Maintain The Yard:  A few hours of hard work on the lawn makes a big difference.  Keep the lawn mowed, pull weeds, trim shrubs and trees, and mulch flower beds.  A buyers first impression is a lasting one. Some say a buyer makes up their mind about a home in the first few seconds.  If that is true, be prepared when they drive up.  Curb appeal is everything.

Clean Windows Inside And Out: Remove old cobwebs, repair torn screens and broken glass, and pay attention to how your widow treatments look from the outside.

Use Light For A homey Feel:  Keep existing light fixtures clean and in working order.  Consider installing additional fixtures to illuminate the walkway or landscaping of your home.

Pressure Wash Surfaces:  Driveways, walkways, decks and the exterior walls of your home, including brick and stone.  All can look brand new with a good pressure washing. 

Add Finishing Touches:  Nothing says home like a rocking chair on the front porch or a pot of flowers on the steps.  Keep walkways and doorways swept and consider hanging a wreath on the front door to welcome your potential buyers.

Best of Luck!!!!

Sherry

The opportunity of a lifetime is at hand - right now.  Plenty of homes are available at affordable prices.  To sweeten the pot, there's the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time buyers whose income is within IRS established limits.  This is the money that never has to be repaid, provided you live in the home for three years.

You are considered a first-time buyer if neither you nor your spouse has owned a principal residence in the U.S. within the last three years.

You must close on your home purchase no later than November 30, 2009.

There is no minimum income for claiming the credit.  If you don't owe any taxes, you can receive it in cash.

You can claim the credit when you file your 2009 tax return or, if you'd rather not wait, file an amended 2008 return and receive the money upon purchasing your home.  There are also programs that will advance the money to help on your down payment.

If you co-sign a mortgage to help your child buy his or her first home, your eligibility does not affect your child's ability to qualify for the credit.

I can't provide every detail of the program here and I'm not qualified to give you tax advice - but I can help you make sense of the regulations.

Don't wait.  Give me a call and I can help you decide whether now is the time for you to become a homeowner.  And if the time is right, I'd be honored to represent you as you seek out your dream home.

This is informational only and should not be construed as legal. Based on May 2009