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Tips to help get your home SOLD 1. Make the front entrance inviting. Potential buyers often drive by before deciding they want to see the inside of a house. So make sure the front door area looks nice. The front door allows for a personal statement, perhaps more than anywhere else on a house. It's an easy way to give pleasure to passers by and allows for imagination and creativity. A decorative door says people are welcome and their visit is an important event. Doors add so much to a house without great expense. Paint one in a bold color, strip a door to uncover beautiful wood, add a humorous, elegant or antique knocker or change the hinges and doorknob to make something very elegant without a big investment. 2. Clear away clutter. Put away personal photos, knickknacks, boxes--anything that will distract the buyer from concentrating on the house. Make sure closets are free from clutter. Purchase a few tote boxes with lids to store piles of loose clothing, shoes, etc. to give the appearance of more open space and neatness. Donate unwanted items to a local charity to rid your home of clutter. 3. Clean the house thoroughly. Take the time to make bathrooms sparkle, wash the windows, and clean kitchen appliances. Don't forget under the sinks! Try to put clothes away, rather than leaving them hanging around on the floor. Open the windows to air the room out. Remove sheets from the bed and wash at least every other week. Use a thin flexible dusting wand to clean windows, blinds and furniture. Vacuum high-traffic areas frequently. When washing your favorite bedding, add some bath salts to the final cycle of the wash for a sweet-smelling fragrance. Clean blinds, bath fixtures and light fixtures. Because stairs are a high traffic area, they should be vacuumed at least once or twice a week to keep dirt from getting ground into the carpet fibers. Vacuum over each stair about six or seven times to pick up the dirt and grit that has accumulated. 4. Freshen the appearance of rooms. A little paint can go a long way in making your home sellable: repaint much-used rooms in neutral colors to make them look clean and fresh. Don't forget the ceiling! If you have cathedral ceilings, they tend to accumulate cobwebs which may appear as dark spots. A big turnoff is a possible leaking roof. 5. Arrange furniture for spaciousness. Remove extra, unwanted furniture and arrange remaining pieces in a way that creates smooth traffic flow. Separate large rooms into specific areas such as reading, conversation, and entertaining areas, to provide the room with a cozy feel. This effect can be created with plants, wall hangings, and furniture. Work to create a focal point in the room by grouping similar accessories together to create emphasis. Fish tanks become the focal point for a large blank wall in this home. Lighting behind the tanks creates soft shadows, and the surrounding plants add to the natural atmosphere. If you want to create a cozy conversational area, arrange two sofas so that they face each other. A colorful rug placed between the sofas helps define the area. Don't get stuck in a rut when you arrange accessories on a bookshelf. Vary the placement and size of accessories. If your shelves are movable, arrange them so some are deeper than others. 6. Do all you can to reduce odors. People never forget smells when they walk in the door. Try your best to remove odors caused by pets, smoking and cooking. A beautifully decorated room can be totally spoiled by unpleasant odors such as pet smells, smoke and stale air. Freshen and deodorize carpets and upholstery: Sprinkle baking soda onto carpets, rugs and upholstery to eliminate odors and leave a fresh scent. Let the powder sit for 15 to 30 minutes and then vacuum. Baking soda will also help remove stains. Pour directly onto the area and let it soak up the stain. Vacuum away. Deodorize pet bedding: Remove odors in pet bedding by sprinkling with baking soda . Let it sit for a while and then shake out or vacuum. Put some into cat litter boxes to help eliminate those odors, as well. This product is non-toxic and safe to use around pets. Smoke odors: Place a plate of vinegar in the room for a day or so to help freshen the air. Scent the air: Dab a little perfume onto a cold light bulb. When the light is on, the warmth of the bulb will release the scent. An alternative to buying costly potpourri is to create your own fresh scent. Fill a saucepan half-full with water and place on the stove. Add cloves, cinnamon sticks and orange peels, then bring the liquid to a simmer. As the liquid reduces, just add more water. This smells wonderful and lasts all day. Bake a batch of cookies before a showing. The irresistible aroma will spread throughout the house and create a homey feeling. 7. Perform all minor repairs, if necessary. Take a hard look around your home and see it from a buyers prospective: oil door and window hinges, fix loose handrails, etc. Patch damaged walls, replace broken shower tiles, recaulk windows/doors/countertops. A little goes a long way. Replace outdated light fixtures. Wall sconces, recessed lighting or pendant lights are good alternatives to that single old-fashioned overhead light fixture. Check clearance sales in department and discount stores. You can find some great buys and more up-to-date styles at great prices. 9. Clean the carpeting. Unless it's extremely worn, you may be able to avoid replacing carpet. Buyers often prefer to choose their own new carpet or opt for hardwood flooring. So, if possible, clean the carpet and save some money. 10. Don't forget the garage and basement. It's tempting to stash stuff away in these areas of the home, but when you're selling, they have to be neat and clean too. Buyers want the most for their money so give them the appearance of spaciousness. Clear the clutter and sweep the floors. Remember this rule: if you haven't used it in the past 2 years, you probably never will so get rid of it. Can't throw it away but won't use it? Gather all those unwanted items, clean them and get some friend together for a SWAP party. Exchange unwanted items for something that they bring. Take turns swapping. This gives you the opportunity to chat with friends and get something "new" in the process. Fun!
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