Suggestions and ideas to improve your house's appearance and help you prepare to sell it faster!

Here are some inexpensive ways to maximize your home's appeal:

Throughout the House

• Open the draperies, pull up the shades, and let in the sunlight.

• Create a positive mood. Turn on all lights, day or night, and install higher wattage light bulbs to show your house brightly.

• Remove clutter from each room to visually enlarge them.

• If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating.

• Keep your house dusted and vacuumed at all times.

• Replace the carpet if it does not clean well.

• Have a family "game plan" to get the house in order quickly if necessary.

• Air out your house for one-half hour before showings, if possible.

• Lightly spray the house with air freshener so it has a chance to diffuse before the buyer arrives.

• Put family photos in storage.

• Improve traffic flow through every room by removing unnecessary furniture.

• Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorative accents and removing unnecessary furniture.

• Putty over and paint any nail holes or other mishaps in the walls.

• Paint all interior walls a neutral color to brighten the house and make it look bigger.

• Repair or replace any loose or damaged wallpaper.

• Clean all light bulbs and light fixtures to brighten the house.

• Wash all windows inside and out.

• Use plants in transitional areas of your house.

• Make the most of your attic's potential.

• Remove and/or hide excess extension cords and exposed wires.

• Open doors to areas you want potential buyers to see as walk-in closets, pantries, attics, etc...

• Remove all smoke and pet odors.

• Repair or replace banisters and handrails.

In the Kitchen

• Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before a showing and place it in an out-of-the-way place.

• Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.

• The kitchen and bathrooms should always be spotlessly clean.

• Expand your counter space by removing small appliances.

In the Bedrooms

• Create a master suite effect in your decorating.

• Depersonalize bedrooms and decorate in a neutral scheme.

• Make sure that the beds are made and the linens are clean.

• Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.

In the Bathrooms

• Do not leave towels around and wipe down the sinks and shower areas after each use.

• Re-caulk the tub if the caulk is not sparkling white.

• Repair or replace broken tiles in the shower/tub.

• Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.

• Put out fresh towels and decorative soaps.

Outside

• Keep the yard mowed and raked at all times.

• Use flowering plants to dress up the yard, walkway, and patio.

• Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, and trash from the yard.

• Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios, and other extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good condition.

• Paint all entrance doors.

• Make sure the garage door opens easily. Fix and paint the garage door if necessary.

• Clean and shine all hardware and accessories indoors and out (door knobs, knockers, lamps, mailbox, address numbers, etc...)

• Trees and shrubs should be trimmed and pruned.

• Use a new doormat.

• Be sure the front doorbell is in good working order.

• Be sure the front door and screen door work perfectly.