Preaching to the choir

I know I have said all this before, but if you are a seller, or know a seller, here are some tips from the L. A. Times, June 22

1. Get the right mindset: once you list your home , detach yourself. Treat the house as a commodity which means making changes that will broaden its appeal, but may erase some of your personal style. ( I always tell the seller that his/her home should look like noone lives there).

2. Start at the curb: Look at what people see when they pull up. Trim hedges, prune trees, mow the lawn and plant oodles of colorful flowers.

3. Paint: It is money in a can. Outside, if a powerwash is not enough, a coat of paint is one of the best facelifts you can give a home for a relatively low price. Inside, paint walls a soft neutral such as warm beige

4. Focus on the entry:Put energy into the front door, because it makes a strong fist impression.

5. Catch up on maintenance: Get around to repairs you should have been doing all along. Fix the little stuff

6.Look for alternatives to expensive or messy upgrades: Don't take on a big remodel--it creates too much mess and time. For example, if dated cabinets still work well, consider painting or staining rather than replacing

7. Consider new appliances: Typically, sellers get back what they pay for new appliances. When buyers see new appliances, they often see "A new kitchen"

8. Add some house bling: Make anything metal in your home look new and shiny.

9. Start packing: the average home would show much better if it had less " stuff". Take out extra furniture, especially if it blocks flow of traffic.

10. Remove the "you" factory: Pack away trophies, hobbies, family pictures, etc. Depersonalizing a home lets buyers imagine themselves in it.

11. Clean house: Wipe down switch plates, light switches, doors, baseboards, etc.

12. Banish smells.:When people first walk in they should smell nothing or a nice scent such as cinnamon or potpourri. Have carpets, if not replaced, professionally cleaned.

Your job is to make buyers think, " I could move in tomorrow".