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the eye catching items throughout the house. These items draw attention, and you want the buyer looking at the bones of the house and the space of the house, not your decorative items; especially if they do not like them.

Freshen up the paint. If you have any rooms with bold colors, like red, bright pink, dark blue or orange, change the paint. Keep the colors neutral like light yellow, white, beige, or tan. Even if you have some neutral colors in your home right now, make sure that the paint is in good condition. Repaint any walls with major scratches, holes or marks. Paint can also be a good friend to your kitchen cabinets. If they are outdated or have dark wood, find a paint color that compliments your countertops and flooring. Lightly sand the wood with the grain, apply a primer and two coats of paint. Be sure to use a semi-gloss or higher sheen for durability in the kitchen or bathroom.

Clean, clean, clean! Unfortunately, you should adjust your schedule to include time each morning for quick cleaning and pick-up in case there is a showing scheduled that day. Frequently, buyers can be in the neighborhood and call to arrange a showing on short notice. It is important to take an extra fifteen minutes each morning to make the beds, put away dirty dishes, and clean off the countertops in the bathroom. Prior to an open house, consider utilizing a cleaning service to get the house really clean and looking pristine.

Reduce and remove the signs of pets, because their items and odors can break the deal. Put the kitty condos and pet cages in storage along with excess toys. As with the cleaning suggestion above, make sure any cat litter boxes are cleaned on a daily basis in preparation for surprise showings. Having the carpets cleaned and investing in air purifiers may be necessary if the pet odors meet guests at the door! During an open house, make sure the pets are away from the house.

Evidence of children is much harder to hide than that of pets, but equally as important. While this may sound harsh, it can pay off big time when selling your home. First, work with your child(ren) to reduce the number of toys that are lying around the house and put the majority in storage. Confine the remaining toys to one area, preferably their bed rooms. While you may use the dining room as a playroom, it is important to show each room as its original purpose to buyers. Also, if your child's room is decorated in a theme, this could deter buyers who do not have children at all, or

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