home reporter

June 16, 2007

Home Staging For Flats

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 5:59 pm

When staging flats for sale, there are fundamental principles which MUST be applied. Too often sellers believe the art of home staging and flat staging is exactly the same thing. This way of thinking will cause them to make their FIRST mistake . . . which could result in their flat sitting along side countless others . . . long after the buyers have gone home!

The following is a list of additional mistakes to avoid when staging your flat for sale:

Think Square Footage - Many flats have limited space. When planning your furniture layout, instead of thinking square footage . . . think square inch, and make each one count!

Size Really Does Matter - When shopping for furniture focus on scale and proportion, NOT bigger is better! Oversized furniture may look great on the showroom floor, but when you get it home it will look much different.

Flex Areas - Flat living calls for carefully planned, creatively designed, multi-functional spaces known as flex areas. Because of the growing demand to meet the diverse needs of today’s flat buyer, more and more manufacturers are offering proportionately scaled, multi-purpose furniture to their lines. They include upholstered slipper chairs that fold out into guest beds, ottomans that serve as extra seating and storage, high-low tables that instantly transform from cocktail tables into dining tables for entertaining . . . just to name a few. And for the savvy targetted flat buyer, staging a multi media/home office area is always advisable.

Defining Spaces - Whether you prefer the clean, contemporary lines of ultra urban or the graceful warm feel of timeless traditional - remember to use COLOUR to define your spaces and create memorable WOW effects. Too often sellers believe that by keeping the walls neutral, it will make the limited space of a flat look larger. Actually the opposite is true. By bumping out a few accent walls with well chosen COLOURS you not only will add excitement to the room, but visually add depth, giving the illusion that the space is larger than it is.

Presentation Is Everything - Choose fewer, but larger, more dynamic artwork and accessories. This is one of the most frequently made mistakes by sellers who believe you should do quite the opposite. Just remember . . . scale down your furniture and scale up your artwork and accessories to successfully stage a flat with limited space. Your presentation and end result will certainly be more dramatic . . . and memorable!

For more information click here

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June 14, 2007

Home Staging - How Much Is Enough?

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 5:39 pm

So, you decided to invest a few hundred dollars to prepare your house for sale. But how much should you budget? How much home staging is enough? And what are the top priorities?

These are the questions which I often encounter from clients. The answer is – it depends! Each house and each situation being unique, so is the approach to staging your property. But we’ll try to give you some general rules and tips to help you evaluate what needs to be done to sell your house quickly and for most money.

On average, you should plan to spend between 0, 5% and 1% of the property’s market price on fixing it up and staging it.

How do you decide where should your money go? A good starting point is to walk through your house and examine each room – be critical and objective.

If a room looks small, cluttered and/or unclean, put it on the “to do” list. If you notice things which need to be repaired, your visitors will too, so put the items to be fixed on the ”to do” list as well (cracked and chipped paint, dirty /old carpeting, broken door/closet handles, missing/broken lights, doors that don’t close properly, missing/broken tiles, etc). A clean, bright, spacey and freshly painted house is already an excellent start to your home staging project! Actually, you are 80% done at that point.

The rest are final touches which will take your property from ordinary to Wow. Depersonalizing, optimizing your living space, as well as adding a few tasteful accessories will insure that your house looks its best and is ready for dozens of potential buyers. If you can’t stage the whole house, focus on the main areas: entrance/hall (that’s where the first impressions start), Living room, Dining room, Kitchen and Master bedroom. If you are able to, stage a bathroom as well. Don’t forget the outside – make sure it looks clean and up kept.

In general, when staging, a golden rule is “Less is more”. It sounds obvious but it’s not, especially if you are living in the house. So, if in doubt, ask your realtor or a professional staging consultant to give you a hand – staging services are not very expensive, as a few hours of their time will usually suffice and it will be worth the money as it will come back to you many times over at the sale time.

Stage your house – sell your house!

