Putting your home on the market involves some work. There may be repairs to make, cleaning to do, and perhaps some painting. But one of the first and most important things you can do before putting your home on the market is to de-clutter it as much as possible.

The objective is to make the home appear open and inviting when you are welcoming prospective buyers. The reality is a clutter-free home looks more spacious. Think less is more!

The first step is to decide what items are essential for everyday living. Once you’ve established that, you can begin to sort through the rest of your things. It helps to organize items into three categories, one to keep, one to sell and one to donate.

Having a garage sale is a great way to begin your de-cluttering process. After the sale, you may wish to donate any items that didn’t sell.

Once you have decided which of the items you are keeping, it is best to pack up and store off-site your personal items like collections and photos.

This allows the buyer to visualize the space being their own, and prevents them from being overwhelmed and distracted by your stuff.

De-cluttering your home can be quite a process, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get the job done right.

If you have a lot of things to get rid of it may be wise to consider a junk removal service. These companies specialize in residential cleanup and will remove unwanted items - from small items to old furniture, appliances, etc. - from your home. They do all of the loading and cleanup for one predetermined price.

If you are overwhelmed by the process, or have accumulated a vast inventory of items over the course of many years, you may want to check out The STACKS Organizational System. It is a step-by-step method for dealing with de-cluttering and organizing your home.

Whether you decide to tackle it on your own or with the help of a professional, begin the process as soon as you make the decision to sell your house and keep chipping away until you get the results you want. Not only will you be getting your house in perfect “show” condition, you will also be preparing to make your packing and moving experience a much lighter, organized and easier one.

You’ve received an offer on your home, now what? Remember once you accept an offer, that offer quickly becomes a legal binding contract to sell. So, before you accept any offer there are a few steps you should take to make sure the deal is in your best interest.

1. First find out if the buyer has been pre-approved for the mortgage loan. Many deals are either held up or get canceled because the buyer can’t obtain financing - thus wasting valuable time.
2. Find out if the buyers is expecting you to pay for repairs or agent commissions. Add these together and subtract that number from the offer they are proposing. This number represents the actual offer they are making.
3. Ascertain is what your absolute bottom line is. Make certain that you research your costs and do the math.
4. Once you obtain the balance of your mortgage, ask your real estate attorney to estimate closing and escrow costs you will be responsible for.
5. These numbers will determine whether you are going to profit or pay out of pocket to close the deal.
6. The offer will have an expiration date. Most buyers will give you enough time to consider the offer carefully. However, If the deadline you have been given is short, find out why. Most of the time, if the buyer feels there are other interested parties, the deadline will be shortened in hopes of getting their offer accepted first.
7. Alert any other serious, interested parties that you have an offer on the table. Multiple offers can lead to a bidding war and reward you with the best possible deal.
8. Above all, consult with the experts. Be sure to have your attorney review the contract prior to accepting it. He can fine tune it and make suggestions you may have overlooked.

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, why not check out the 2010 Saratoga Home and Garden Show. According to the promoters the show features over 100 exhibits including products and services for your home and garden. In addition, there are seminars with a wide variety of topics.

All of the show’s proceed benefit the Saratoga Rotary and are distributed to community organizations, youth scholarships, and international humanitarian projects.

So with spring coming, this is a great event to get ideas for your Saratoga Homes and Gardens.

Dates, Time and Location - 2010
Friday, February 26, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, February 27, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday, February 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saratoga Springs City Center on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs

Admission

Adults $6; kids 5-12 $1; under 5 free

Governor David A. Patterson has announced that Amanda’s Law take effect as of today, Feb 22, 2010. The bill was signed into law in August of last year.

It is named for Amanda Hansen of West Seneca, New York who died while sleeping at a friends house on January 17, 2009 as a result of a carbon monoxide leak from a defective furnace.

The law requires that all homes in New York State that burn fuel which could result in carbon monoxide production must have a carbon monoxide detector.

The alarm must be installed on the lowest floor of the home having a sleeping area, and must be clearly audible from all sleeping areas with the doors closed.

Carbon monoxide is produced when any type of fuel burns incompletely. Depending on the levels in the environment, it can take minutes or hours to become deadly.

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and tasteless making detection of it in a home impossible without a warning device.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can mimic that of the flu. They include fatigue, dizziness, impaired memory and judgment, headache, nausea and vomiting eventually leading to nervous system damage, cardiac trauma, brain damage, coma and death.

By the time someone realizes there is a problem they are frequently too incapacitated to get out of the home safely and get the help they need.

Under the new law homes built before January 1, 2008 can have battery-powered CO alarms. Homes built after this date must have alarm systems hard-wired into the building.

Amanda’s Law also make contractors responsible for installing a CO detector in a home when replacing a furnace or hot water tank if the home is not already equipped.

Governor Patterson and the OFPC would also like to remind homeowners that in addition to installing a CO detector, they should take the following actions to ensure they are reducing their risks and keeping themselves and their families safe.

• Test / replace detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Have a qualified technician inspect and clean heating systems, chimneys, vents and flues annually
• Examine vents and chimneys regularly. Check for rust, soot and debris as well as improper connections
• Never allow a vehicle to run in an attached garage
• Never run a fuel powered motor indoors
• Never use your homes gas oven as a heat source
• Always use barbecue grills outdoors, not in a garage or house
• Don’t forget to install smoke alarms on every level of the house and near sleeping areas

I recently read “3 People the Homebuyer Tax Credit Helped” on CNNMoney.com about 3 real life people who took advantage of the homebuyer tax credit. It got me thinking about what a great opportunity this can be for first time buyers who are on the fence about purchasing a home.

The  program is part of the stimulus bill  created by Congress. It offers up to a $8000 tax credit to first time home buyers as an incentive to boost home sales.

I know from personal experience that when you’re purchasing a home for the first time, $8000 added to your budget can make a huge difference. In fact it could make the difference between deciding to purchase and feeling like you just can’t quite swing it financially.

The article sited 3 different people from different parts of the country who took advantage of the credit. In all 3 cases, the tax credit had a huge impact on their ability to purchase a home.

Rob Logan purchased his home in October 2009. “I wouldn’t have been able to afford my house without it, it was one of the main reasons I started looking”.

More good news! The original credit expired in November, but due to the popularity of the program has been extended to April 30, 2010. There is talk of a further extension as well.