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10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable

1.      Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2.      Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3.      Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4.      Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5.      Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6.      Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7.      Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8.      Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9.      Clean your gutters.

10.  Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale

1.      Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.

2.      Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.

3.      Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a seller.

4.      Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.

5.      Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.

20 Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home

Make your home more appealing for potential buyers with these quick and easy tips.

1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows and cut down on light.
2. Buy a new doormat.
3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
4. Put new doorknobs on your doors.
5. Put a fresh coating on your driveway.
6. Edge the grass around walks and trees.
7. Keep your garden tools out of site.
8. Be sure kids put away their toys.
9. Buy a new mailbox.
10. Upgrade the outside lighting.
11. Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel.
12. Polish or replace your house numbers.
13. Clean your gutters.
14. Put out potpourri or burn scented candles.
15. Buy new pillows for the sofa.
16. Buy a flowering plant and put it in a window you pass by frequently.
17. Make a centerpiece for your table with fruit or artificial flowers.
18. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.
19. Buy new towels.
20. Put a seasonal wreath on your door. 

Moving Tips for Sellers

1.      Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually two to four weeks ahead of the move.

2.      Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address.

3.      Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the move.

4.      Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.

5.      Cancel the newspaper.

6.      Check insurance coverage for moved items. Usually movers only cover what they pack.

7.      Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.

8.      Note the weight of the goods you’ll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.

9.      Check with your condo or co-op about restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits.

10.  Have a “first open” box with the things you’ll need most—toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.

                                          Plus, if you’re moving out of town:

1.      Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family and your pets.

2.      Get copies of children’s school records for transfer.

3.      Ask friends for introductions to anyone they know in your new neighborhood.

4.      Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.

5.      Let a friend or relative know your route.

6.      Carry traveler’s checks or an ATM card for ready cash until you can open a bank account.

7.      Empty your safety deposit box.

8.      Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you’re moving in cold weather.

6 Items to Have on Hand for the New Owners

1.      Owner’s manuals for items left in the house.

2.      Warranties for any items left in the house.

3.      A list of local service providers—the best dry cleaner, yard service, etc.

4.      Garage door opener.

5.      Extra sets of house keys.

6.      Code to burglar alarm and phone number of monitoring service if not discontinued.

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How to: home remodeling and repair