Tips for sellers

 * No one cares more than you do whether your house sells quickly and for the price you are happy with. Make sure that everyone in the family fully understands what is involved and is actively committed to the home selling process. Selling your home will take some work, but it needn't be an overwhelming task. Be flexible, adapt to the situation when you have to, and your house will soon be sporting that SOLD sign you so long to see.

Hold a garage sale to dispose of unwanted and unused furniture and appliances, odds and ends you've been saving for a rainy day, and generally anything you haven't used in the last five years.

Weed out every closet mercilessly (you'll thank yourself when you start packing!) and don't forget the garage. Keep only the things you use regularly. Your home will look more organized, more spacious and more inviting. Men and women have uniquely different opinions about what's important in a home. Well-appointed kitchen and bathrooms, and spacious cupboards top the list for women and for men, they are drawn to the basement and garage as well as workshops and storage areas.

Take care of all the little maintenance tasks you never seem to have time for. Go through the house, room by room, and make a list. (I can help you with this) Open every door and window, turn on every faucet and check every lamp.

Repair leaky faucets, oil squeaky hinges, tighten loose doorknobs, make sure windows and doors open and close smoothly, and change the burnt light bulbs. - Buyers notice.

It's amazing how much better your home can look with a fresh coat of paint and how much value it can add, for little cost. You don't have to repaint everything, but do consider freshening up the rooms that need it most. Outside, a gallon of paint on exterior trim, wooden stairs and banisters can also do wonders for your home's appearance. Label left over paint cans for the new owners.

Curbside appeal is a big drawing card for homebuyers. Not only is it the first thing they notice when they arrive, it's the face they'll present to the world if they buy. Make the most of this opportunity and spend some time tending to your lawn and garden. Mow the grass, trim the hedges, plant some flowers and weed the garden. Make sure the driveway and walkways are clean and obstacle - free. Your efforts won't go unnoticed.

Now that you've been through the cupboards and removed all the needless clutter, get everyone in the family involved and clean the house from top to bottom. Make sure everything sparkles and - here's the hard part - vow to keep it that way! Make sure pet areas are clean and fresh smelling, toys and games are stored neatly, tapes and CD's are tidy, and clutter of newspapers and old magazines are removed. Don't forget that beds are made and dishes are done before you leave for work in the morning.

Most buyers have certain priorities in mind when they shop for a house. By the time they finally make an offer to purchase, they may have visited several home that meet their basic needs. What makes the buyer choose one home above the others?

Once the basic requirements have been met, choosing a home becomes an emotional decision for many buyers. They may weigh the pros and cons carefully, but in the end they'll often choose the one that "feels" right - the one that feels most like a home they'd like to live in.

So how do you make your house feel like a home to someone else? The trick is to communicate subconsciously by appealing to the five senses. Try these special secrets practiced by many of my clients to tip the scales in your favour.