9 Steps to Sell Your Home Fast

The Importance of Photographing Your Home when Selling

2010-06-28T09:31:00.001-07:00

Once you decide on an agent, they will want to take photographs of your home and property. Do not allow them to take photographs of your home until it is completely ready, because the photographs will appear online and in other marketing materials and you will want pictures that reflect your home at its absolute best to show potential buyers.

The vast majority of buyers look on the Internet for homes. Real estate agencies list their homes online, and there are sites, like www.Realtor.com that list the millions of homes on sale with agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors. Photographs are used extensively in these listings to show and describe homes.

The key feature on the real estate sites are photographs. At Realtor.com, once you input your search requirements, a list of homes appears. Under the address appears a photograph, and to the right is a blurb about the home. Click on the address or photograph for more information on a particular home. On the vast majority of listings, four large photographs appear and dominate the screen, with only the address, price, and briefest description above. You need to scroll down to see the specific features. In the center of the photographs is a circle with the number of additional photographs of the home to be viewed. Most of the nicest homes feature 25 photographs.

The quality and ease of use of digital cameras makes taking photographs easy—but your home better look good, or those photographs will turn off buyers. If you do the work in this book, you will be able to show off your home to its best advantage and you will get interested buyers.

Because it is so easy to do so, I recommend that either you or your agent take at least 100 shots inside and outside your home and property. Take pictures on a sunny day, as buyers love light-filled rooms.

Make sure you capture all the best views from inside or outside your home, including focal points, great architectural details, and nature.

Take the same pictures you took as before photographs, too. This will enable you to compare before and after shots, making you more objective, allowing you to see if there are still any problems. It's also interesting to see what you have accomplished!

Price Your Home Right!

2010-06-24T10:58:00.001-07:00

The single most important factor in selling your home in a buyer's market is to price it right. For this Step, I went to the real estate professionals for their input on pricing homes. What became immediately clear is that the topic of pricing a home is a painful one to sellers in a buyer's market, especially when housing prices are falling.

It was August of 2006 that the median price of a single-family home first declined from the previous year. According to the National Association of Realtors, it was the first significant decline in 13 years. Before that, home owners enjoyed five years of a housing boom, watching the value of their homes rise robustly. 1

Although the decline in home prices is no longer news, it's still very tough for many sellers to face the reality. But, if you want to sell your home, it must be priced competitively for the market.

Because my area of expertise is in design and bringing out the full potential in homes, I let the real estate professionals explain why pricing is so important. The remaining information in this Step is devoted to what the agents told me in our interviews.

Overpricing the Home Biggest Mistake Sellers Make

When asked what the single biggest mistake homeowners make when trying to sell their home was, virtually every real estate professional I interviewed said overpricing the home. In hard-hit marketplaces, buyers only look at foreclosures and bank owned deals.

Amanda Sarnes is a Realtor in Apopka, an area in Central Florida that is seeing many foreclosed homes. When asked about mistakes people make, she said: "Pricing it way too high! I will not spend time or money marketing a seller's house that wants to list too high. In this instance, I require that they get a current appraisal to justify the value they pick if it is far off from my comparative market analysis. Every time I've done this, the seller realizes I'm right and I then get to list it at a price that sells."

Andy Ryan, a Sales Representative for Century 21, in Toronto, Canada, was blunt when asked the question: "The number one factor in determining whether a home sells or not is its price. It doesn't matter what condition your home is in or where it is located, it will sell if it is priced right for what it is, where it is, in the current market."

According to Bill Golden, a 22 year veteran Realtor in Atlanta, Georgia, "The number one mistake people make is overpricing. Many times homeowners try to justify that by saying they're not in a hurry. Unfortunately, that logic doesn't work. If the home sits on the market a long time, you generally end up getting less than if you had priced it right from the start."

"The biggest mistakes that people make when putting their home on the market is overpricing it hoping to leave room for negotiations and expecting numerous people to come through the house and an offer right away. There is not a bigger mistake a seller can make when marketing their home," declared Sheri Moritz, Broker/Owner in Garner, North Carolina.

