Focus on curb appeal. First impressions matter. Consider painting the exterior of your house, trimming bushes and adding new mulch and flowers. So a house with chipping paint, overgrown bushes and patchy grass won’t make a good impression. If your house is in good shape on the outside, buyers will see it as one less thing they have to spend money on once they move in.

Staging. Staging involves deeply cleaning, decluttering, depersonalizing and arranging furnishings to make your house as appealing as possible. According to a survey by the International Association of Home Staging Professionals and StagedHomes.com, 95% of staged homes sell in 23 days or less, on average. Your goal is to make your home look like it’s ready for a photo shoot for a magazine.

Make all necessary repairs. Even minor things, such as a leaky faucet or chipped paint on a baseboard, can suggest to buyers that you might not be maintaining the house well in other ways, too. You can also hire an electrician to check all the wiring in your home, fix any problems, replace several light fixtures and add outlets to several rooms.

Set the price right. Get your house appraised before selling it, so you know its market value. You may set your price slightly above the appraisal value — but below the prices of comparable homes nearby that are for sale. It’s important to know what your competition looks like when you’re selling a home and setting a price. View listings in your area at Realtor.com, Zillow.com or Trulia.com.

Spread the word. This is key to selling your house! Post on Facebook and tell your friends before you even put it on the market. If you are involved with your kid’s schools, you can even mention it to teachers and other parents. Someone who isn’t even in the market for a new house may have secretly been longing for your home and might jump at the chance to buy it.

Prepare to Sell Your House
Home selling has become more complex than it used to be. New seller disclosure statements, longer and more mysterious form agreements, and a range of environmental concerns have all emerged in the past decade.

Find a REALTOR®
In the maze of forms, financing, inspections, marketing, pricing and negotiating, it makes sense to work with professionals who know the community and much more. Those professionals are the local REALTORS® who serve your area.

Set the List Price of Your Home
Several factors, including market conditions and interest rates, will determine how much you can get for your home. In other words, home selling is part art, part science, part marketing and part negotiation.

Market Your House for Maximum Exposure
Your REALTOR® should share a marketing plan with you, but the more you know about the process of selling your home the easier it is to support your REALTOR®’s efforts. Make your home sell fast with these tips.

Negotiate a Real Estate Offer
Perhaps the most complex moment in the sales process comes when you get an offer for your home. Whether you have one offer or several to consider, these tips will help you navigate the negotiation.

The Art of Settling
When you have a signed contract with the buyer for your home, you may feel as if you can breathe a sigh of relief. But before you can completely relax you need to get to the settlement table.

Plan Your Move
Some of the activities required to sell your home can actually help with the moving process. For example, by cleaning out closets, the basement and the attic you will have less to do once the home is under contract.

See their original article here: 7-Step Guide to Selling a House http://www.realtor.com/advice/7-step-guide-selling-house/

Pathways

Highlight pathways and trees with landscape lighting. It improves safety and can yield dramatic effects for your home’s nighttime appeal.

Landscape for Curb Appeal

Smooth the transition between the street and your front steps by landscaping for curb appeal. A clear, curved path will move visitors to the home’s entry and is pleasing to the eye. Surround a walkway with midsize shrubs and flowers; passers-by will notice plant groupings more than individual flowers, making greater street side impact.

Add Container Plants

Turn your home’s entry into an inviting focal point by adding a few well-chosen and nicely arranged plants on the front porch. Vary the plant and container sizes, and arrange them on multiple levels.

Replace Old Walkways

If a concrete walkway is in bad shape or is just dull as dirt, replace it with a fresh path made entirely of stone or brick.

Get a Healthy Lawn

One of the least-expensive improvements you can make to improve curb appeal requires two simple steps: First, apply a weed-and-feed treatment to your lawn to ensure the grass has the soil nutrients it needs and doesn’t have to compete with weeds. Second, sharpen your lawn mower blade regularly and cut the grass at or near the mower’s tallest setting.

Make the Porch Inviting

If you’re lucky enough to have a sizable front porch, use it to create a simple but inviting outdoor room. Add a comfortable bench or chairs to create a cozy nook.

