Five Easy Fixes to Make Your Home More Inviting!

1. Place a box of chocolates and a water pitcher with lemon slices in the kitchen.
2. Hide pet toys, bowls, and litter boxes.
3. Heat an apple pie in the oven.  Studies show that the smell of baked goods makes people nostalgic for childhood.
4. Light candles in every room to create a glow.
5. Put away toilet brushes, plungers, sponges, toothbrushes, and medications.

More Tips

• Get a fruit bowl---because a bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen sends a subliminal message that the buyer’s life will be both bountiful and abundant.
• Head East----that’s the side of the room where people seek warmth and relaxation, say experts----so place a comfy sofa on that side of the den.
• Go Green---the color symbolizes new opportunity—position a green mat outside your front door.
• Avoid Red---it’s the color of discord---too much crimson causes mental fatigue and argumentative feelings—neutral colors keep prospective buyers calm and interested.
• Mirror Magic---capturing light is only one benefit of hanging mirrors around your house—experts say buyers will “see” themselves in the home when they walk by a mirror, helping them feel a connection.

Clear Up the Clutter

1. Fast fix for the linen closet.  Do the towels on your shelves look as rumpled as those in the hamper?  Try folding them so that all decorative bands line up.  Or roll and stack towels, which evokes the image of a high-end hotel or spa.
2. Color-code clothes.  Crammed closets look chaotic.  Hang clothes in order, from light to dark, for an upscale-store feel.
3. Create cozy nooks.  Cluster furniture in snug conversation areas, leaving a clear pathway 20 inches wide.  Your goal: intimate but not cramped.
4. Don’t forget the kitchen.  Organizing underneath the sink makes everything look orderly—even the plumbing.
5. Keep mantels sparse.  Put away all but a few well-chosen accessories.  The empty space allows buyers to imagine their own knickknacks decorating the house.
6. Spruce up shelves.  In the kitchen, turn all cans and boxes so that the labels face outward, giving cupboards a tidy grocery-store appeal.
7. Remove family photos.  Depersonalizing the space makes it easier for others to see the house as their own.
8. Hide the cosmetics.  Put all toothbrushes, razors, and night creams in a makeup bag in the hallway closet.  No buyer wants to imagine other people attending to hygiene issues in their future home.
9. Set an attractive table.  Help visitors imagine a warm evening in their new home by clearing off the table, then setting it for dinner.

Easy way to increase sales price

Painting or replacing the front door is a cost-effective way to enhance a home's curb appeal, generate buyer interest in slow markets and add value, according to real estate industry experts. A study by Therma-Tru Doors found that upgraded entrances can boost a residence's perceived value by 3.2 percent to 6.6 percent. A brand-new entry will cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000, though homeowners should not expect to recoup all of their investment. Double-door entrances are gaining popularity, as are durable, lower-priced Fiberglass doors. When it comes to colors, reds, charcoals, greens, browns and navy are favorites. Other than jazzing up their front door with a new paint job, homeowners also could refinish wood doors.