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See Things in a New Light

Rearrange the Furniture
Remember that the purpose of this preparation is to sell your home fast. What worked for your family may not work for an open house. You may need to call in help from friends or a pro to help you rearrange the furniture for a smooth traffic flow and maximum impact.

Accessorize
Rethink your accessories in every room. Keep in mind -- uncluttered, elegant, color-coordinated, beautiful. Again, less is more, so pare down and box up anything "extra" or unneeded.

Fresh Flowers and Plants
Look carefully at your houseplants. If they're leggy, dying, or otherwise scraggly, it's time to give them a new home or toss them out. Start over with some new plants. There are some services in larger cities that will rent houseplants, so that may be an alternative to buying everything new.

Be sure to place the plants in clean and attractive containers that will contain and reduce any problems from excess watering.

Turn Up the Light
Dark areas are uninviting, so keep the lights on. Some quick fixes might include opening the blinds, adding lamps, increasing bulb size, or replacing dated light fixtures. You might consider buying several inexpensive uplights; placing them in corners, on top of a tall armoire, or behind plants to create an interesting layer of light.

Bathrooms
Clean and neat is obvious. But also consider replacing torn and frayed old towels with a couple of fresh new ones. Put a flowering plant on the vanity, and remove all personal care items from the countertops. Put the dirty laundry somewhere else (perhaps in the washer). Polish the mirror until it glows. If you have room a small table lamp can give a warm glow to this room.

Keep It Up
Maintain Don't undermine your hard work by ignoring basic maintenance during the weeks your home is being shown. Keep up on watering the plants, polishing the mirrors, dusting the front door, and keeping clutter at bay.

Pets
I know that my pets are part of my family, but prospective buyers may not be quite so attracted to them. If you can, take your pets and their paraphernalia to a neighbor's or a relative's home when showing your house. If that's not possible, put them outside or in a closed room.

Appealing Extras
Many realtors suggest baking bread or cookies to fill a home with a wonderful aroma. Practically speaking this may not be possible every day, but you might keep it in mind for open houses or repeat visits by potential buyers. Or buy some potpourri and refresher oil in a non-offending fragrance like cinnamon or vanilla.

Floor Plans
If you have a clear floorplan of your home (perhaps from your builder) include it on the back of your home information sheet. It will help refresh the memory of buyers and help set your home apart from all the others they've seen. The plan should be professionally drawn, including room measurements.

Staging Relaxing Areas
Think of each room as a "set" that you can decorate any way you please to increase your home's sense of peace, warmth, and order. Consider some of these ideas:

• Set up a tea service at a small table by a window overlooking a garden.
• Place an open book and cozy throw on the upholstered chair in your bedroom.
• Pile an attractive bowl with fresh fruit on the kitchen island.
• Display a vase of fresh (very fresh) flowers in the entry hall.
• Arrange some beautiful cookbooks on the desk in your kitchen.

In short, have some fun with a few accessories here and there, making interesting little vignettes that say “Welcome ". They could very well help sell your home in record time and for a higher price!