Accent with Color

When repainting, take the opportunity to choose fresh colors or add an accent color to your exterior color scheme.

Restore an Asphalt Driveway

Patch and seal the surface of your driveway, filling holes and cracks with asphalt patch. Apply fresh sealer to make a worn asphalt driveway look new again.

Upgrade the Garage Door

Sectional doors can feature windows in an upper panel, and some higher-end versions can mimic the look of traditional carriage-house doors. If a new garage door is out of the question, add character with a pergola, new lighting, or by painting it to coordinate with your exterior color scheme.

Power Wash Exterior Surfaces

Take a weekend to freshen up your home’s exterior. Aluminum, wood, and vinyl siding are safe surfaces to power wash, as are wood decks and concrete sidewalks. If you don’t own a power washer, you can rent one from your local home improvement store.

Coordinate Hardware

Address numbers, mailboxes, locksets, and porch lights are perfect upgrades. Keep the finishes consistent so the pieces look like an ensemble of accessories, not a batch of mismatched hardware.

Retirement

Congratulations. If you’ve just retired and are looking for a new place to move, it’s a good idea to consider all your options. Make sure you research health care services and medical insurance, cost of living and what it will be like to move away from family and friends. Keep in mind that retiring from a job or career is also retiring from a daily routine and can take a while to get used to.  A move can either exacerbate the stress you may feel or help to relieve it. The best way to determine if moving is the right decision for you and a spouse is to try it for an extended three to six month period. This gives you a chance to see if a permanent move fits your new lifestyle.

Lifestyle or pursuing a dream

Make a list of the activities you like to do, whether it’s cycling, sailing, hiking, going to the theater and opera, or going to the beach, you may find that the area where you currently live does not allow you to pursue these activities. Or perhaps, like those living in colder climates, your activities are seasonal, limited to shorter summers or winters. Creating checklists that outline passions and goals will help determine the best areas to live that meet those needs. If you are pursuing a dream or new career consider your options first with an outside person — accountant, financial planner, spouse or other objective family member, objective friend or money coach. Following your bliss isn’t only for the wealthy, but you do need to have a cushion, especially if others are depending on you. Those without the proper financial wiggle room aren’t necessarily trapped in their current situations, but they do need to think about ways in which they can build up their bank accounts before making any kind of professional move. Maybe the most important thing to consider when following your bliss is what set you off on the journey in the first place. Are you following a dream or running away from a nightmare? Consider the reasons behind the needed change. So if you have a dream or would like to live in a place that supports a lifestyle you’ve always wanted, then make your list, take a trip, see what it’s really like, then make it happen.

Work

U.S. census data reveals that over 35 million people moved between 2012 and 2013, and a 2013 study found that close to a fifth of moves took place due to a new job or job transfer. As employers offer more flexible positions, hours and freelance arrangements, job-hopping seems to have become the new norm, with the average job tenure now at only 4.6 years. Is it a good idea to jump on the bandwagon and try out a new job in a new city? Here are a few important considerations to help you decide.

Can I afford this change?

The cost of living varies dramatically across the country, so what looks like an incredibly generous offer based on where you live now might turn out to barely be enough to get by in the location you’re considering. Before accepting a position that requires relocation, find out who’s footing the bill for your move. If your employer covers your moving expenses, this shows that they’re invested in keeping you around. Shelling out all that money yourself is risky both in terms of your initial loss and the fact that the company hasn’t given you a real sign of commitment.

How secure is this move?

To get some idea of your true risks, you’ll want to play detective and research the company making you the offer. Find out how long it has been in business, if it’s financially solvent and if it’s in any sort of trouble with customers or the law.

No matter how stable and exciting a new offer looks, job security is never guaranteed and you’ll still need a backup plan. Before deciding if a major relocation is right for you, explore the job market in that city to make sure that your prospective employer isn’t the only game in town. Your best bet is a city with plenty of other potential employers.

How will this change affect my family?

If you’ve got a family, accepting a new job isn’t all about you. Even the best relocation scenarios will cause stress for your partner and kids. Find out if this new city is a good fit for the rest of your family and if long-term gains are worth the initial upheaval. Another important consideration is your partner’s career. You’ll need to make sure he or she will be able to find suitable work in the new city and that the average salaries and cost of living there would make the move worthwhile for him or her as well.

