Home Staging Guide - Getting Back to Basics

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!

Farming For Real Estate - How To Effectively Use A Blog To Market To Your Farm In Real Estate

If you have been farming an area with traditional methods you have probably been trying to service an area of two to three hundred homes. You probably send direct mail pieces several times a year, offering a free home evaluation or other marketing offer. Maybe you even go door to door a few times of year. Most of the people are either not at home or do not answer the door and you leave your card or notepad on their front steps.

Welcome to the new millennium. Farming can now be done using technology that will enable you to reach thousands of homes more easily and efficiently than you could reach just a few hundred previously. One of the very best ways to do this is by starting a farming blog.

A blog is a website that lets you write, or post, as often as you wish, and deliver your message to anyone who has either subscribed to the blog's feed or who visits the website. With the click of your mouse your message can be in front of the homeowners in your farm at a time that is convenient for them to read what you have written in your post.

It is relatively simple to start a blog. They are available for free from some places or for a fee of less than five dollars each month from others. The blogs that have a monthly or annual fee will generally offer more choices and features than the free blog services. It is up to you and you should experiment with the ones you are considering.

You will want to give your blog a name that has meaning to the people who live in your farm area. Do not use your name unless everyone in the area knows you. It is better to use a name that is relevant to the neighborhood. My farming blog is called Plum Canyon Neighbors. When people receive an email message with this subject line they know that it is important information from me about happenings in their area.

Give blogging a chance as a way to market to your farm. You will find that it is so easy and effective you will be glad that you started one.

Why Hiring A Productive Realtor Is Essential

"Birds of a feather… flock together" the old adage goes. Now a homeowner may ask what this saying has anything to do with hiring a realtor to list their property for sale. Like any other industry, real estate has associated businesses and or partners that realtors consistently work with and this business association can mean all the difference between a great sales experience for a homeowner or a lousy one.

In his famous book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill identifies a principle often referred to as "The Master Mind Principle" whose basic premise proposes that the people a realtor works with creates a "coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose." In other words, you are likely to get better results when a team of like-minded people are working towards the same objective with the same standard of quality or desire for success.

Most people know that a realtor is an independent contractor, essentially, one who runs his or her own business and brings his or her own personal set of skills, experience and knowledge to the job. However, what is often not known is that when you hire a realtor you are essentially hiring a team. His or her job works as the gateway to other real estate related services in the transaction that can often streamline the whole selling process or make it turn into the proverbial nightmare.

Top Producing agents (a term used in the industry to identify highly successful agents) or those on the rise to being Top Producers, and/ or agents with minimum five years experience usually develop relationships with highly productive affiliates as they need this type of optimal service in order to complete their own volume of work that will then satisfy their clients. These productive affiliates often solicit the Top Producer's business which then creates a whole team of productive partners and associates that will then make the real estate transaction run a whole lot smoother.

Savvy realtors that are just beginning their careers usually develop relationships with like minded associates. Top producers will have established relationships with lenders, title reps, escrow companies, termite inspectors, title companies, marketing reps, attorneys, and other business professionals. When you hire a realtor, you essentially hire a team; the higher the quality of the realtor and his associates, the more likely the seller will be happier with the outcome of their real estate transaction.

Furthermore, each participant in this group brings in their circle of influence, with their cumulative experience, intellect, knowledge and expertise which explains why some realtors who have been in the business for a few years might outshine those that have been in the field for many years.

A home seller should look for a professional realtor that has a record of many years of consistently high production or one who is clearly on their way. Top Producers or highly effective and productive agents will have no qualms in answering questions by the seller regarding their sales ability. A seller should be wary of those that are reluctant to share this information and look elsewhere.

Qualifying Equals More Sales and More Income

In my experience in the new home sales industry and the opinion of the top producers across virtually every business, the most important step in the sales process is Qualifying.

As it so happens, this is also the step that is most often either just glossed over or left out all together. There are many reasons for this, but the most common reason is feeling uncomfortable about asking the necessary questions to properly qualify a prospect. This uncomfortable feeling may stem from feeling that you have not earned the right to ask such personal questions. I can assure you, if you build rapport and commonality early, you will have earned the right to try and qualify them. Remember that you are a sales professional that wants to help your prospects buy a home.

