Page 5 - TR Home Lawn Garden 2016

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN • THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016 5SS
the marketability of your home,” said Linda Castle, executive broker at Exit Natural State Realty in Searcy. “It shouldn’t cost more than $80.”
CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER
Some sellers stage their homes when putting them up for sale, but staging might not be an option for sellers who are still liv- ing in their homes and intend to do so un- til they find buyers. If you can’t stage your home, do your best to remove clutter, in- cluding extra pieces of furniture you might have accumulated over the years that can make rooms seem smaller. Box up any books that no longer fit on bookshelves, and try to keep common areas — such as family rooms, hallways and kids’ playrooms — as open and clean as possible so the rooms appear roomy and relaxing.
“Buyers don’t want to see your stuff,” Castle said. “They want to be able to imag- ine their own stuff in your home.”
LET THE LIGHT SHINE IN
Dark homes are less appealing to pro- spective buyers, many of whom have no interest in living in caves that are void of natural sunlight. When showing your home, make sure all of the curtains are drawn back
When looking to buy a new home, one of the first steps is to get preapproval for your mort- gage.This will help you and your real estate agent refine the options that are available.
TACKLE THAT TO-DO LIST
It’s easy for a home’s residents to grow accustomed to certain minor problems, such as a doorknob that always sticks or a creaky kitchen cabinet door. But buyers might be turned off by too many of these minor problems and wonder if any larger and more expensive issues have also been ignored. Before showing your home, ad- dress all those minor repairs on your to-do list.
Selling a home can be exciting, and homeowners can take steps to make sure their home sale is successful, and lucrative as well.
For those looking to buy a new home, Castle said the first step is to speak with a mortgage company to get pre-approved on a home loan. This will help determine the amount you are able to spend and will help narrow your choices. After that, you can start deciding on size, neighborhood and other factors.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative with contributions by Cody Graves, special sections writer
and the blinds or shades are up. If trees or shrubs outside windows are blocking natural light from getting inside, consider trimming them so your home appears sunnier and
more inviting. Bright homes tend to feel more spacious, so fix any light fixtures that need fixing, and even add small lamps in rooms that could use some extra light.