When I asked Debra Duneier, a Feng Shui practitioner and a Senior Associate Manhattan Real Estate Broker for Corcoran in Manhattan, what are some of the biggest mistakes people make when putting their homes on the market, she said: "Over pricing your property is the biggest mistake a seller can make. When a property goes on the market your largest pool of buyers will be activated. That is when you want the price to be right. If it isn't they will move on and your property will become old stale inventory. By the time you reduce the price you have fewer interested buyers."

The situation in some regions, like Sheffield, Ohio, is pretty tough, According to Cheryl Repko, a Realtor with RE/MAX: "Last year my sales ranged from $220,000 down to $10,000 with an average sale of about $112,000. I work mainly in the city of Lorain Ohio, where I grew up. Lorain was a bustling industrial city in the past. My dad worked for National Tube/U.S. Steel and many of my friends' dads worked at George Steinbrenner's American Shipbuilding, building and maintaining the huge iron ore carriers that supplied the steel industry. Ford built a car manufacturing plant in Lorain in the late 1950s, too. While Lorain never had the high home price spikes and valleys (or bubble) that we read about on the coasts, home values did show a consistently small increase over the years until the last few years. Now American Shipbuilding and Ford are gone and the steel plant is working with a fraction of its former workforce. While Lorain seeks to find its new identity, workers are relocating and the housing market is suffering. The area has seven to ten months of inventory on the market and Lorain's most active price range for sales is now under $40,000 and many of those are bank owned. More home listings expired in the last six months than sold. Investors who will rehab the homes and use them as rentals are buying homes for very low prices (well under $10,000 at times) and don't really care about the condition of a sold house because they'll tear everything out anyway. Hardworking people who have lived in and maintained their homes are finding it quite difficult to find buyers for their homes. Some homes are selling, however, and the task for these owners and their agents is to make every attempt to attract a buyer. Today's buyers are empowered by the media. They know it is a buyer's market and they naturally want the best deal possible. A seller and agent can come up with quite a few things to create the perception of a good deal!

The first and most important factor in selling a home in my market is setting a reasonable list price based on current market data. In a market where more listings expired than sold in the last 6 months and the current inventory is a 7-10 month supply, buyers have plenty of choices in their price ranges and recognize overpriced listings. Sellers often are remembering their last appraisal or what their neighbors' houses sold for several years ago and have difficulty accepting the current estimated market value of their homes even when supplied with current comparable sales data. Sometimes they convince an agent to overprice the home. If, however, the list price is not reflective of market value then no amount of staging or marketing will sell it."

Whatever you do to get your home ready to sell, please listen to the agents and price your home based on their suggestion.

Excerpt from Sell Your Home Fast in a Buyer's Market

New Secret Weapon to Sell a Home Fast Include Green Features

2010-03-16T08:49:00.001-07:00

For Immediate Release Contact: Norma Lehmeier Hartie

914-739-8966 norma@HarmoniousEnvironment.com

To sell your home fast in a buyer's market, the most important factor is pricing the home correctly. But, once that's done, the seller must make their home stand out positively in other ways. It is a given that your home is clean, clutter-free, and looking its absolute best. Adding green features and making ecofriendly improvements are the hot new ways to make your home stand out over others to sell it quickly and for the best possible price.

According to Carson Matthews, associate broker and EcoBroker in Atlanta, green certified homes are selling closer to the list price in a much shorter time period than non-certified homes are selling. In 2009, the average green certified home sold in 106 days compared to the non-certified average of 186. While these figures are for the Atlanta market, anecdotal evidence suggests the same holds true in other markets.

Supporting the concept that green features sell homes are the results of Better Homes and Gardens' "Next Home Survey for 2010," which reveals what consumers want in their next home and their overall priorities for home improvement projects. An astonishing 87 percent of respondents said a greener, more energy efficient home is a priority.

Learn which green improvements to make and all the other secrets to selling your home quickly in 9 easy steps with the new book, Sell Your Home Fast in a Buyer's Market: Secrets from an Expert Green Feng Shui Staging Designer. The book reveals how to create a home that buyers desire and want to buy. The steps include what it takes to make the seller's home look and feel great—tips that will sell the home. The book also provides information on selling the home for the best price. It is the first in its subject to address the hot new sought-after green home improvements and features to sell the buyer's home fast

"Sell Your Home Fast in a Buyer's Market is a must for anyone selling their home in today's tough economy. In addition to exploring the importance of pricing your home right, staging, de-cluttering and Feng Shui, Hartie advises what eco-friendly improvements to make that will appeal to buyers. I highly recommend this book if you want to sell your home quickly and for the most money possible."