If you want to increase your income, this is the quickest and easiest way to do it. We can all probably agree that using our time wisely and with qualified prospects is of major importance, right?

Have you ever spent an hour or two with a prospect that you thought was "it"? You felt great throughout the whole process and then at the very end you find out that they can either not afford the home or they do not qualify. It almost feels like the wind is knocked out of you and your prospect. You have done a magnificent job of getting the buyer excited about buying the home, and then you have to say, "Sorry, but you cannot buy at this time." That feels very awkward and defeating doesn't it?

I can promise you this; if you ask a certain line of questions before all this, you can save your time, your clients time, and most importantly, not have that awkward feeling at the end. Qualifying will also provide direction of what price range of home is affordable or desired. It will prevent you from showing a home that your prospect falls in love with, only to realize later that it is too expensive. Then you are left trying to pick up the pieces of their discouragement and you may be forced to show them their second choice. This is not an ideal situation to create a great buying experience.

Discover the Easy and Inexpensive Remodeling Tips to Sell your Home Fast

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 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 curb 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. Many home builders are now recommending a product known as MiraTec. This is actually an engineered wood trim that is quite durable in addition to providing resistance to extremes in temperatures as well as moisture. Prospective buyers may also be impressed with the fact that MiraTec is treated with a wood preservative that works to control the growth of rot as well as damage created by termites and other wood-boring insects. 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.

This Is Going To Hurt Me More Than You - But

This is going to hurt me more than you...."If you have ever been on the receiving end of discipline or had to hand out discipline to a child or loved one then you may have said or heard those very words. Did you mean it when you said it? Was it a way to justify your actions to yourself, to remove any associated guilt? If you were on the receiving end, did it make the "punishment" more easy to face? Whatever the motivation, we have all said or thought the same thing! How does this apply to you when selling your house? What about your business if you are a real estate agent? There are many endeavors where this can be an issue. Ever coached youth sports and had to had to tell a parent their child just wasn't the superstar that mom and dad thought??

In the world of real estate an agent runs into many opportunities where things must be addressed with sellers. Some of these things are not pleasant but must be said or done. Believe it or not most real estate agents I have known through the years were caring and compassionate people. Folks who would go out of their way to not say a cruel word or do something with even an appearance of dishonesty. This certainly does not always fit the general impression of real estate salespersons that the public holds!

To be critical, even from a constructive position, can be hurtful to the person on the receiving end. In this case it is usually the seller. As a real estate professional hired to work for you, honesty is required. When an agent says your home needs to be de-cluttered, he is saying get rid of the crap and put away or organize the "good stuff." When the agent says the paint scheme is too bright, too dark, too whatever, he is saying paint this room so it does not scare off buyers! When the agent says your yard could use a little work, he is saying cut the grass, get rid of the broken down cars, and washing machine, plant some flowers, throw a little paint on it! You know, most people usually get dressed up for that first date! When that prospective buyer pulls up out front, that is the first date, the first chance to make that positive first impression!

None of these recommendations are meant to be personal. They are meant only to assist you in selling your home. Open communication with your real estate agent is critical. Remember the celebrity (I believe it was Joan Rivers) who years ago, and maybe does until this day, said "Can we talk?" I do. Maybe when you are ready to sell your house you should ask that agent if "We can really talk?" and constructively discuss the shortcomings of your property. Like all of us humans, every house, regardless of what the owner believes, has shortcomings. As an agent I welcome those discussions even though I know it is going to hurt me more than you but..... "Can we talk?"

The Pricing Concern

Pricing a home is one of the most important aspects of home selling. The price that a home is listed for can drastically affect the bottom line closing price as well as the traffic that the home receives. Is it possible that overpricing a home will result in you the seller seeing less money at the end of the sale? Sure. If your home is overpriced then buyers will simply pass over your home in favor of homes that are more reasonably priced. This will result in less traffic for your home and the inevitable price reduction. The unfortunate part is that usually it takes dome time for the price reduction to happen so by the time it does, the home has already been on the market for some time.

