To get the highest price for your home, you've got to appeal to the people who will live there.

Typical buyers put all their savings into the down payment and closing costs and don't have anything left over to improve the home right away.

If buyers have a choice between two comparable properties similar in price, they'll choose the one in best condition.

And, of course, if two properties are similar in condition, they'll choose the one that is less money.

The following checklist will help you give your home the greatest inside appeal without costing you a lot of money.

___1) Get the home aired out. Someone who lives in a place is the last person to

notice any peculiar odor that may be obvious to visitors. However, if you do

notice any bad odor, search for and destroy its source.

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___2) Wash all the windows inside and out. Clean the windowsills and the bottoms of

the window jams. Wash the blinds.

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___3) If your carpets look dirty or haven't been cleaned in over a year, clean them.

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___4) Clean or polish the floors (even if they're supposed to be "no-wax" ).

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___5) Clean out all the closets, cabinets, and drawers. Get rid of things you haven't

used in the past 5 years and pack up everything that you haven't used in the

past 1 year. (This will give you a head start on moving to your next place).

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___6) Make sure the closets look like they have enough room to hold additional items.

Get everything off the floor (unless very neatly arranged) and don't have the

shelves piled to the ceiling. If necessary, box up off-season clothes. (This is

another head start on moving.)

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___7) There should not be too much furniture in the rooms. You will be far better off

selecting the pieces that look best and putting the others in the garage or in

storage.

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___8) Put bright lights in all fixtures.

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___9) Clear the ashes out of any fireplace, if it isn't being used.

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___10) Make sure that any pull-down staircase is strong enough to be used safely.

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___11) Consider whether the posters now in any teenager's room is likely to offend

older buyers. If so, store those posters for now.

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___12) Repair all leaky faucets.

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___13) Caulk bathtubs, showers, and sinks.

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___14) If you have pets, be sure to clean around their food areas and empty any

litter boxes frequently.

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___15) Clean out trash and remove all weeds from window wells.

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