Sveta Melchuk is the founder of Home Staging Montreal (HSM), a Montreal area firm specializing in Home Staging and interior redesign. She works with realtors as well as with home sellers. Her website, http://www.home-staging-montreal.com/, is dedicated to providing top quality information, tips, advice and resources for anyone interested in home staging services.

For more information on home staging click here

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sveta_Melchuk

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June 9, 2007

To Stage or Not to Stage?

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 7:38 am

To Home Stage or not to Home Stage? That is the question…

Gone are the days when you stuck a yard sale sign in a home that was being prepared for sale, held an open house and printed out flyers as some of the major tools for marketing real estate property.

As homes that are listed for sale populate the internet and are available to be viewed by a national audience, professional realtors are increasingly seeking to improve their skills in order to assist the homeowner to market his or her home in way that will showcase the property in the best light and improve the final sale price. Often, these skills include advising the homeowner on how to prepare the home for photographs as well as the actual physical viewing of the home.

While, most realtors may know the marketability of a property based on other factors such as the location of the property, size of the property, etc., they may not be as adept in interior design principles that will enhance the showcasing of the home. Thus a whole new service industry, called “staging” has sprouted from these needs. Staging is the new buzzword in the real estate industry used to describe the de-cluttering, redesigning and in some case remodeling of a home to prepare it for sale.

In the past, homeowners were left to their own discretion when it came to home showings. If they didn’t have any idea on how to prepare for the home showing they often depended on their realtor for guidance. While that may have been sufficient then, in this ever increasingly competitive market (where sellers try to solicit the best prospective buyers) staging has become a growing industry and a tool in the realtor’s marketing arsenal.

In order to maintain a competitive advantage, more and more realtors are adapting quickly to either learn these basic principles themselves or to add interior designers to their contact lists who can provide these services. Usually as part of the marketing of the property, several photographs of the home are almost mandatory and as virtual tours of homes become increasingly popular the need to showcase the home properly becomes almost a necessity.

Professional home stagers are practiced in the art of preparing a home for resale. They work with the “flow” of a home, eliminate clutter, edit and arrange furniture, and may even assist in enhancing curb-appeal. The interior design techniques that professional home stagers use to increase the overall look and desirability of the home have a significant impact in improving the home’s final sale price. With ever popular real estate television shows on HGTV such as “Curb Appeal” and “Designed to Sell”, homeowners almost expect their realtor to be knowledgeable about these techniques.

In the current real estate climate where most homes have interior and exterior photographs taken of the property and posted on internet sites this type of service is a plus. Some statistics show that staging improves the final sale price of the house by anywhere from 2% - 10%. For example, in the current California real estate market with the median sale price of a home hovering at $597,640 these figures can mean anywhere from $11,952 to $59,764! That’s quite a bit of pocket change for a comparatively minor investment.

Depending on the home seller’s budget, a home staging service can prepare a home with simple tasks like rearranging furniture, eliminating clutter, advising the homeowner on special cleaning tasks to coordinating much more complex activities such as repainting, carpeting and refinishing hardwood floors. When it comes to higher priced homes in luxury neighborhoods sometimes extensive remodeling is advisable. While the initial outlay by the homeowner may be substantial, a homeowner’s equally substantial return on investment usually makes it worthwhile. With such great returns, what might have seemed liked a trend a few years ago isn’t showing any signs of stopping.

For Home Staging in Manchester, England, Click Here.

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June 6, 2007

Home Staging - 5 Ways To Make An Entrance

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 7:47 pm

Did you know that buyers typically make up their minds about a home within the first ten seconds? This means that when they are approaching the entrance their clock has already started ticking!

Entryways give people their very first glimpse of a home and into it’s story . . . has it been loved and well cared for by the people who lived there ? Does it have a warm and welcoming feeling which will draw people in, enticing them to see more? This is a very important question to ask. If it doesn’t . . . it will cause them to turn and walk away. Look at the home closely through “buyers eyes”. What is the story telling you?