With your home having been listed for some time, the incorrect price has already eliminated many of the most promising buyers and the home may have picked up some negative reputation for being listed for so long. This is a common occurrence in the real estate industry, homes listed for long periods of time lose their market momentum. When a home is first listed it creates a buzz amongst local realtors and home buyers, that buzz can be translated into a quick sale if the price is right. As the home stays on the market longer and longer without selling it begins to develop a bit of a stigma. Maybe something is wrong with the home itself, or maybe it's just the price. Either way, a home that has been listed for a long time has considerably less appeal than one that is new to the market.

The risks of improper pricing can play havoc with a home sale. Be sure to take into account the current market trends, pricing of homes listed and sold in your area, and other comparable properties in deciding a price for your home. Pricing your home properly is one of the best ways to ensure that your home sells quickly and is competitive in the market.

Negotiation Of House Property

House property can be sold in the market in different ways. There are more number of ways can be followed in the sale of house property. Any buyer or seller can enter in to or exit the house market. Most of the people know that the real estate market is the profitable market and it is good realization for the house property. When the house property is listed in the market for sale, surely the property will be sold for good price consideration. House property can be sold even in short sale. Negotiation of house property determines the value of the house property in the market. Generally, some of the house property listed in the market finds quick negotiation in the market, while some gets a long time for negotiation.

When negotiation of house property takes place quickly, then the house property can be sold for a reasonable price consideration. When it takes time, sometimes the house property will be sold for reasonable price consideration and sometimes at a lesser price. When the house property listed in the market, it should be listed with adequate and relevant information regarding the house property. The house property should be listed out with information like location, space, size, type and price of the house property. When all this information is correctly listed, then the seller fetches a good price consideration for the property and finds quick negotiation. Sale of house property can be made effective either by the owner or seeking the help of the realtor or the real estate agent.

There are more number of investor are available in the market to buy a property from the market for ready cash. Since the value of the house property has been increasing in the house property market, more number of investors and buyers are showing their interest in buying the property from the market. To make the negotiation faster, the seller has to follow the effective measures and plans. Effective measures and plan makes the sale a quick sale.

First of all, the seller is to determine the price of the house property to be listed in the market. The price fixed for the property should be always reasonable and it should be comparably equal to the market price. High price may sometimes retain the negotiation of the house property in the market. Therefore, while fixing the price proper evaluation is must.

Listing of house property should also be made effective. When the house is not listed properly in the market, the buyer may not buy the house property from the market. Listing of house property should be made with adequate and relevant information of the house property. When proper information is listed in the market for the house, the seller can easily negotiate the house in the market.

When the property listed in the market, the seller should also list whether the house property is under repairs or not. When repairs are to be made for the property, the seller should have to make appropriate repairs and sell the property in the market. This is the important factor to be considered by the seller, because it helps to increase the value of the price consideration for the property. When all essential factors are properly determined and estimate in planned manner, then the house properly finds quick negotiation in the market with reasonable price consideration.

Homes For Sale in Livonia Michigan

Currently the median price for homes for sale in Livonia Michigan is almost $200,000, but prices start as low as $35,000. Obviously the Livonia Michigan real estate market has much to offer for investors and homebuyers, alike. Even those of you with bruised or damaged credit can likely own a home in the city or nearby if you purchase it on a rent to own basis -- which is also referred to as a lease option.

First, a little about the area, in case you are new to town. The area that is included in Livonia Michigan real estate was first settled by pioneers from New England and New York in the 1800s. It is assumed that the name was chosen because of the immigrants from Baltic countries that settled in the area. At the first government sanctioned census in 1900, the population was less than 1500. Current estimates put the population at around 98,000, down from an all time high of 110,000 in 1970.

Many people are interested in homes for sale in Livonia Michigan because the city continuously has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. Some are attracted to the area because of its numerous festivals including the Highland Games at Greenmead Historic Village. Others make their living at or attend Madonna University or Schoolcraft College. Other major employers around the Livonia Michigan real estate market include Ford, GM, UPS and Quicken. But, many residents commute to Detroit, Ann Arbor or Dearborn to work.

