Should I "redo" my kitchen before I sell?

Getting your house in top shape is important when welcoming potential buyers inside. But you don’t want to forget about enticing buyers from the outside as well. Your yard is definitely part of the first impression and having it in tip-top condition can help set the tone of any visit. Unfortunately, summer’s scorching sun can often work against you. Here’s how you can keep your garden and yard looking healthy and beautiful even in the hottest months:
1. Keep watering. Set up a sprinkler in your yard and make sure your flowers and grass get water daily. You’ll save water — and plants — by only watering in the evenings or early mornings when the sun isn’t beating down.
      The bottom line: Homeowners are happier and more satisfied with their lives. Why? A couple of factors could be the government’s policy of promoting homeownership and the positive social outcomes of homeownership, Dietz says
2. Choose summer flowers. When planting your garden, always keep in mind the amount of sun and heat flowers might receive. With a little bit of TLC, your snapdragons and petunias will maintain their blooms throughout the summer.
3. Fertilize. When fertilizing summer blooming flowers, use a fertilizer high in phosphorus or use a “bloom booster” formula. This will help stimulate flowering throughout the summer, ensuring your garden will always look its best.
If all else fails, hire a local landscaping company or gardening center to plant a season of colorful flowers. While this is an additional cost, it’s worth it if it helps your house sell faster and at a higher price.

This months joke:

Question:What do you call a nervous celery stalk?

Answer:An edgy veggie.

Moving with Children

For America’s youngest movers, moving to a new home can be an unsettling experience. The excitement of meeting new friends or decorating a new room is often outweighed by fears of losing touch with old friends or fitting in at a new school.

Here are some tips to help ease the anxiety children may feel when changing addresses, from Allied Van Lines:

• Include your children in decorating decisions for the new room.
• Assign your children a box to pack, or glassware to wrap, so they feel involved.
• Familiarize them with your new neighborhood, and locate some of your family’s favorite restaurants and store chains. This will help your children feel more at home.
• Introduce yourself to your new neighbors before moving, and invite them and their children over to get acquainted

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A major kitchen overhaul probably doesn’t make sense when you’re ready to sell. But you’ll want to do all you can to make your kitchen look its best.

* Paint – A fresh coat is an easy, inexpensive way to brighten and revive any room.

* Countertops – If your countertop tile is old, grungy or outdated, how about new tile? Try to keep it neutral.

* Faucet – Update the old stainless steel faucet with a new stylish replacement

Have questions? email Risa at questions@risa.net or call her at 1-800-699-4901

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Use This Moving Truck for FREE      

RE/MAX Town & Country Realty has a moving truck (pictured above) that our clients can use FREE for their local (inside the Metro-Orlando area) moves. When Risa helps you buy or sell a home, just let her know that you would like to use the RE/MAX Moving Truck. Then Ray, the Moving Truck Coordinator, will coordinate your reservation to use the truck for a 24 hour period and outline all of the details for the truck’s use. Tell Risa early on in your transaction that you’d like to use the truck to make sure that you can reserve the best time for your move! We’re glad to be able to offer this additional service to our clients. Risa Saltman wants to help make your moving process as smooth, enjoyable and efficient as possible.

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