How To Make A Great Impression!      Selling your home is more than likely one of the most important financial transactions you will make. The goal is to sell your home as quickly as possible and at the best possible price.     Here are some suggestions to prepare your home for a quick sale.     First impressions, are lasting impressions!   1. Outside Appearance/Curb Appeal:        *  The lawn, landscaping and the outside of the house are the first things the buyers will see, so make sure these areas are well manicured and maintained.        *   Be sure that the yard is free of refuse and leaves.        *   Be sure your front door is fresh and clean. Freshen up potted plants if you have them and sweep the porch.        *   Be sure to do any/all the outside repairs right away.    2. Safety:        *   Keep all indoor and outside areas, especially stairways, clear and uncluttered.        *   During winter, make certain to remove all ice and snow on walkways and steps.   3. Lighting:        *   Make sure all windows, doors and screens are clean so your home appears as bright and cheery as possible. Replace/repair any of these items as need be.        *   Open and clean all drapes, blinds and curtains to let in as much natural lighting as possible.        *   Turn on all of your inside and outside lights when showing your home at night so the buyers feel welcome.   4. Fixtures:        *   Fix/replace any leaky faucets, toilets, drains and showers. Dripping water discolors sinks and faulty or worn-out plumbing.        *   Make sure doors, windows and cabinets don't stick or have missing or loose knobs. By fixing these minors flaws, you can increase your home's value.        *   Remember to check and repair any demaged or discolored caulking around bathtubs and showers. Also make sure all towel racks and grab bars are tight.        *   Make sure all light fixtures, ceiling fans and vents are clean and neat. Replace any burnt out light bulbs.   5. Rooms:        *   In general, get rid of the clutter and depersonalize the house. You want the buyers to be able to envision their furniture/stuff in the house.         *   Replace/repair faded and old carpeting, wood and vinyl flooring. Paint rooms that need to be. A fresh coat a paint can and will make a huge difference in any room or closet, by making them look bigger and brighter.        *  Remove excess furniture/stuff in all the rooms. Clean and organize all the closets. By doing these two things the rooms and closets will look bigger. You want to show off the assets of the house not hide them. Look at it like this, you are putting your house up for sale and will be moving so start right away on the packing, organizing and throwing away as you need to.        * Do not forget to display the full value of your attic, basement, garage and other utility spaces (including crawl spaces) by removing all unnecessary articles and debris and repainting or power washing if necessary.    6. Call in the Pros        *  If staging your home is too big a project to pull off by yourself, there are professionals willing to give you a hand. Call me to find out more.        UPromise: If you are not yet familiar with the UPromise program then 'get with the program!'  UPromise is an excellent tool for college savings, and Century 21 has teamed up with the UPromise program to make your home sale or purchase extra special.  To learn how UPromise can help you save for your special someone, just go to www.upromise.com  To read about how Century 21 has incorporated this program into your homesale or purchase, just go to http://www.c21reichandroberts.com/upromise_RR.html