The following are 5 ways to make an entrance that says welcome:

1. A fresh coat of high gloss paint or varnish will do wonders for an old tired door. When selecting paint there are two basic considerations, color and finish. Pick a color that will accent the exterior colors of the home and represent the message you want to convey, i.e. red for exciting, black for elegance. When considering which finish might be best remember that matte or flat finishes will help to hide imperfections. Glossier finishes will reflect light.

2. Colorful plants and flowers surrounding the front door, in attractive pots of various sizes, are always a nice way to greet your guests. Make sure that the style of the containers are in keeping with the style of the home. For instance, urns say ‘traditional’ while clay pottery screams ‘casual’.

3. Have you checked your entry mat lately? Is it saying “welcome”, or is it saying replace me? This is an item that is too often overlooked. And P.S. - stay with the simple, traditional mat. This is not the place to be trendy!

4. What about hardware? Is the style appropriate for the architectural style of the home? Does it need to be replaced with an updated finish? Is anything loose fitting?

5. Proper lighting is critical for the entrance of a home. Again, is the style of the fixture compatible with the home? Is the brass pitted, or paint peeling off? Is the size in proportion, visually in balance with the door?

Remember, having a beautifully staged entryway that is warm and inviting is the necessary first step in enticing your buyer to want to see more of what the home has to offer!

For more information on Home Staging Click Here

Jeannene Edwards, owner of Interiors Defined, Inc. is a professional home stager and licensed interior designer in Orlando, Florida. In addition to her interior design and home staging services, Jeannene has merged with David Edwards Construction, a division of Interiors Defined, Inc., enabling them to now offer complete archtectural design and building services to further meet the needs of their clientel. Jeannene is a notable speaker known for her exciting and informative seminars. Her award winning designs and ‘how-to’ articles have been widely published in newspapers, magazines and trade manuals nationally.

For additional information regarding the many services offered by Interiors Defined, Inc. please contact Jeannene Edwards or David Edwards at:

http://interiorsdefined.com/
http://idihomestaging.com/
and http://davidedwardsgc.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeannene_Edwards

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June 3, 2007

Feng Shui & Estate Agents

Filed under: Feng Shui, estate agent — khealey @ 5:41 pm

I have had the pleasure of speaking to Real Estate Agents about the benefits of applying Feng Shui into house sales and attracting listings for years now. They have a profound interest, now more then ever, on the ancient principles we have been using for years to get that house off the market and SOLD for a good asking price. They have also been surprised to hear a few of the things I have come across in dealing with potential buyers that they were unaware of previously.

For example, many Real Estate Agents were not aware that as a Feng Shui Consultant, we are often called in for “emergency” Feng Shui Consultations. They don’t mention it to their agents out of fear or embarrassment but they have found a home they love and want to make a bid on but are afraid the home won’t “support” them from a Feng Shui perspective.

Consultants are also used because the client has a basic understanding and awareness of Feng Shui and want to know about certain areas of the home and how it is likely to affect their lives if they purchase the home. They sometimes call because no one has told them the history of a house and in Feng Shui, we believe in what is called “Predecessor Energy” or the Energy of occupants who previously occupied the space. They believe, as we do, that energy can leave an “imprint.” If the home was left under good circumstances, such as the previous owner moving up in the world, they feel they will as well; if, on the other hand, a divorce or foreclosure has occurred, they have concerns that they are not buying a home with a good background.

Since potential home buyers are looking at a home from a different perspective, Real Estate Agents with knowledge of Feng Shui principles and an openness and awareness of the subject can help set them at ease. It is not mentioned, however, during discussions because of reluctance on the homeowner’s part. While Feng Shui is still considered by some to be a “trend,” I can assure you it’s here to stay and best to get an understanding of it and then openly discuss your knowledge with your clients.