Will I be happy in this new city?

Ultimately, accepting a job in a new city is an intensely personal decision. Taking the time to consider the lasting implications of a move rather than jumping at an exciting offer will help you choose the path that brings the most professional success and life fulfillment.

1. Know why you are budgeting.
   If you’re developing a budget just because someone says it’s a good idea, it probably won’t help very much. The reason for budgeting is to help you spend less than you earn. It shows you where your spending weaknesses are and provides the structure for you to get stronger in those areas.
2. Have a specific long term goal.
   For many people, it’s debt freedom. For others, it might be saving for a house- whatever it is; having a long term goal in mind is useful when planning a budget. An effective budget is likely going to involve a few difficult choices like reducing your entertainment budget, but knowing that these little choices are in fact adding up to something specific makes the process much more tangible.
3. Know how much you really make.
   The correct answer here is not just your annual salary, nor is it dividing your annual salary into twelve parts for a monthly budget. Instead, you should be basing your budget on your take-home pay per month, then per paycheck. This includes deductions like income taxes, work benefits, retirement contributions, etc. Make sure you know exactly what you’re bringing home as a paycheck, because that’s the number you’ll use as the framework when you budget.
4. Have some accurate data when it comes to your spending, both monthly and irregularly.
   Similarly, when you go to plan a budget, it works best if you plan it based on real numbers. This means pulling out your bills and your receipts for the last month or two – all of them – and figuring out what you’re actually spending. Your first “budget” shouldn’t actually be a budget at all – it should instead reflect your spending in an average month. Don’t forget the irregular bills, either, like homeowners’ insurance, car licenses, auto insurance, property taxes, and so on. These bills shouldn’t be “unexpected surprises” – instead, you should be planning for them throughout the year by socking away a little each month for them.
5. Be realistic.
   Budgeting is like diet planning – it’s not going to work if you make huge, unrealistic assumptions right off the bat. The same rule applies to budgeting. Don’t pledge to reduce your entertainment spending by 80% – it won’t work over the long haul. Instead, just average out what you’ve spent on entertainment for the last few months, and pledge to a cap of just 5 or 10% below that average. Then, after some time and some success, trim it a bit more.
6. Don’t be afraid to adjust.
   There usually comes a time when you’re learning to budget when you discover that some element of your budget is just not right. It’s not realistic because you forgot about some key piece of information while making your plans, and that means the budget you developed doesn’t really work. Don’t abandon your plans. Just go back to your plans, make the needed adjustments, and start over again. This is normal – it happens to everyone. It does not mean your budget was a failure at all – it just means it needed to evolve a little bit.

Many landlords shy away from renting to pet owners. But in some cases, deeming a property “pet friendly” can be a great way to attract responsible tenants that stay longer and take better care of your property than a non-pet-owning person would. Finding the right pet owner to rent to may take a little more time and energy, but it can be worth the investment. Tenants with pets are more likely to stay put for longer periods of time since it is often more difficult for them to find another pet-friendly landlord. This will mean lower turnover rates and more stable rent payments for you. When you rent to a pet owner you can legally request a pet deposit to help ensure your property is safeguarded against potential damage caused by the pet. In addition to the pet deposit, you can also often increase the monthly rent by a reasonable amount. Many pet owners are willing to pay a little more than their petless counterparts to secure a desirable apartment. A 5% increase in rent is generally considered fair to both the landlord and tenant. Well-groomed and well-mannered pets usually indicate people who are conscientious and who care about the quality of their environment.

If you are looking for a pet-friendly rental:

• Check the real estate listings for the area where you want to live.
• Pick out all of the listing that appeal to you based on your other criteria for a new home.
• Cross out any entries that specifically state “no pets”.
• Visit places that advertise as being pet-friendly first.
• If you cannot find a pet friendly rental that you like, start looking at other places. (If you like the place talk with the landlord first to let them know you are interested, then bring up the pet)
• Answer any questions your potential landlord has honestly.
• If the landlord immediately says no, you may want to ask why. (The landlord could have concerns about certain pet issues, such as smell or noise, which may not be a problem with your pet)
• If the landlord agrees to it, arrange to have him or her meet your pet
• Get a pet rider to add on to your rental agreement. (Show it to your potential landlord and go over it together)
• If you find a place where you can rent with your pet, be responsible!