Currently there are at least 1000 homes for sale in Livonia Michigan according to the MLS listings, a national database of available real estate. If you need to sell your home quickly because of a job transfer or if you are trying to avoid foreclosure, there are a variety of options available to you that you may not know about, such as: lease optining, a short sale, land contract, and more.

Because it is a "soft" market, it can take several months or more to find a buyer. Whether you are selling with the assistance of a Realtor or For Sale By Owner, you know that your house must be in "showcase" condition at all times. This can be tedious and frustrating as anyone who has ever sold a home can attest to. In some cases, financing for the buyer falls through and "under contract" becomes "back on the market" in a short period of time.

Many experts in the Livonia Michigan real estate market and other areas of the country blame the low number of home sales on new policies established by banks and other lenders to limit bad loans and foreclosures. Many people who can afford the monthly mortgage and have a downpayment still cannot qualify for conventional loans. For these people, a rent to own is often the only way to get their foot in the door of home ownership because people who sell their home with seller financing and terms will often sell to people with bruised credit and no bank qualifying is needed.

Homes for sale in Livonia Michigan

Of course eventually you will need a bank loan to buy the rent to own home, but living in a home and making monthly mortgage payments will help increase your credit score over time so that you can eventually qualify for that loan from a lending institute.

You Can Sell Real Estate Contract Notes For a Lump Sum of Cash In The Short Term

There are various reasons you might want to sell real estate contract. You may need the money for a new business, pay off some debts, or finance a wedding. Or maybe you're just tired of waiting every month to get your payments. Regardless of your purpose, cashing in on your note is the best way to raise money without waiting weeks for a bank loan.

If you're planning to sell real estate contracts, the first thing you need is a note buyer. The note buyer will evaluate your note according to several factors, such as interest rates, balance, and amount of time left on the note. Selling your note won't affect the buyer of your property – he'll be making the same payments, only to someone else.

Of course, your note buyer assumes the risk of the payor missing payments, paying late or going bankrupt. He also becomes vulnerable to inflation, rising interest rates, and factors that can reduce the value of the note. These risks are subtracted from the cash value of your loan, so you won't be getting the full value of the note when you sell real estate contract. Think of it as the price you pay to protect your money – besides, you can lose just as much over the years if the rates don't work in your favor.

If you still want the stability of getting monthly payments, you don't have to let the whole contract go. You can sell real estate contracts partially, taking only a small lump sum and leaving the monthly payments intact. A partial sale is also a good choice if you have good interest rates on your note, which you may lose with a full sale.

Choosing a good note buyer can help you get the most out of your contract. There are certainly lots of people willing to buy your note, but it's best to sell real estate contract to a professional. They not only know the business better, they can also get you the best rates and give you more options.

Don't sell real estate contract to the first buyer you come across. Get quotes from several buyers before settling on one. Most professionals will review your buyer's credit and give you a quote free of charge, although you may have to pay for the title policy and appraisal. If they ask for any other fees, though, find another buyer.

There is a practice called "bait and switch," which you must watch out for when dealing with buyers. Basically, the buyer gives you a good quote, and then lowers it later on, claiming that your payor has a bad credit history. This is unethical – the buyer should your payor's credit before making a quote.

One of the worst things you can do is sell real estate contracts without having it in writing. Always demand a written purchase agreement stating the purchase price, contingencies, and other essential details.

Remember, your money today is worth more than your money tomorrow. Sell real estate contract, protect your investment and turn your paper into something you can use. You never know when you'll need it.

How To Touch Up Your Home For a Successful Real Estate Sale

The first effects your home makes on a prospective buyer will make or mar your chances of a successful real estate sale. If you are a home owner going into the real estate market for the first time, trimming hedges, modifying outdoor fixtures here and there, and putting a new bright paint on the front door is a good real estate sense.

The state of the American Stock Exchange has been identified to be very crucial to a successful sale of real estate, so do not plan to sale your home without checking out the Curb appeal. Back to your property, the entryway and sitting rooms are the eye catchers for a potential buyer, so have them done up to a welcoming freshness to appeal to your potential home buyer.