It is often sad to hear that someone has found a home they love but have called in a Consultant only to hear that for one reason or another, the home will not be an auspicious place for them to live. It must be addressed here that there is still fear and negativity with some forms of Feng Shui and Agents can seek to dispel that or call in a Consultant who believes that a home truly can, with simple and inexpensive adjustments, support and provide wonderful things for their new occupants. The potential client is often grateful for the knowledge and assistance of the Agent who has gone the extra steps to assess a home while looking at it from a different viewpoint.

If it sounds too difficult to learn some Feng Shui principles to support your sales and attract new clients, the subject of Feng Shui does not need to be daunting or time consuming. It opens up a new dialect and discussion with your client and your willingness and openness to their well-being is considered a true asset to them, one that will be appreciated long after your role in selling the home is over.

Contact a consultant or pick up a book for a basic knowledge of Feng Shui and learn what you’re missing.

Feng Shui Expert Carole Provenzale is one of the Premier Certified Feng Shui Consultants in New York and The U.S. having graduated from the very first graduating class from a licensed, accredited school on Feng Shui Studies, The Metropolitan Institute of Interior Design. Carole brings over a decade of experience and knowledge to her consultations for Homes, Businessess, Corporations, Renovations and New Construction and keeps very affordable prices so everyone may benefit from a Feng Shui Consultation. Online (phone) consultations are available for those at a distance as well as One on One Phone Courses for Real Estate Agents. Carole is a guest speaker for large and small Corporations and a published author. Please visit her website at http://www.fengshuili.com/

http://www.fengshuili.com/

For more Information on Feng Shui and Home Staging Click Here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole_Provenzale

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May 31, 2007

Home Staging Guide

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 7:13 pm

As a certified home stager, people often ask me how they can best prepare their home to sell in today’s sluggish Real Estate market. My answer is simple. Get back to the basic principles of good design to create multiple, memorable, ‘first impressions’!

Today’s prospective home buyer is more savvy than ever before. Statistics show that 85% of people first browse the MLS listings on the internet to determine which homes they want to personally see. Therefore, compelling photographs representing a staged home in showcase condition is critically important. This often can make the difference between a house that sells quickly and a house that will languish on the market for months, unseen.

The art of successfully staging homes to get properties sold quickly and at the best possible price is a service which has been widely adopted. Homebuilders have been using this marketing technique for many years to create an emotoinal connection with their prospective buyer. They have known that a well merchandised model is a minimum investment with a maximum return, giving them that all important edge in a competitive market. What model merchandising has done for the homebuilders, home staging is now doing for individual home sellers and Realtors nationally.

Barbara Corcoran, the dynamic, successful New York real estate mogul was recently quoted as saying, “Home staging, once considered an option by real estate professionals, has now become a necessity.” The benefits of home staging are evident.

The following is a simple guide outlining the basics of good home staging for both the professionals and individuals who want to prepare their homes for a quicker, more profitable sale . . .

Good home staging is . . .

. . . simple. Less is more when staging your home to sell. It’s important to remember that you are selling square footage and therefore need to make the rooms look and feel as large and open as possible. Declutter - declutter - then declutter again. When you have too much furniture, artwork, accessories or just ‘fluff’ you run the risk of sending your potential buyer into sensory overload!

. . . organized. Get organized! Downsize what’s in your closets, garage, pantry etc. Clear the countertops in your kitchen and bath areas. Keep refrigerator surfaces clear of magnets and pictures of the kids. Have a garage sale to get rid of all the excess stuff you haven’t used or worn in years. Box up out of season clothes, childrens toys that won’t be missed and stacks of books that you’ve been meaning to read. And as a special reminder, organize your linen closet. This is a hot spot for potential buyers. An indicator to them as to how well you have paid attention to details when maintaining your home. It may seem unimportant to you but buyer surveys have indicated that it isn’t to them!