Things to consider:

Pet Deposits

• Chances are, if you find a new place, you are going to have to put down a pet deposit. Although dishing out more money on top of moving costs may sound unfair, pets are known to cause messes–especially if you have one that is still not house-trained.

Veterinarian Expenses

• If you’re planning a big move that requires you and your pet to hop a flight, you’re going to need to factor veterinarian expenses into your moving budget. Many airlines will require a health certificate from a vet within a certain number of days of your flight.

Airline Transportation

• Finding an airline that accommodates your companion can also be a concern. Many airlines will require an extra fee to bring your dog along.

Review each others lifestyle habits.

• Are you a “morning” person or “night owl”? If you have opposite habits, how will you respect those differences when coming home or leaving the apartment? If you’re the morning person, how do you feel about guests coming home during the wee hours of the morning with your roommate?
• How much time do you expect to spend at home? Will one of you be working at home full time?
• Are you a “neat freak,” or a slob? How about your roommate? If you’re opposites, how will you come to terms with this difference?
• How do you feel about overnight guests? If you agree that it’s OK, you’ll also need to agree to a time limit. More than one roommate relationship has been destroyed over a guest that won’t leave.
• How do you feel about boyfriends/girlfriends who stay over? How often would you feel comfortable with them staying at your apartment? Establish these rules very specifically, including how much time girlfriends and boyfriends are allowed to hang around during the daytime. Make the joint decision that no keys are to be duplicated either for girlfriends/boyfriends or for platonic friends.
• Does either one of you own a pet? Does the other roommate have any pet allergies? Do you plan to bring home a pet in the future, either jointly or separately? Will you agree to make the decision together? And when you go your separate ways later, who will assume custody of the pet if you purchased it together?
• How do you feel about playing music? The television? How loud? How late is too late?
• How late is too late for incoming phone calls?
• Will you have parties? If so, agree to host them as roommates. Agree that no parties will be held without the other roommate’s consent.
• Is quiet time important to you? How often?
• Does either one of you smoke? If one of you does and one doesn’t, how do you feel about this arrangement? If you’re a nonsmoker and you’ve never lived with a smoker, don’t be so hasty to say, “It’s no problem.”
• Do you drink alcohol, and if so, how often? If both of you claim to be social drinkers, define what the term “social drinker” means to each of you. Does one roommate avoid drinking for moral reasons? Is one of you a recovering alcoholic? If so, how would he or she feel if you had alcohol present in your home?
• Does either roommate have a history of drug abuse, or does one of you use drugs occasionally?

Be upfront about your expectations. Set boundaries and stick with them. This applies to food, clothes, possessions, loud activities, use of common areas, parties, quiet hours, cleaning responsibilities, and so on.

Respect each others privacy and personal space. This is especially important if you share a small living area. Make a clear delineation between your stuff and your roommate’s stuff. That way you are only responsible for your things. You must always ask before “borrowing” anything, no matter if it’s trivial. Definitely take good care of any borrowed items.

Follow through with your obligations. If you say you’re going to clean the kitchen, pay your roommate back for your share of the lease or utilities, or call the landlord about a repair, then do it.

Be prepared to compromise. Not everyone has the same ideas about day-to-day living as you do. You can’t ask your roommate to change himself or herself if you’re not willing to change as well.

Clean up after yourself. This doesn’t mean that you have to be a neat freak, but don’t leave your dirty dishes in the sink for days on end, dump your things in the living room, or leave mountains of laundry all over the bedroom, especially if you share it with your roommate. Try to agree on a minimum standard of cleanliness that you’ll all abide by.

Be courteous of your roommate’s sleeping habits. If you are a night owl, keep your noise down and turn the lights down after your roommate goes to bed so you don’t disturb them. If you go to bed early, don’t get exasperated with your roommate for their late hours, but at the same time try to find ways that you can sleep undisturbed. The same thing applies for rising in the morning.

