Place fresh, spring flowers inside the house and out. You don't need to overdo it, just put them where the eyes tend to fall. Also replace the doormats after winter use. This easy tips will help your house stick out in a good way in the minds of the people who see it. Contact me for more tips on quick and easy ideas to boost your home's potential.

What a great time of year to decorate outside - nature is helping! Some bright mum plants sitting by your door with a pumpkin or two add instant charm and curb appeal. The colorful leaves that are on your lawn are not a bad thing as they bring the color downa dn around your house. It is a good idea to keep the leaves off your walk and porch as much as possible, though. That way it looks like you meant to have the lawn carpeted that way! Contact me for more tips on quick and easy decorating tips to increase your sales potential.

As soon as you decide that you might want to sell your house - even before you contact a REALTOR(R) - is the time to start "decluttering". If you wait until you know you're moving, you'll feel overwhelmed as you look around and you'll end up packing lots os stuff that you really should just get rid of. Time spent packing all that stuff is time wasted when you'd like to be working at your new home. In fact, hot summer days are the perfect time to start looking through the things you have, especially if you have air conditioning. Contact me for more tips on painless (well, relatively) tips on preparing your house for sale.

Spring is a great time to start looking for a new house or get ideas of what's on the market as your competition for selling your house. If you don't know what you'd like in a new house, a great way to narrow down the list is to go to open houses. There are many every weekend and an easy way to find which houses are open this week (or in the future), is to go to www.WMLAROpenHouses.com and type in the day you want to go. Or if you have your eye on a given house, you can check the site to see when an open house is scheduled. Just tell the REALTOR(R) that is hosting the home that you are already working with a REALTOR(R) so they don't keep after you. When I list your house we'll schedule your open houses for the full time of the listing and put them on that site right away. That way we can both make plans and get ready for the big days, but also people can find your house and know when they can easily stop by to see it. We can also do a last minute open house if you're going to be out of town - it will be advertised even if we're too late to get it in the newspaper! Contact me today so we can get your house on its way to sold!

When you're thinking about decorating for the holidays and trying to sell your house at the same time, look around your neighborhood. If all your neighbors have outdoor lights and decorations, your houlse will look pretty drab if you don't have any lights up. At the same time, keep the amount of outside decor on the conservative side, as you want people to see the house--not be blinded by the light. The same holds true for inside. Buyers will expect you to have a tree and some decor, but this is not the year to go overboard. I have lots of other ideas for getting your house on the market--even if you're thinking about waiting until spring to list your house, contact me today and I'll sit down with you to discuss some ways to improve your market appeal.

Curb appeal becomes very difficult in the late fall, but it is every bit as important as it ever was. Add some fall colors to your doorway. Keep leaves cleaned up. Consider fall decorations (such as corn stalks) around a lamp post or the end of a porch. Pumpkins or a bright mum plant add great color to the front of the house. Contact me for more tips on enhancing your home's appeal.

It's chrysanthemum time! Mum plants are available almost wherever you look. Choose colors that accent the front of your house and put a couple plants up by the door. Odd numbers are most pleasing to the eye, so either use one on each side or consider three on the side with the door handle. If you use three, place them at two different levels using a plant tray or a piece of brick or wood to raise the back one up a bit. You won't have to worry about frost if they're up by the house. Email me for other great fall ideas for increasing your curb appeal.

August is when the summer blahs can hit your curb appeal. It's hot and dry and flowers are apt to lose some of their pop. Be sure to dead-head annuals so they keep getting new blossoms. Keep the areas around your front door looking bright and cheerful. Some annual grasses are still available at nurseries. Consider using one in a pot up by the door if you don't have other flowers there. Email me to discuss other options for adding to your home's appeal.

If you're using rocks in your lawn or garden, remember that you should use odd numbers together, and 3 as a minimum. If you bury them 1/3, they'll look much more natural. If the area is sunny, you can use ornamental grasses interspersed with the rocks. Let me know if you have any questions about other ways to enhance your curb appeal.

This is the time to think curb appeal! Whether or not you're planning to put your house on the market, curb appeal cannot be stressed too highly. Splurge on a fancy ornamental pot that matches the style of your home and use it as a focal point. A Boston fern, ball Boxwood, spiral evergreen or Hydrangea or even an ornamental grass will look great by your front door. Use a colorful mix of annuals as a less expensive way to fill the pot. A nice matching pair of containers will really dress up the entry. Contact me so we can discuss other ideas for sprucing up your home.

When you're ready to list your home, go through the house and open and close every door. Rest assured, a potential buyer will do just that! Apply WD-40 to any squeaky hinges. Adjust any doors that don't open or close properly. You want the beauty of your house to stick in your buyer's mind, not the doors! Contact me. I've got lots of other little hints to make the sale of your home go more smoothly.

If you're thinking about selling, now is the time to go out and stand in front of your house with a critical eye. Are there obvious signs of wear (chipped or faded front door, loose shutters, dirty eaves)? It may even be time to get a new front door. If you aren't planning to sell, think about how much fun it will be to drive up to your house that looks so spiffy! Contact me for more great ideas on tidying up your property.