. . . balanced. Have you ever been in a room where you felt uncomfortable and weren’t sure exactly why? Chances are the room was unbalanced due to furniture which was out of scale and proportion for the room. It could also have been that the colors, textures or lighting were not distributed evenly. Maintaining visual balance with your furnishings is essential in achieving a sense of comfort, well being, and good home staging.

. . . cohesive. Your eye carries color from room to room. It is important to determine an overall color scheme for your home, usually a combination of 3 to 5 colors, and stick with it. This does not mean that every room will look alike. On the contrary, each room should have it’s own personality while maintaining a cohesive flow of color and style. And remember, your color choices will psychologically communicate with your potential buyers. For example: Red conveys excitement, blue evokes tranquillity, pink has a calming effect, yellow sends the message of happiness and light, and green signifies life and growth. And when you use black you are communicating the feeling of sophistication and elegance. Know what message you want to convey when making your selections.

. . . descriptive. The home should tell a story, depicting a lifestyle which will encourage buyers to visualize themselves living there, entertaining there, raising their family there. Each room in the home should be a designated space that is memorable and incorporates the WOW factor!

. . . staged with the potential buyer in mind. Pay attention to demographics. Who is your targetted market? Young professionals with children, empty nesters? Is it a golf club community or on the water? Your staging should reflect and incorporate subtle furnishings associated with them, again forming that very important emotional connection with your potential buyer, making them feel like this is ‘home’.

Finally, two basic things to remember when preparing a home for sale:

#1. The way you live in a home, and the way you stage a home for sale are two different things. A house on the market must be viewed as a product, and staged to appeal to a broad range of people. Depersonalization of the house is necessary in order for buyers to emotionally connect with the home and imagine themselves living there.

#2. First impressions are made within seconds of entering each area of a home. You have only one chance to make these ‘first impressions’ memorable!

For more information on home staging visit www.homereporter.co.uk

Jeannene Edwards, owner of Interiors Defined, Inc. is a professional home stager and licensed interior designer in Orlando, Florida. In addition to her interior design and home staging services, Jeannene has merged with David Edwards Construction, a division of Interiors Defined, Inc., enabling them to now offer complete architectural design and building services to further meet the needs of their clientèle. Jeannene is a notable speaker known for her exciting and informative seminars. Her award winning designs and ‘how-to’ articles have been widely published in newspapers, magazines and trade manuals nationally. For additional information regarding the many services offered by Interiors Defined, Inc. please contact Jeannene Edwards or David Edwards at: http://interiorsdefined.com/, http://idihomestaging.com/, and http://davidedwardsgc.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeannene_Edwards

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May 24, 2007

Tips to Sell your Home Fast

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 5:41 pm

When the time comes to sell your home it is a good idea to take a perusal of your property and start making note of some items that could be spruced up in order to not only reduce the amount of time your home is on the market but also to possibly increase your sales price as well.

While the idea of remodeling or staging your home to sell it might seem as though it would hit hard in the pocketbook there are actually some inexpensive repairs and remodels you can do to your home that can really make a big difference for just a few dollars.

Unfortunately, many people first start to consider what they can do their kitchens and bathrooms in order to increase the home’s value and the price tag. Ideally; however, you should first turn your attention to those repairs and remodels you can do that will result in an increased kerb appeal. Remember it is the exterior of your home that actually makes the first impression and ultimately decides whether a buyer is interested or not.

The first area you should take a look at is the trim around your doors and windows as well as the corners of the home and along the roofline. Over time, this trim can become warped, cracked or split for a variety of weather factors in addition to simple exposure to the sun. While you may have become accustomed to them over time, chances are prospective buyers won’t be so forgiving.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to consider what you can do to repair or replace the trim. Taking the time to replace your unsightly trim will not only make your house look better but will also provide limited maintenance for future owners; a fact that is surely to pay off well when it comes time to sell.

It’s also a good idea to make sure the gutters are cleaned out in addition to giving the shutters and siding a coat of new paint.

