November 21, 2008   

1. Make your terrain inviting. Remember that your landscape is often the first thing a seller will notice. Proper maintenance of your yard and planting shrubs and flowers can yield significant gains in your selling price. Doing nothing or allowing your yard to become overrun with weeds can negatively impact the sale of your property.
   
   
2. Always keep your bathroom neat and clean. It's true that your bathroom should be a comforting place. Whether it's laying wallpaper, hanging pictures or laying out matching towels like your mother did, bathrooms can bring an average increase of more than 80 percent in the selling price. Beyond the obvious, your bathroom should appear spotless and germ-free. If you notice any leaks, fix them and make all necessary repairs to the floor.
   
   
3. Give the buyer a reason to spend time in the kitchen. Buyers like a lot of space in the kitchen. Put away appliances under the sink to make room and ensure that the kitchen sink doesn't carry everything, including a leaky faucet or stains on the silver. Organize and clean the cabinets in case the seller is nosey and looks inside. To achieve the ultimate good look on the outside, consider replacing the cabinets and their accessories to achieve a natural balance that offsets the countertops. Home improvement stores will often host how-to clinics that offer innovative ideas.
   
   
4. Set your home a step ahead of the curb. In addition to landscaping, consider the little extras like window treatments, blinds, drapes, or shutters. While these little extras don't add much function to the home, when it comes time to sell the house, the return on investment will become apparent. If you must replace the roof, consider shingles that are artistic in design.
   
   
5. Splash on the Paint. To make your home look clean, fresh and like new, consider painting with neutral colors like white, beige or cream.
   
   
6. Construct an attractive foyer. The entrance of your home sets the stage for the buyer. Make it memorable and classy.
   
   
7. Don't sink the sinks. Throughout your home, make sure that your sinks are spotless. If you are unable to remove stains, invest in a new sink and faucet. When it comes time for the offer, you will be glad you did this.
   
   
8. Liven up the outside. Sun is nice, but it also shows a home's imperfections. Therefore, investing in a professional power washer will add additional value to the home's selling price. Slap on a fresh coat of paint to the door and add a simple door decoration such as a wreath or doorknocker to add distinction. Take time to also replace any broken locks, windows or storm doors.
   
   
9. Conserve energy. Energy efficiency adds overall value to the price of the home. With increased costs in natural gas, a home that conserves energy will be a better buy in the long run. Invest in heat pumps that can save money or make a call to the local gas company to find out ways you can help to drive down the cost of energy for your home.
   
   
10. Be rational with remodeling. Before you destruct in an effort to make your home more attractive, do the research to learn how much your remodeling will increase the value of your home. Sometimes it's possible to not recover the cost of the work performed. Compare your home's value with your neighbor's before performing any work and keep track of your totals. Do not remodel more than 10 to 20 percent above the home's value and avoid projects that make your home the most expensive home in the neighborhood. This is a costly mistake that homeowners make and it's often the hardest one to overcome.