Stay flexible. Understand what’s going on in your roommate’s life, and accommodate them. If your roommate has a big test coming up, you should probably be quiet and let them study. If your roommate is busy and stressed with their job, give them some time and space to relax and unwind. Wouldn’t you like your roommate to show you the same consideration?

Share. Or decide what you will share. Decide what contents in the fridge are ok and which are off-limits. Determine whether or not a common phone line will be sufficient if one person spends a lot of time on the phone. If you borrow something, let your roommate know and (if necessary) try to replace it.

Divide responsibilities: If your roommate is a good cook and you are not, have him cook and you do the dishes. It may also be a good idea to set up a chores schedule, where you will take turns alternating cleaning the bathroom, taking out the trash, etc.

Everything is finally at the new house. You’re unpacking and you’ve started hanging paintings and filling shelves. Now that you are at home, it’s time to settle in! Here are some things you should do along with some things you could do!

• Check safety features. Make sure the home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have batteries, check the expiration dates on fire extinguishers and make sure all safety devices are in working order.
• Secure your home. The previous homeowner’s friends and family could have copies of keys, so have all outside door locks changed. It’s probably a good idea to change the garage door opener codes as well.
• Get to know your home. Find the home’s main circuit breaker and make sure it’s clearly labeled so you know which breaker turns off which area. Also, find the home’s water shutoffs.
• Scope out the area. Take a drive or a walk around the neighborhood to find the nearest grocery store, gas station, bank, hospital, post office and parks.
• Make it your own. Create a vision for how you’d like to turn your new house into your home. You can start by making simple repairs, painting and adding decorative accessories.
• Review HOA rules. We hope you already did this before you bought your home, but it never hurts to refresh your memory. Homeowners associations often have very strict rules on what changes you can and cannot make to your property, so brush up on them to avoid fines. If your community provides trash or recycling pickup, learn the schedule for these services.
• Meet the neighbors. Your neighbors can keep an eye on your home when you’re away, so introduce yourself to establish a good rapport.

For fun:

• Join a gym, Pilates or yoga studio, or even a dance studio. It’s good to immediately resume one or two activities you did before moving but this is also a great time to get into something new for exercise! You’ll likely meet people with common interests too.
• Find out what local places offer cooking classes, painting or other activities you can do with a spouse. You’ll meet other couples this way and do something exciting along the way!
• If you are interested in doing something solo like learning a new language, check out the local community college and find out what they are offering. They always have non-credit language classes available and usually for a really great price!

Moving out of a home, whether it’s a house or an apartment, can be a lot of stress. I’ve been there myself and the last thing on your mind is cleaning the place you just moved from. It’s just part of the deal, you move, you clean; whether you rent or own. So, it’s time to tackle the mystery stains and get things sparkling clean for the new owners. If you have enough people helping you move, some people can clean while others help packing and moving boxes.

Cleaning items:

• Paper towels galore or cleaning rags
• An old toothbrush
• Scrubbing brush
• Sponges with one side that scrubs
• Rubber gloves
• Broom and dustpan
• Mop
• Vacuum
• Ajax or Comet
• Ammonia
• Vinegar
• Bleach
• Multi-purpose cleaner
• Soap: dishwasher & dish soap
• Hand towels
• Garbage bags (way more than you think)
• Carpet cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Tile/floor cleaner
• Oven cleaner (if you don’t have a self-cleaning oven)

Other Essentials:

• Light bulbs
• Fire extinguisher
• Iron & ironing board
• Scissors
• Extension cords
• Flash lights
• Batteries (assorted sizes)
• First Aid Kit: Bandages, antiseptic, aspirin, ice pack, tweezers, thermometer & gauze
• Basic Tool Kit: Hammer flathead & Phillips screwdrivers, pliers, measuring tape, level, nails, screws & don’t forget the duct tape!

In the Kitchen:

• _ Clean cabinets, drawers and doors (inside and out)
• _Clean microwave
• _Clean range, hood, filter and fan
• _Clean oven, including underneath
• _Clean refirdgerator, including underneath
• _Scrub sink, faucet and countertops
• _Sweep and mop floor
• _Clean any windows and window sills
• _Dust
• _Clean and dust any lighting and other fixtures
• _Wipe down baseboards (trick: use fabric softeners for dryer, they do wonders!)