Don’t overlook the windows. Taking the time to be sure they are clean and sparkling both inside and out can really pay off in big dividends. Finally, take the time to be sure the lawn is well trimmed and clutter free. Set out some seasonal flowers and your home will be sure to attract attention.

Inside the home, be sure to give the house a good spring cleaning; even if it’s the middle of winter. Nothing sells a home better than a thoroughly clean interior. Start at the baseboards and clean all the way up to the ceiling. If you feel you do not have the time, invest in professional cleaners to do the job for you. The cost will be money well spent.

Also, carefully view your interior doors to be sure they meet the grade. Don’t forget to look over the closet doors as well to see if they could benefit from some sprucing up.

Check the bathrooms as well to see if caulking needs to be repaired and take care of it immediately. If the bathroom accessories are dated, invest in installing new towel bars, towel rings and paper holders. This can be done for under $100 and will give your home a stylish, updated look.

Consider the amount of lighting in your home. While you may have become accustomed to, or even enjoy limited lighting, chances are prospective buyers won’t fill the same way. Most buyers want a home that is filled with plenty of light and sunshine.

Dust the blinds and wash the curtains so that they let in plenty of fresh bright sunlight. If the curtains and blinds are outdated, replace them. Take a look around each room and consider where you can add additional lighting to brighten things up.

Finally, get a head start on your packing by de-cluttering your home and getting rid of any excess furniture. If you’re not quite ready to move yet, pack everything up and rent a storage facility to store everything until your home is sold.

Remember that ultimately buyers are looking for a home that has been obviously cared for and well maintained. A little bit of tender loving care and a small investment can go a long way toward projecting that image.

Andrew owns a Home Selling Tips website that provides many home selling advices. You can visit his website at: http://www.buy-and-sell-house-fast.com/home-selling-guide.shtml

For more information on home staging visit www.homereporter.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Webber

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May 4, 2007

Home Staging on BBC Radio Manchester

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 12:34 pm

Yesterday afternoon I had the priviledge of being invited to the BBC to chat about home staging on Becky Want’s afternoon show. The programme was themed specifically around Property.

Becky first asked, ‘What is home staging?’ and then we went on to discuss things to look at to prepare your house for sale - I stressed the importance of Kerb Appeal and the fact that many buyers make their minds up about a house in the first eleven seconds!

I also emphasised the importance of cleaning and de-cluttering; people probably think I’m a bit of a ‘clean-freak’ now!

Hardly even got around to mentioning repairing any broken bits or painting in neutral colours!

Oh well, hopefully, there’ll be a next time!

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April 27, 2007

Home Staging Tips

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 7:23 am

How important is staging your home in today’smarket?

Realistically, it has become one of the most important steps in any home sale. Viewers have come to expect more in a home show due to the large number of homes that are competing for attention. Many people will suggest the use of a professional home stager, and this is always an option; but you can also achieve some pretty remarkable results yourself if you do some research into the staging game.

Home Staging is really the art of presentation. The act of taking your home and “tweaking” it so that it will show better and generate more interest then it would if left to its own devices. One of the primary steps to home staging is the removal of anything that could be considered extraneous or might get in the way of the guest’s viewing experience.

This is an excellent opportunity to begin your packing a bit early. Things that you may want to remove consist of extra furniture that is not used on a daily basis, clutter from closets and shelves and any personal photos and memorabilia. It may seem to be odd that you would want to remove family photos as these items add a warmth to the home for you, but it has quite the opposite effect on others. It is a glaring reminder of your family, and the idea of the show is to allow others to picture themselves living in the home. Having no family photos and such around makes the process that much easier.

The operative word for home staging is “clean.” During this time, your home should be cleaner than it has ever been before. Buyers are a picky lot, and rightfully so. They are looking to spend a lot of money and they want to get the best quality home for their dollar. A clean and tidy home simply puts buyers at rest as a dirty or messy home can lead them to believe that there may be other areas of the home that are in the same sort of disorder.

