Peter DeLuca Tucson Real Estate

1) Clean, clean, clean. Especially bathroom and kitchens. There is no time when cleanliness is more evident than when you have your home for sale. Start at the top of the room and work down. Ceiling fans or light fixtures, cold air returns and heating vents, door frames and light outlet covers. Cabinets and knobs and handles. Appliances. Windows and mirrors. Everything q tip clean.

2) Brighten. A dark room will appears smaller and uninviting. Increase wattage in the light bulbs or use clear not frosted bulbs. Remove all unnecessary layers of draperies. Open the blinds and draperies during the day.

3) Exterior Front-If you neglect the front of your home when preparing your home for sale prospective buyers may not stop to look inside. Make sure house numbers are clearly visible and the exterior light is bright enough to light the entryway for evening showings. Replace any dead plants in pots (unless it is winter and the plants are just dormant).

4) Odors. Any odor will leave an unpleasant memory in the mind of potential buyers. Pets, smoking, food and trash are unavoidable and unacceptable when your home is for sale. Remove trash immediately. Place litter boxes in trash bags to contain odor. If using candles use a neutral scent preferably vanilla and use the same scent throughout. Never leave a candle burning unattended.

5) Too Much, Too Big or Too Many. When selling the scale and amount of the furniture needs to be addressed. Removing any unnecessary furniture or relocating large pieces to a larger room will make even a small room appear bigger. Footstools and magazine racks should be stored away.

6) Closet and cabinet clutter. Clutter can kill a sale. Storage is very important to most buyers. Attempt to remove half of all items in the closet. Remove all out of season clothing and hang all remaining items on hangers all facing the same direction. In cabinets turn all cans so the label is facing front and containerize all loose items. Remove all extra food items and keep in mind even the smallest closet or cabinet can look larger with less in it!

7) Repairs. Obvious repairs need immediate attention. Tighten anything loose, fill all nail holes, replace cracked light plates and outlet covers.

Flooring. Can be expensive to change. Professional carpet cleaning can do wonders for carpet and even a dated floor can look better when sparkling clean.

9) Dead plants. Remove any dead leaves from indoor plants and exterior pots and plants. Replace dead plants to bring a fresh natural feeling to any interior.

10) Open House. Lights – music – action! Be prepared for your home to be in perfect order for interested buyers. Have the drapes open and the lights on, play soft jazz quietly and place a tray of cookies in the oven. Leave the cookies on the counter or take them with you, either way the aroma will linger long after you have left your home for the prospective buyers to linger and enjoy the ambiance you have created for their enjoyment.

Kim A. Upstone is the owner of A New Day A New Vision which is not only the name of her company, but her life philosophy. As an author, motivational speaker and intuitive designer she resides with her family in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is accredited in staging and has studied feng shui and neuro- architecture. Her first book Step by Step To Sold is a reflection of those principals. Created as guide for home sellers looking to prepare their home by combining Feng Shui and Staging techniques.

You can find more information on preparing your home by visiting http://stepbysteptosold.com or http://ANewDayANewVision.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kim_Upstone

If you have your home listed for sale, just a word of caution that they have been known to show up on Craig’s list as a rental.  We just had this happen to one of our clients whose house I have listed for sale.  It is not for rent, yet we received an email inquiry from a bona-fide customer wanting more information about the rental that she had seen on Craig’s list.    Our photos were on there, much of the property description was correct, yet neither our client or I put the property “for rent” on Craig’s list.     No one knows how it got there.     The rental listing was reported as a scam and it was ultimately removed but nonetheless, beware that this could occur with your listing!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us anytime.

For more information on how to avoid fraud and scams, check out http://tucson.craigslist.org/about/scams

The Arizona Daily Star’s annual survey to help parents compare options for pre-K through high.

The Arizona Daily Star’s 2010 survey of Tucson-area charter schools (PDF)

The Arizona Daily Star’s 2010 survey of Tucson-area magnet schools (PDF)

The Arizona Daily Star’s 2010 survey of Tucson-area private schools (PDF)

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Sweetheart Valentine’s Dance – Saturday, February 13, 2010

Sweetheart Valentine’s Dance features Big Band Express, a premier collaboration of Tucson’s finest jazz professionals with many years of experience in big bands throughout the United States. Led by vocalist, drummer, Tom Patrick, the 16-piece band features the arrangements of many of the Big Bands’ finest musicians. Adding to the excitement will be vocalist Crystal Stark, who, with her bright eyes and magnetic smile, found fame as one of 44 finalists in the fifth season of TV’s popular “American Idol.” The high finish led to appearances on shows hosted by Jay Leno, Regis and Kelly, Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen Degeneres.

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Educate yourself on current market conditions and loans available, as these change with time.  Learning all about all the options available will help you make the best financial decision.