Barbara Corcoran, Real Estate Mogul, Business Consultant and Speaker

Norma Lehmeier Hartie is the author of Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet, which was The Grand Prize Winner of The 15^th Annual Writer's Digest Book Awards, Best New Non-Fiction USA National Best Books 2008 and a Finalist in your
Book of the Year Awards. Hartie is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence and Parsons School of Design and has been an interior designer for over 20 years. She is the creator of the practice of Harmonious Adjustments™. Ms. Hartie resides an hour from NYC.

Sell Your Home Fast in a Buyer's Market: Secrets from an Expert Green Feng Shui Staging Designer by Norma Lehmeier Hartie.

ISBN: 978-0-9779633-1-7 Softcover * Real Estate * March 9, 2010 * 232 pages * $19.95 * 6" x 9"

Lingham Press, http://www.linghampress.com

The Most Popular Home Features in Different Regions

2010-01-27T07:38:00.001-08:00

Wendy Transon Broker, Re/MAX Winning Edge

Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Accredited Staging Professional (ASP), Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Condition is critical in today's market. With such an extensive inventory of homes available to current buyers, if your home isn't in top condition, buyers will move on to the next property. Most of today's buyers don't have the time, energy or inclination to make significant repairs. In addition, if the home feels beat up, with needed repairs readily evident, a buyer will wonder what additional repairs may be needed that are beyond what they can see. It will reduce their level of confidence in the home.

Spacious kitchens, with granite or quartz counters and natural wood cabinets. The kitchen remains the epicenter of the home, and buyers, regardless of price range, want large workspaces, ample storage and light-filled rooms. Most buyers also prefer a kitchen that is open to the breakfast area and family room, for effortless flow and ease in entertaining.
A room that can be used as an office. The home office has, to a large extent, replaced the living room as a "must have" space in the home. Most popular is a first-floor room with French doors that can be used as an office, sitting room, music room or other. Other buyers are content to have an upstairs room, whether extra bedroom or otherwise, to use as an office. What's key is having such a space in the house.
A "mud" or laundry room. Buyers in our market love space to organize the clutter, store the backpacks, drop the shoes and ditch the coats. A separate mud room or laundry room located off the garage is very popular with buyers for this reason.
A place to take in the outdoors. Whether a deck, patio or screened porch, having a dedicated space to relax and entertain outside is increasingly in demand. Screened porches are particularly popular in our area; with our temperate climate, they can be enjoyed year round and in addition, keep out those pesky mosquitoes. Among higher-end homes, we're also seeing greater use of dramatic outdoor hearths, stonework patios and grill stations.
Bountiful natural light. Buyers are increasingly requesting open, bright spaces. An abundance of windows, great flow among rooms, and high ceilings are all popular with buyers in our area.
Universal design features. With the aging of the population, and the recognition that universal design benefits homeowners of any age, features such as low threshold entries, levered doors, wide hallways and first floor master bedrooms are increasingly popular.

Wayne Kohl

ReMax Broker, CRS, GRI

Greeley, Colorado 80634

Kitchen and bathrooms are the two keys to selling homes. Kitchens should be open, light, bright, warm and inviting. The kitchen island, eating area, granite countertops, along with upgraded appliances are very popular. Another trend in kitchens is to change the cabinet finishes on the island to make them different but complimentary to the other cabinets.

Master bathrooms are the other item of high resale. The popularity of a separate shower from the tub is very popular. A make up area for morning preparation is also a hot item along with upgraded counters of granite or tile. Dual shower heads and jetted tubs are also very popular.Philip Kent Kiracofe
resident, Manhattan Association of REALTORS

New York City

Years in business: 6

Stainless steel refrigerator and dishwasher, exotic stone or granite counters, an island kitchen, lots of glass and stone in the bathroom, earth-tone soft colors, open floor plans combining living rooms with kitchen and dining area, workout space, and sleek modern fixtures are all very popular features.

