to be removed so that the home feels more neutral. Potential home buyers often walk into a home and assess the feeling of the home. If the decor is different than their own, they might think, "This house just isn't my style." For example, someone with a more modern aesthetic might walk away from what could be their dream home simply because the present homeowner has decorated it with traditional furnishings and accessories.

Homes staging removes these more personal effects and creates a neutral canvas of the home so that when potential buyers walk in, they can project their own taste and style into it, and visualize themselves living in it. This makes the home more appealing to a greater number of potential buyers, thus increasing the likelihood of selling faster, and at a higher price.

Read on for our advice on how to stage your home. Then, click here to get in touch with an experienced realtor who can help you sell your newly staged home.

Is Home Staging Worth The Time And Expense?

The cost of home staging can vary widely according to what the homeowner chooses to do when readying their home for the market. Removing personal photographs is free (and gets the packing stage started!) while other options can start to be more costly.

Painting the interior, for example, can increase the sales price of your home with a minimal financial investment if a homeowner does it themselves. On the other hand, painting the exterior of a home will heighten curb appeal and also likely increase sales price; but is it worth the time or expense of hiring a professional? As each home is different, there isn't one right answer for everyone.

Knowing where to start and stop staging is an important balancing act. Each potential project must be carefully considered before deciding to continue on with it, or abandoned in favor of others.

When should Homeowners Use a Professional Stager?

It can be very difficult for homeowners to be objective about their own home; this is where a professional home stager can be a wonderful asset. A home stager's fresh eye and a neutral eye can help home sellers prioritize staging tasks.

A professional stager's recommendations might be that the homeowner removes personal photographs, clean closets, or do some touch-up painting. Other times a stager might suggest further intervention such as replacing the homeowner's items with the stager's own inventory of accessories and furniture. Often the stager's recommendation is somewhere in-between these two options.

Those selling a home shouldn't hesitate to speak with more than one home stager; generally, free consultations are offered. Homeowners should never sign a contract with a stager prior to finalizing the amount of work to be done, and the cost involved.

No matter if it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market, staging a home expands its pool of potential buyers; it is one of the best investments that can be made once it’s been decided to list a home on the market.

In the global economic crisis, profits in real estate have soared under low-interest rates and exciting new mortgage products. The only problem is, it has become more difficult to sell because a lot of people just aren’t able to buy a home in these tough times. Although the real estate market is currently a buyer's market, it is still possible to sell a house at a fair price to the seller.

Keep the Asking Price Reasonable

First, make sure that the asking price is reasonable, not unrealistic. The value of a home isn’t just based on the home itself, but the surrounding areas and facilities. The home should be professionally appraised to learn what the asking price should be. A house purchased ten years ago may only sell for the same price today or have decreased in value and this should be kept in mind if a house must be sold within a certain time period. To make things easier for you, consider hiring a real estate expert like Becky Bauer who can help you assess the value of your home and sell it at the best price for both you and the buyer.

Use the Seller Contribution Option Instead of Just Lowering the Price

One useful tool for home sellers is to offer buyers a financial contribution to the closing costs as part of the real estate deal. According to Buy-and-Sell-House-Fast.com, "it is important to remember that the recent run-up in home prices has left many potential buyers stretched and unable to afford the traditional 20%, or even the more generous 10%, down payment. Often sellers who offer a so-called "seller contribution" have better luck selling their homes than those who simply lower the price."

The “seller contribution” is generally around 3% of the asking price. Some will even allow up to 6% or more of the appraisal value to be “contributed” by the seller. As the mortgage will be written based upon the sale value, it is important to make these distinctions. A broker can assist with negotiating a seller contribution on a listing often for free, as they know it can make the property sell faster.

Complete All Moderate Repairs on a Home Before Listing the Home for Sale

Simple repairs left undone can leave a prospective buyer with concerns about the general upkeep of a home. Luke Mullins from US News states, "fix the leaky roof, call the plumber, and rebuild the staircase. The modest repairs should be done." When the market is competitive, prospective homebuyers want the most for their money and will shop around for the best deal. A home that is in move-in condition will in most instances receive offers quicker than a home that needs repairs.

To Sell a Home Quickly, Always Have it Ready to Show

Access to a home is key to being able to show the property to the highest amount of prospective buyers in the shortest amount of time. Clients should keep their home in clean shape so that the house can be shown at a moment's notice. Keep the home free of clutter with minimal decor in the home. She stated, "people want to picture their family living in the home and it is more difficult to do this with the clutter of another family lying around."

Overcome Home Challenges Standing Between You and a Sale

Having a hard time selling your home? Not all homes are created equal. If your home suffers from a non-standard layout or a lack of bathrooms – or it's located on the corner of a busy intersection – chances are you have a hard-to-sell home.

As hard as it is to hear, hard-to-sell homes typically sell for less and take longer to sell than their non-challenged counterparts. But don't despair. With some simple home improvements that downplay negatives and showcase positives, you can sell your home faster.

Here's a quick list of common home selling problems and solutions...

Hard-to-Sell Home Problem #1: Location Challenges

Is your house situated next to a train track? Perched on the corner of a busy intersection or located near an airport? These factors can slow the sale of your home significantly.

While you can't move your home to a new location, you can make home improvements to sell your home faster. Here are a few easy solutions that can help make your surroundings less noticeable.

Home Selling Solutions:

      • Plant high shrubs, trees, or erect high fences to block views of busy roadways or train tracks.

      • Reposition children's playsets or lawn furniture to an area of the property with better sightlines, such as a row of neighboring lawns.

