by Angela Harris

Created on: March 25, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Everyone gets at least a little stressed when selling their home. Often a lot of things are going on simultaneously- moving, finding another home, changing schools, and more. And if a house isn't sold quickly enough, often homeowners are burdened with two separate mortgages. To reduce the chances of this happening to you, and increase the odds of a quick real estate sale, follow these useful tips.

"Curb appeal" is the most important item to consider when preparing a house for resale. Curb appeal means the appearance of a house from the outside as a home buyer is driving past the house. Why is this so important? Because no matter how beautiful its interior, if the outside of your home looks neglected, it is very difficult to convince home buyers to tour the inside.

With that in mind, be sure to keep the lawn mowed and shrubs manicured. Always keep driveways and sidewalks swept. A little bit of landscaping goes a long way. Buy inexpensive annual flowers and plant them in pots on the front porch or hang them from the eaves off the deck.

Also pertaining to curb appeal is the front door. This is your home's first important impression to potential home buyers. This is when they really start to notice details. So make sure that the front door is squeaky clean. This is an area where a little paint goes a long way.

Add a homey wreath, wind chimes or other decoration on the front door or near the front entry. Pots of flowers near the entry make the house seem more like a home. Anything that will add a welcoming feel and make the home seem newer and cleaner is worth the effort and money, especially in this important entry area. If the current front door needs repair or is outdated, replace it with a new door.

The thing to most make a house feel like a home to visitors when they come through the door is the sense of smell. If you enjoy baking, bake bread or cookies right before an open house. If you don't have time or the desire to do the real thing, place a pot on the stove, fill with water, sprinkle some cinnamon in it, and let it simmer. Also, some nice cinnamon scented candles or coffee scented ones are good substitutes. If you can afford flowers with a nice scent, buy them and place them somewhere near the entry.

And by all means, don't have offending odors in the house. If you have pets, put them in the kennel, outside, or a friend's home. Anywhere but in the house when prospective buyers are visiting. Not only do you not want their scent in the house, but a lot of people

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