The snow is gone and the flowers aren't up yet...what can you do to bring that all important curb appeal to your house? If you have your home on the market, it's a good idea to go outside a bit earlier than you normally would and clean up the winter debris. Get rid of the late matted leaves, the twigs, etc. If you beat your neighbors to the task your house will look even better in comparison.

Energy costs are at the front of everyone's mind these days. Here are some things to think of if you are considering some home renovations:

1) Replace an old air conditioner and/or furnace. A high efficiency unit will save you up to 40% in energy cost. Place the air conditioner unit in a shaded area to save an additional 5%.
2) Seal leaks in your attic or basement ductwork (up to 25% savings).
3) Add attic insulation to an R-30 value to save up to 30%. The average 15 year old home has between R-11 and R-15 value!
4) Use a programmed thermostat for heating and air conditioning.

Worried about the cost? Good news! For 2006 and 2007, the Federal Government is offering substantial tax credits for energy savings remodeling projects. Click here to find out how much you can save!
Don't forget to list these improvements on the seller's disclosure when you put your home on the market. It adds significantly to the sales appeal when a house is going to be energy efficient.

The Price of Overpricing
The biggest reason a house doesn't sell is the asking price. An asking price must fit three basic criteria: 1) It must be competitive with the asking price of similar homes in the area, 2) It must allow for some negotiation so the buyer feels he has struck a fair agreement, 3) The final negotiated price must give the seller the highest possible return considering the condition of the property and the current market. If the asking price is too high, you can expect that few people will make an appointment to see the inside if they don't think they'd pay that price for that home based on curb appeal. If they don't see the inside, they won't have any idea if your home is worth what you're asking. Sadly, what you need to get to pay off the mortgage on your home or what you need to get so you can go out to buy another home has nothing to do with what your home's selling price. Call or email me today so I can meet with you, see your home, and suggest a fair price range. My experience and knowledge of today's market will help us set the best listing price for your home.

What a busy time of year to have a home up for sale! People expect to see a bit more clutter with Christmas decorations and all, but that's no excuse for dull faucets. Be sure to wipe off the bathroom and kitchen faucets and handles just before an open house or showing. With all the sparkle of the lights and decorations, shiny faucets will give them good competition. Email me today to talk about other tips for making your house sparkle!

It's time for the leaves to fall--a bit later this year than usual. While it's probably not possible to keep the leaves cleaned up all the time, do try to at least clean off the sidewalks and drive. That will make the whole house look neater. Email me today to talk about other autumn house showing tips.

When you make the decision to sell your home, you need to try to see it through a new set of eyes - those of the buyer. Drive by your house and check it out. Is there some ´eyesore´ that catches your eye? Some elbow grease or a little paint may be enough to change the outside completely. Consider repainting the front door. That´s an area that always catches the eye - for good or bad. Make it look welcoming. Check out other homes in your area - what about them catches your eye? Maybe you can use those ideas to update your own house. If you´re having trouble with this idea, consider hiring a House Staging Specialist. They´re worth their weight in gold!

When preparing your house for visits from potential buyers, pay special attention to the kitchen and baths. These rooms are often clinchers when it comes to showing how well-maintained your house is. Contact me today to talk about other great house showing tips.

Sprucing up the interior of your house with a fresh coat of paint is a great idea. However, the paint smell can raise suspicion with some buyers. Add 3 drops of real vanilla extract to each gallon of paint used and the paint smell will be virtually unnoticeable. Email me today to talk about other great ideas for preparing your house for selling.

Think seriously about providing a home warranty when you list your house for sale. A home warranty provides you with peace of mind while the house is on the market because it covers repairs of almost every part of the house. It is also a great selling feature because it provides peace of mind for the buyer, who will automatically be covered for most repairs for the first year. All this for less than $500 - paid at closing (even if you have to use it before the house is sold!). Email me today to talk about listing your home and signing up for peace of mind.

Worried about taking on a mortgage commitment for the next 30 years? Here´s how to take years off your mortgage loan! If you want to save thousands of dollars on your mortgage and pay off your loan at a faster rate, divide your monthly principal payment by 12 and add that amount to your monthly payment. By the end of the year you´ll have made an extra payment! For example, a $250,000 30-year mortgage at 7% (pretty high for today´s market!) would be about $1,600 per month in principal. If you add an additional $140 to that each month, you will pay off your loan 6 years early and save about $84,000 in interest! Be sure all additional payments are credited to principal, not to your escrow. There should be a place on your payment coupon where you can make that distinction. Email me today so I can help you find the perfect house and work for you to get you the lowest possible purchase price!

Spring is here and this is a great time to enhance your "curb appeal". Many potential buyers will drive past your house before asking for a showing to see inside. Therefore, while they are at your curb, your house needs to appeal to them. A great way to do this is to add some spring perennials to the front of the house. After the long winter everyone is glad to see daffodils and tulips liven up front gardens. Most garden centers will have already growing plants that you can plant right into your front garden. Be sure to introduce them to the cooler temperatures gradually before planting, though. I can help you with more ideas to help your home sell faster. Email me now to get our team together so we can get you into the home of your dreams.