Wendy Greene 
ABR, CBA 
Licensed Georgia RealtorŪ 

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Front Door & Porch No matter how lovely your home may be behind that front door, a buyer will be turned off by crumbling front steps, a doorbell that doesn't work, creaky hinges, or chipping paint on porch columns. Give special attention to your home's front entry. Remember, first impressions are likely to color the remainder of the house tour.

11. CREATE A WELCOME SPOT OF COLOR.
There should be something special that beckons him to your front door, something that sets your home off from the other houses on the block. A bright red milk can, a tub of geraniums, a pot of floppy petunias, or a basket of nasturtiums. Invest in a new doormat that says "welcome."

12. OPEN YOUR HOME TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
A buyer approaches a home with curiosity aroused; he wants to have positive feelings. If all the curtains are drawn and the front door is locked and bolted, your home will seem like a forbidding fortress. If the curtains are open, the windows sparkling clean, and the front door open (in warm weather), your home will radiate a welcome spirit and invite the buyer to enter.

13. CAPITALIZE ON A SPACIOUS FRONT PORCH/DECK.
Take advantage of the nostalgia it evokes. Set the stage and stimulate imaginations.

Entry Hall

 

14. CREATE A DRAMATIC FOCAL POINT
Study your entry hall and ask "what kind of statement" it makes about your home. This area should "greet" and say "Welcome, your house hunting days are over." Dried flowers can make a striking focal point on a hall table any time of the year. Imagine cattails, a bunch of orange Chinese lanterns, an arching spray of bittersweet, or wheat stalks in a glowing copper planter.

15. ADD SPACEOUSNESS WITH A MIRROR.
Virtually any entry hall, will benefit from a well placed mirror (enlarges the area). Clean regularly!
16. IMPROVE THE FLOOR'S APPEARANCE HERE, IF NOWHERE ELSE.
Your entry hall flooring is observed carefully buy the prospective buyer - give them a positive attitude.

17. CLEAN OUT YOUR COAT CLOSET.
The entry hall closet is the first one inspected - make it appear roomy. Add a few extra hangers. Hang a bag of cedar chips or a potpourri ball to give a pleasant, fresh scent.

Living Room & Family Room 18. TREAT THESE ROOMS AS IF THEY WERE STAGED SETTINGS.
Buyers ask themselves, "Can I imagine myself LIVING in this room?" Your job is to make each room project a positive response. What touches make a room look truly inviting?
Music is one element. Consider leaning a guitar in the corner of your living room, or opening some sheet music on the piano with a light shinning on it.

19. HIGHLIGHT YOUR FIREPLACE.
Don't take for granted and expect the buyer to imagine the glow of a roaring fire; light one. Place something colorful on the mantel, but don't overdo!

20. IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THESE ROOMS.
Make rooms visually larger by removing excess furniture. Have easy traffic flow patterns. Be sure that all doors open fully.

21. DRAW ATTENTION TO EXPOSED BEAMS OR A CATHEDRAL CEILING.

22. DON'T LET A TELEVISION SET DOMINATE THE ROOM.

Dining Room or Dining Area 23. SET THE SCENE BY SETTING THE TABLE
You can stimulate a buyer's imagination by setting your dining table with pretty china and silver - a warm or welcome site. (Notice the photographs of dining rooms in any home decorating magazine.) Avoid going overboard - any stage setting that you create should reflect the character of your entire home - to be effective.

24. VISUALLY ENLARGE A SMALL DINING AREA.
If your dining table has one or two leaves take one or two out. Consider placing your dining table against a wall. Remove any extra "company" chairs. Consider putting that looming China cabinet in storage until your house is sold. Aim for a clean and tidy look.

The Kitchen The kitchen continues to be the "heart of the home." A pleasant, working kitchen is near the top of most buyers' list of priorities.

25. USE PROPS TO SET A CHEERFUL SCENE.
Set the scene with: - An open cookbook - A cooper colander filled with blueberries - A basket of eggs - A bunch of carrots on a wooden cutting board - A ceramic mixing bowl and wire whisk.

26. MAKE IT SMELL LIKE GRANDMA'S KITCHEN.
"Nothing' says lovin' like something from the oven." These aromas are associated with happiness and a sense of well-being. An original kitchen aroma can be created on top of your stove, or here's a mix guaranteed to have buyers longing to whip up a batch of cookies in your kitchen:

GRANNY'S AROMATIC SECRET
-1 whole nutmeg
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
Halve the nutmeg and add all ingredients to 3 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower to simmer. In the heat of summer, a bowl of lemons on the counter will also provide a fresh and pleasant aroma.

27. EXPAND YOUR SMALL COUNTER SPACE.
Clean counters of small appliances. Check the counter top around your sink, and remove any detergent or cleanser, etc., that may be cluttering the area.

28. CREATE MORE STORAGE SPACE.
If your cabinets, drawers, and closets are jammed full, buyers assume that your storage space is inadequate. Weed out all these areas, removing what you don't use, storing seldom-used items elsewhere, and reorganizing shelves. Neat, organized shelves and drawers look larger than they really are.

29. ACCENT KITCHEN WINDOWS.
Large, cheerful kitchen windows are a real plus and should be highlighted as a special feature of your home. Hang a stained glass mobile or some wind chimes in front of your sunny kitchen window. If you hang a bird feeder outside your window, nature will seem to become part of the room.

30. HIGHLIGHT AN EAT-IN AREA OF YOUR KITCHEN.
Accentuate by setting the table for an informal meal with bright placemats and a generous bowl of fruit as a centerpiece.

Laundry Room A separate laundry room is a true asset and is appreciated by all buyers. Don't hide this treasure behind closed doors. Spruce up the room and leave the door proudly open for inspection.

31. MAKE IT CHEERFUL AND APPEALING.
Add a fresh coat of paint! Is it well organized? Piles of dirty laundry can be a real turn-off to the buyer's eye - and his nose!

32. SET IT UP TO DO DOUBLE-DUTY.
If there's room for a table and chair, could it be a pleasant sewing area? Set up that old Singer and place a bright colored piece of fabric under the presser foot.

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Wendy Greene
ABR, CBA, Licensed RealtorŪ
   
Contact
Home Office: (770) 304-1080
               Home Office - Atlanta: 1-800-477-1080
Cell Phone: (678) 938-1247 
          E-Mail: wgreene2@bellsouth.net
          
      Office - Atlanta: (404) 843-2500 
         

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INFORMATION IS DEEMED RELIABLE, BUT IS NOT GUARANTEED

Subject to omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice.
If your property is listed with a broker, this is not an inducement to list your property.