In Living Areas:

• _ Vacuum carpets and stairs
• _Clean all windows and window sills
• _Wipe down baseboards
• _Mop entryways and other hard surface floors
• _Dust (preferably BEFORE vacuuming. Dust is 80% human skin- you can vacuum most of        that up if you dust first)
• _Wipe down walls (try Mr. Clean magic eraser- it’s awesome!)
• _Clean fireplace
• _Door knobs throughout the house
• _Electrical outlets throughout the house
• _Clean blinds
• _Wipe down lighting and fixtures
• _Wipe down doors
• _Clean laundry area (machines, floors and cabinets)

In the Bedroom:

• _ Vacuum carpets and remove stains
• _Clean all windows and window sills
• _Clean blinds
• _Wipe down baseboards
• _Clean fixtures

In the Bathroom:

• _ Clean shower, tub and faucet
• _Clean sink, countertops, and faucet
• _Clean the toilet (inside and out)
• _Wipe down and clean out cabinets and drawers
• _Clean fixtures and towel bars
• _Clean mirror and any windows and window sills
• _Sweep and mop floors
• _Wipe down baseboards

Areas people often forget until the last minute-

 The Yard:

• _Weed all flower beds
• _Mow and edge the lawn
• _Remove all personal items

 Garage:

• _All trash has to be removed
• _Clean oil stains from floor
• _Sweep floor and hose out if possible

Misc:

• _Clean ceiling fan blades & draperies
• _Empty & clean out storage units and/or garage, desk and patio
• _Replace all light bulbs, including garage and outdoor
• _Replace any dead smoke detector batteries
• _Replace furnace filter (if applicable)
• _Replace garage remote/keypad batteries (if applicable)
• _Remove hooks, ceiling hooks, and any other mounted items you installed. Properly patch holes and touch up paint.

I found some useful cleaning tricks at Buzzfeed.com- click link here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/33-meticulous-cleaning-tricks-for-the-ocd-person-i#2gffa

Here are some moving tips I think you’ll find useful prior to and day of for a successful move! Most people don’t realize how much is involved with the process and find themselves completely overwhelmed and stressed out the last few weeks. In fact, most people begin to feel the stress the minute the decision to move has been made. If you create a timeline and check list, I think you’ll find you can have a less stressful move than you thought possible.

8 weeks prior:

• PURGE! Go through closets, drawers and cabinets to throw out what you don’t need or want. You can donate, have a garage sale or simply recycle what you can
• Consider doing an inventory of valuables to determine replacement values for insurance purposes
• Begin to search for moving companies; seek online, valuepak, and newspaper deals

6 weeks prior:

If you are moving out of town:

• Notify children’s schools and contact new schools for enrollment
• Have copies of their school records sent to new schools
• Notify insurance agents and find out if there will be changes to policies
• Get doctors recommendations for your new community
• Give notice of cancellation for miscellaneous items such as gym memberships, training, etc. Anything that is not transferable to your new location

4 weeks prior:

• Notify utility companies to disconnect services on your move day. If applicable the company may be setting up your new services at your new house. If not, call and activate with new utilities company for your move in date
• If needed, contact a storage facility in your new community
• Cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions (most require 30 days’ notice)
• START PACKING! Have all your boxes and supplies and begin to pack

1 week prior:

• Finish packing all boxes. Only leave out essential items
• Confirm travel arrangements if moving out of town or state
• Arrange payment or deposit for movers (if applicable)
• Make sure if you are using a moving company they have directions to your new home and a contact phone number
• Complete change of address forms with post office and notify relatives, friends and any other necessary organization of your change in address
• Notify your employers of your new contact information
• CLEAN! (Next week’s blog will have a list of cleaning tips for moving)

MOVING DAY!

• Have a box packed of items you will specifically want for your first night at your new home
• If you hired movers, do the inventory with them! Keep copies of paperwork
• Take a final tour after the movers have finished to make certain nothing is missing (you generally have 48-72 hours to report)
• Order pizza and open a beer or a bottle of wine!