| As a seller, your home must compete favorably with | | | | thoroughly and then repainting just the trim and crown |
| all the other houses in its neighborhood and price range. | | | | moldings. As with the doors, paint trim a bright, shiny |
| That means you should make your home as saleable | | | | white. Besides looking CLEAN, white goes with just |
| as possible, but it doesn't mean you have to spend a | | | | about any décor your potential buyers may |
| great deal of money to obtain great results. Here are | | | | have. For wall colors, consider the preferred colors |
| a few quick home selling tips to give your home an | | | | your potential target buyers favor along with your |
| advantage, without breaking the bank in the process. | | | | selling season. Use cool colors to sell during hot |
| 1. A great-looking front door will give buyers a positive | | | | weather and warm colors to sell in cool weather. |
| first impression and may lead to a much quicker sale | | | | 5. In the bathroom, soften the hard surfaces with plush |
| of your home. Besides painting the front door or | | | | towels folded and stacked like in a spa. Replace |
| replacing it, another designer trick--covering the door | | | | water-stained shower curtains. If you can't get stains |
| with wood-stained strips--adds weight and glamour. | | | | out of the porcelain, try pool cleaners (with plenty of |
| (Look for tongue and groove bead board at your | | | | ventilation!) or replace. Buyers do not like stained |
| home improvement center.) | | | | bathtubs, toilets, or sinks. |
| 2. Look at the doors inside your house. If the doors are | | | | 6. Besides the bath, the kitchen is an important room |
| ugly, old, cheap-looking brown wood doors, you can | | | | when it comes to selling your home, so consider |
| either replace them (which could get spendy, although | | | | painting your kitchen cabinets, especially if they're the |
| you can get nice pre-hung six-panel wood doors for | | | | old dark-stained wooden style. You only have to paint |
| around $30.00 at home improvement centers) or paint | | | | them shiny white on the outside. You can leave the |
| them a bright white, which will add a touch of class to | | | | insides dark. The idea is to impress potential buyers |
| your home. Use a shiny high gloss or semi-gloss paint | | | | with their bright, clean look from the outside. If they |
| to obtain the most effective results. | | | | want to paint the insides, they're free to do that after |
| 3. Along with the shiny white doors, consider replacing | | | | they've bought your home. |
| the door handles, especially if the original ones are | | | | 7. Pack your personal treasures to lighten up your |
| rusty or have a number of coats of old paint on them. | | | | rooms and to give buyers a chance to imagine their |
| They don't have to be expensive. You can get them | | | | possessions in the space. |
| for as little as $10.00 or so at home improvement | | | | These improvements don't have to cost a great deal, |
| stores. They come in many styles, and you might | | | | they're relatively easy for homeowners to do |
| consider getting something a bit fancier for the master | | | | themselves, and they can add dollars to the offers |
| bedroom and bath. | | | | you'll see--not to mention shortening the time of sale. |
| 4. Of course, if the wall paint is badly in need of | | | | So look around your home and see if you can't do |
| attention, you should take care of that. However, if the | | | | some sprucing up BEFORE buyers begin to visit. |
| walls are in good shape, consider just washing them | | | | Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. |