Nowadays house buyers are habitual with aesthetics … credit to TV shows and magazines that showcase homes and real estate with designer's touch of beautifully decorated homes that your potential real estate buyer invariably remembers as he beholds your home. Refurbishing your home to make it ready for the real estate market is very important. Both the exterior and interior of your home should be eye catching to create an enticing mental picture for your potential home buyer.

Paint your house in and out, and for the sitting room it is important to give it a polished look. Eliminate clutter and spruce up all the interior components. It will reduce your chances of both good price and quick sales if the flooring and fixtures are not updated to look fresh, so make them look like you would want them if you were the one looking for a home to buy… If, for instance, the sitting room is being used as a work at home office, you should alter that impression by removing your desk and all office components, your potential home buyer should see a well set out sitting room and nothing more.

A good furniture arrangement highlights the sitting room's purpose, for instance, a seating area facing a window overlooking a beautiful landscape will surely be an inviting focus to show off your home to the potential buyer.

Following the above advice you can turn a very old real estate into a model home ready for a potential buyer who will be happy with what he or she sees as she takes the tour of your exquisite home. However, do not overdo anything trying to impress. For instance, though home accessories are good, a well positioned few accessories that match the color and texture of your home's wall and furniture colors will give your home that fresh appeal that new home owners anticipate.

Finally, remember that your potential buyer may have his own political and religious leaning, so to be on the save side, remove all political and religious items you may have in your home while putting it up for sale. You do not want your potential buyer's sensibility aggravated while he is considering buying your home. The bottom line is that you get good dollar for your home, so make your home look to a potential home buyer as that house he has been looking for.

Help Sell Your Home with Curb Appeal

So what exactly is 'curb appeal'? In the context of real estate, curb appeal is how your home looks when a potential buyer drives past it. You must keep in mind that no matter how nice the home looks from inside, the first impression is always created by how it looks from outside. If your house looks shabby and ugly from the street, it is human nature that people will think that it is as ugly and unkept on the inside.

If you are selling a house that is dirt cheap, then you can afford to sell it ugly. But if you have a luxury home that is worth a good amount of money, then you need to pay attention to the curb appeal.

How To Enhance Curb Appeal

To improve the curb appeal of your home, start at the address marker. You definitely want people to find your house easily. The number and address must be visible from the street. If a potential buyer has many options to look at (i.e., the market is flooded) and is not able to find your house easily, chances are they will not even bother to consider your house as an option. Try to maintain a well-manicured lawn. Make sure that the plants and bushes have not grown out of proportion. Plant some seasonal flowers. Make sure that the paint on the outside of your house is in good condition - it should not be chipped or peeling. If you have them, shutters should be in good repair - broken shutters look particularly unappealing. Wood items are always another concern. Poorly maintained decks or porches immediately raise the issue of high maintenance.

Your front yard should be free of any debris. If you have a crammed garage, make sure that the door stays shut - better yet, it should be cleaned out. Rent a temporary self-storage unit. No buyer wants to see a garage protruding with debris. Do not neglect your mailbox. Even something as harmless as a beaten up mailbox can break the deal. The mailbox should be painted and the flag on it should be able to stand up - preferably on its own.

Broken concrete is another item that takes away from the appeal of the home. Either fix badly cracked or broken concrete or take out the walk and replace with some stepping stones or cobblestones in a bed of sand.

New landscaping bark around the gardens can also very cheaply give a fresh, well maintained look to your house.

Make sure the front door of your house is spotless and any screen doors are in good repair. See to it that the front door swings freely on its hinges and that the doorknob works properly. External light fixtures should be unsoiled and free of corrosion. Make sure that your driveway is free from weeds and replace the doormat if it is torn and dirty. You can use wind chimes to make the front of the house more inviting.

Walk around your house, both inside and out. Imagine that you are viewing it for the first time, pretending that you are a potential buyer. See if the house impresses you. Try to point out the faults. This is the best test you can use to see how much curb appeal your home has. If you find it difficult to do this, you can hire a professional real estate agent or a home staging professional to do the job for you.

