When you're getting ready to put your home on the market -- clearing clutter is the answer. No matter how lovely it could be, prospective buyers just can't picture it as their own and will usually pass or make an offer for much less than the seller thinks the home is worth if it is cluttered. Yes, packaging matters. It matters when you're buying a product in a store and it matters when you're selling your home.

Leave some art work on the walls, make it look like a home, but put away unnessecary items.  A prospective buyer needs to picture themselves in the home.  A fresh coat of white paint makes a room appear cleaner and bigger.   

I found a site that is fun to visit and has many ideas for transforming some of the things you already own.  Their ideas are great for transforming a room or some things you have lying around the house.  Each project contains step-by-step instructions that make it easy to turn an ordinary object into something extraordinary for as little as the cost of a can of paint. Have kids?  They even have rainy day projects for them.  A little inspiraton may help spark some of your own ideas.  The site is www.paintideas.com

In the past few years, metal roofs have become increasingly popular with homeowners across the country.  Although one of the reasons is the introduction of new designs that replicate the look of traditional residential roofing materials, many homeowners find metal roofing's less obvious advantages-such as energy savings and potential tax benefits-to be even more attractive. Among the most compelling benefits are the opportunity to save money on their home energy costs and the potential for long-term cost savings over the total life of the roof.  New metal roof coating technologies can dramatically reduce the amount of energy needed to cool a home during the summer.  This is especially good news for homeowners here in Florida.

It's not unusual to find mold & mildew in bathrooms, laundry rooms or kitchens.  Mold & mildew grow best in warm, humid areas of your home.  Cleaning may remove it but contorolling it is to prevent it before it starts.  Here are some tips:

Control moisture-repair leaks.  Keep airflow constant in high humidity areas by installing exhaust fans.  Remove excess moisture with a dehumidifier and consider replacing solid doors with louvered doors to improve ventilation.  By controlling airflow and controlling moisture, you'll create a dry environment that discourages growth of mold and mildew.  Clean. Remove the mold and mildew with a cleaner specifically formulated to remove mold and mildew stains.  Prevent-after removing the mold & mildew, prevent it from coming back with two coats of mold and mildew proof interior paint.

Well, that's it for this month.  I hope to have a new updated newsletter at the beginning of each month.  There is a lot of news and information in the real estate world and I want to keep you informed.  March is just a few days away, spring is just around the corner.  Enjoy it well. Linda Steele