First impressions are hard to change if they are negative, so make sure that your home has the visual impact that it needs. It will help out the sale process more than you expect!

Richard Soto is the President of VIP Realty, the premier firm in Dallas real estate. Contact VIP Realty for more information or visit us online at http://www.viprealtyinfo.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Soto

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April 26, 2007

How to Stage Your Home

Filed under: Home Staging — khealey @ 8:13 am

Staging your home for a quick sale, is as important as picking the right estate agent to represent your home. It is imperative that your home appears clean,warm, and inviting. This peaks the potential buyer’s curiosity giving them the desire to see more of the house as they move from room to room. Proper home staging and tasteful decor is what could make or break a sale.

Depending on the condition of your home, you may or may not have your work cut out for you. If your home is an older home, or has been neglected, it is important to make major repairs, especially to any holes in the walls, water stains on ceilings, etc. Everything that is visibly broken or extremely worn should be fixed or replaced.

Once all of the obvious problems have been remedied, take a look at your walls. Do they have hand prints, food splatter, and dirt all over them? Try wiping the walls gently with baby wipes or a warm soapy cloth . Remember to clean the doors, light switches, and trim as well. If the job is too big, or wiping doesn’t work, consider a new coat of paint in a neutral color.

Nothing freshens up a house more than a new coat of paint. By choosing neutral colors, the potential buyer will feel like they have options when it comes to decorating their new home in their own style and taste, without an added expense.

Once the house has been repaired, and the walls are bright and clean, its time to declutter. People tend to feel claustrophobic or tense when a house is dirty and messy. You will want to give the appearance of spacious counters and shelves, so leave the bare minimum on dressers, desks, counters, and shelving. Dress up long tables and dressers with runners. Fresh flowers, bowls filled with fruit, river rocks, lemons and or limes are always a nice earthy touch. Be creative, anything goes, as long as it looks good.

Ample closet space is always very desirable. All closets should be neat and fresh smellling. Now is the time to get ride of anything you do not want or need. A good rule of thumb is, if you haven’t touched it in a year, you won’t miss it when it’s gone. Organize shoes by type in an organizer or on the floor. Hang all slacks together, short sleeve shirts together, etc. This will help the closet look roomy and tidy. Be sure all beds are made. Throw pillows on the bed give the room a luxurious look and feel.

Night stands should have only necessities such as a clock, phone and lamp on it. A stack of two or three hard covered books are a nice touch. If the lamp is not too tall, you can set the lamp on top of the books. Everything should be picked up off of the floor. Remove any piles of “stuff” from the corners, this will only detract from the space and the whole appearance of what should be a relaxing sanctuary.

In the kitchen make sure counters are wiped clean and not cluttered with appliances, baskets, toys, etc. Again, you want to convey a spacious work environment. Appliances should be wiped clean inside and out. One never knows who will be opening them up for a little look inside.

The bathrooms should be clean, have matching towels, and clutter free counters. The commode and shower should be wiped down, especially the floor around it. Set up some candles and you will be all done in there.

Before showing your home consider have the carpets cleaned. Although it’s an easy fix, dirty carpets are a BIG turn off to potential buyers. Vacuum rugs, mop the floors, and dust the furniture as often as possible or as needed to ensure that the house comes across as being cared for. Lighting candles and spraying rugs with foam carpet spray gives the house a fresh smell prior to a buyer’s arrival.

Don’t forget about the outside. The front of your home gives off the very first impression. It’s the cover to your book. The walkway and driveway should be free of bicycles, skates, gardening tools, etc. Plant flowers to add color and curb appeal. If you can not afford to add flowers, a potted plant or two along with a nice welcome mat will do the trick. Mow the lawn, and edge as needed. Keep trees, plants, and bushes pruned. Keep the flower beds free of weeds. The same applies to the backyard.

With some time, effort, and creativity, you can make your home a show place you will be proud of.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nelsy_Caliendo

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