Finding the right buyer in a competitive real estate market is tough. You should do everything possible to make your home appealing to potential buyers. One would hate to lose out on a buyer just because they did not take a little extra time to make the front yard extra presentable. Before putting a home on the market, enhance the curb appeal!

Top 10 Spring Staging Tips

What is staging? I am asked this all the time. Staging is a verb. It is the action of doing something. Staging can be from one end of the spectrum-renting & setting furniture up in vacant home to making over 200 suggestions for occupied or vacant home. So "staging" is a word used to describe many things.

I do all of the above for my clients. As each home is different so are the actions taken to stage each.

It is definite that those consumer savvy buyers are looking for the BEST home they can find.

For the Realtors® that work with me they are seeing a significant increase in the sellers interest in "staging". They, the Realtors®, are enjoying the attention they are receiving for showing their professionalism by offering my services at time of listing the home for sale. These Realtors® homes are selling VERY quickly. The Realtor® and home-seller reap the benefit of staging their home, (product), by enjoying having sold the home at the higher end of comps and in very little time.

As always it is best when seller makes changes suggested by stager BEFORE house is listed. When house starts to advertise it will be "show" ready from day 1! MLS photos will reflect the correct "product". You don't want to have your first days on market not reflect the house at its best. Your best perspective buyer may be the one that sees house first, as soon as it is listed. It is important that you not "lose" those important first days.

Ideally the following list should be implemented BEFORE listing. Of course it will still be effective no matter how long house has been on market. It is never to late!

The only guarantee I have is that the investment to stage will ALWAYS be less than first reduction in price!

Now with all that said lets get down to some practical information.

"Top Ten Spring Staging" to-do list

#1.) "Happy" colors on front door. Choose a contrasting color of house or door. Such as if house is tan and door is red, use yellow decorations. Use yellow marigolds and other fragrant flowers in a nice large container. Do not over-fill space. Use yellow in door decoration.

#2.) First Impression- What are your own first impressions that you have when seeing the house? Would you want live here? Would you even come in the driveway?

#3.) NO empty flower pots-especially filled with dead flowers! It is better to have nothing rather than dead flowers.

#4.) Rake and tidy-up yard. Having nice clean lines will make yard appear large and un-cluttered. It is difficult to have yards pretty this time of year. Put out new mulch in beds, this will at least cover-up winters wrath. Landscaping will appear neat. Be careful… make sure that mulch doesn't have any manure smell or other unpleasant odor. That is not the impression you want perspective buyer to experience. The yard is part of what perspective buyer will see first. It is "curb appeal". When buyer sees that yard is neat & tidy they are willing to see the inside. They should make the connection that if the yard is tidy than most-likely the interior is neat & tidy too!

#5.) "Spring" clean the interior. No matter what problems a particular house may have, no one wants to have to clean their NEW home. Dig in and clean, hire professional cleaning crew if needed.

#6.) Box and store off-premises your winter wardrobe. Why have items in house that seller probably doesn't need for several months? Rent a storage unit and edit items that are not crucial to ones well being.

#7.) Have a garage-sale. Seller can have a sale BEFORE advertising the house. It will make their move to new home less stressful, why schlep these things to new home. Seller can than use profit towards any minor staging suggestions or for items needed for their new home.

#8.) Have "WOW" factor when new buyer steps in the door. This is EVERYTHING! According to NAR perspective buyers make connection to house in 15 seconds! Make sure your "wow" is a positive one. You don't want the thought.."Wow, this is awful, or stinks. You need a magazine "WOW". You need them to WANT to live there.

#9.) Place a new "Welcome" mat at doorways. This seems so simple, but many seller's fail to understand the significance. The mat is the house's way of saying "Hello, come on in and stay awhile".

#10.) Use silk greenery and spring flowers for that added touch throughout your home. Plants=life. Not only will good silks add aesthetic value, they have a subliminal effect. Think about it….dried dead flowers in pots or the appearance of living plant life.

Remember that first impressions are everything make sure their "wow" factor is a good one…NOT "Wow did you see that? Or smell that?"

Make it a GOOD experience and buyer will certainly remember that!

I hope that I have helped those of you in need of some practical advice from a professional staging Interior Decorator.