      • If noise is an issue, soundproof your home by installing triple-pane windows or soundproofing windows that effectively muffle outside sounds (and don't forget to note your home's increased energy efficiency on your listing). During a showing, turn on air conditioners or soft music to fade out outdoor sounds.

      • Make sure the interior of your home has a wow-factor by preparing to sell your house and staging your home to sell.

Hard-to-Sell Home Problem #2: Funky Odors

Neighborhood odors caused by pulp mills or sewage plants can be a major turnoff. Let's face it. There's not a lot you can do to ward off odors outside your home. But all is not lost. It just makes it even more important than the inside of your home smells fresh and is immaculately presented.

Home Selling Solutions:

      • Plant fragrant trees, flowers, or shrubs along with your property (e.g., orange trees or lilac bushes)

      • Insulate and weather-proof your home to keep odors from seeping into your home

      • Keep windows and doors closed during viewings

Hard-to-Sell Home Problem #3: Awkward Features or Layouts

A lot of older homes have quirky layouts or less-functional layouts than newer builds. Layout challenges include homes with more than four bedrooms and a two- to three-story home with only one bathroom on the main floor. Let's take a look at some ways to address these types of challenges.

Home Selling Solutions:

      • Retrofit with modern conveniences as inexpensively as possible. This could involve wiring your home for networking, enlarging the master bathroom, combining bedrooms to create a large master en suite, or shifting around rooms in the interior.

      • Get at least two estimates from contractors for making these retrofits. Most buyers tend to overestimate the costs of repairs. If you don't want to do it yourself, you can at least show buyers how little it can cost to make improvements.

Hard-to-Sell Home Problem #4: Bad Neighbors

We've all had them. Neighbors that treat their lawn like a garbage dump or mechanic's shop. Or maybe you are a condo dweller and your neighbor has a pest problem that's migrating over to your unit! So what do you do when problems like these are negatively affecting your open house?

Home Selling Solutions:

      • Ask nicely for the behavior to stop. Some people aren't even aware of the problem. If that doesn't work...

      • Offer to pitch in and clean up, or to pay for someone to do it for them. Some people are organizationally challenged and would appreciate a helping hand.

      • In the case of pests, if the neighbor won't deal with the problem, offer to pay for an exterminator. If that doesn't work, call the health authority. Most pests are a health hazard, not to mention they'll stop the sale of your home faster than you can say cockroach!

If you're having a hard time selling your home, check to see if you're having one of the above challenges. Hard-to-sell homes do present a number of selling problems. But by making home improvements and pricing your home to sell – you can overcome them to sell your home faster. Once you’re ready to sell, click here to get in contact with a real estate professional who can provide you with a quick and worry-free selling experience.

Home Sellers Must Look Through the Eyes of the Buyer

Homeowners love their homes and are sometimes blind to imperfections when selling. But, if they are serious, they must face the reality that staging a home to sell differs from the way they live in it. There are two entertaining cable series that provide staging in action: HGTVs Designed to Sell and A&E’s Sell This House.

Home Sellers Need to Look Through the Eyes of the Buyer

If a seller walks their property inside and out, pretending to be the buyer, they will see things they walk past every day. Ignoring even a small problem may prevent a sale when the competition is fierce. A modest amount of money spent on small repairs may result in increased profits or a faster sale.

Staging a Home to Maximize Curb Appeal

Before homebuyers even step inside, they are judging the home’s potential by its exterior. As a result, an unkempt or unattractive view of the outside of the home could turn a buyer away. The homeowner should first step back to the curb and take a good, honest look at their home, and next stand at the front door for a full minute (just like a potential buyer will as his real estate agent is unlocking the door) and then make any necessary changes.

      • Move all materials, including trash cans and gardening supplies, from the front yard and into a garage or shed

      • Mow the lawn, and weed and maintain all planted areas

      • Replace outdoor light bulbs that are not working

      • Replace sprinkler heads that are broken

      • Sweep walkways and steps, and remove clutter from the porch or patio

      • Replace worn or badly stained doormats

      • Clean dirty screen doors, threshold, and front door

      • Wash windows

      • Place pots of geraniums or other flowers near the front door as an inviting touch (and don’t forget to water!)

Staging a Home to Maximize Interior Ambiance

In addition to the home's exterior, an immediate impression is made as soon as potential buyers walk through the front door. The foyer should be an inviting entrance with visual interest, and not a “drop off” spot for keys, purses, coins, or jackets.

In order to ensure their home is memorable in a positive way, home sellers can take steps throughout the home to show their potential and enhance the appeal. They can:

      • Clear away as much clutter as possible

      • Turn on flattering lights in every room

      • Minimize décor to an understated level

      • Store away unnecessary appliances off the kitchen countertops

      • Remove all personal photos and items so prospective buyers can imagine their own family in the home.

      • Rearrange or remove furniture to open up a room.

      • Keep each room clean, dusted, and vacuumed.

      • On Open House day (or any day expected to be active) have freshly baked cookies, or simmer apple cider and cinnamon sticks in a crockpot. Place potpourri strategically around the home.

      • Play soft music on the stereo or intercom system.

All of these steps are simple and logical, but sometimes not considered important. While some buyers can see the "bones" of the home and look past toys all over the floor or dishes in the sink, don’t depend on it.

Most buyers assume that a cluttered home doesn’t have enough storage; that a dirty home hasn’t been maintained; and a dimly lit home is depressing and gloomy. Staging a home correctly can sell the home and even mean more green for the seller. So, If the homeowners don't feel comfortable staging a home themselves, they should seek the advice of a professional stager. The expense is worth it!

Once you’re ready to sell, get in touch with a real estate professional like Becky Bauer to get the job done quickly and efficiently!