Melissa Galt

Lifestyle Expert/Speaker/Author

Highlands, North Carolina

Years in business: 5

Women are the primary decisions makers and look for:

Up-to-date bathrooms
Up-to-date kitchens
Ample storage
An inviting color scheme (it doesn't have to be builder beige, but not grape or Caribbean blue either!)
Clutter free, including closets
Tailored window treatments as in blinds, shutters, woven woods (ditch the ruffles, flowers, and loud prints)
No smell or an inviting smell (get rid of the pet scents, the mustiness, and others)
Layers of light (this goes way beyond overheads which are best used for cleaning, but creating pools of light draws people, invites and welcomes)
Well laid out furniture for family and friends
A place to hide the TV

Men look for:

Ample garage
Basement build-out opportunities
Man cave options
A place to showcase the TV!

Why Go Green to Sell Your Home?

2010-01-14T07:39:00.001-08:00

"Green" is in. Green is also rapidly becoming mainstream. However, learning about what is or is not eco-friendly can be time consuming, intimidating, frustrating, and misleading. But relax…this chapter will introduce you to what green means, why it's important and how to make eco-friendly changes to help sell your home. My hope is that when you see how easy it is to make green choices in the home you are selling, you will also want to make them in your new place.

Greening up your home will give you an advantage over much of your competition, which will sell your home faster.

All the agents I interviewed were enthusiastic about green features and believe the addition of them helps sell homes faster. Make sure your agent is just as enthusiastic, as that excitement will be conveyed to buyers which can encourage them to buy your home!

Benefits to Adding Green Features to your Home:

Make it more energy efficient. That means utility bills are reduced and money is saved. Buyers want to save money!
Improve air quality, which makes the environment healthier for inhabitants.
Make your home worth more money.
Make your home more desirable, because people want green features.
Make your home more desirable because green is hip and current and buyers want whatever is new.

There are a number of factors that will help to determine what green features to make in the home you are selling. Almost anyone can make minor, eco-friendly home improvements that will make a home more desirable. Major changes—like adding a geothermal pump or solar panels—would make sense only under certain circumstances and will be explored in the next Step.

If you are putting your home on the market in the future and have some time before you sell it, adding insulation, new windows and other energy efficient changes can prove to be extremely beneficial. You will be able to show how much money you have saved by making these changes. If you have less time, however, you may still make energy efficient changes, as you can compare energy used in your home to comparable homes. I highly recommend you ask your agent what eco-friendly improvements they are seeing in comparable homes.

Why Going Green is Essential

If all the talk about words like eco-friendly, green, sustainability and so on has gotten you confused, you are not alone. For all the good information that's available, there is an equal amount of misinformation. The following section presents what I hope will be an easy to understand explanation of what green really means and why it is so important for the survival of the planet and its inhabitants.

I understand that you don't need to know why it is important for our health and the planet to sell your home, but it is my hope that, if you are new to this subject, you will see why it's important and you will want to make these changes for both your current and future homes.

General Cleaning Tips to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

2010-01-13T08:14:00.001-08:00

Unless you are a cleaning fanatic, when you clean your home to sell it, you will need to do more than your standard cleaning. Walls, ceilings and floors should be immaculate. Check things like vents, fans, radiators, exhaust fans, fireplaces, glass-covered lights, chandeliers, and anything in hard to reach places. Clean all light switches. Make sure all light switches and light fixtures work and replace burned-out bulbs.

Use microfiber cloths for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, dusting, cleaning mirrors, and polishing. Microfiber cloths actually pull dirt to itself, and they don't streak or leave behind lint. They can be washed hundreds of times. Just do not dry in dryer with anti-static cloths, as the anti-static molecules coat the cloths, cutting down on their effectiveness. Air-dry instead..
Clean from the top to bottom. Because dust settles, start with dusting the ceiling, including fixtures or fans, then walls, then objects on furniture, then furniture and molding. Then vacuum and wash the floors.
To reach the high spots, use a long-handled telescoping pole with attachable tools. I attach a lamb's wool duster to the telescoping pole to reach high spaces. Have two dusters available; one for inside and one for outside work like taking cobwebs off the house and for other really dirty areas.
- Clean hanging lights and chandeliers. Dust and clean off bulbs.
- Remove and clean ceiling mounted fixtures that accumulate dust and bugs.
- Dust ceiling fans. Use a lubricating spray if squeaky. (See Resources section for non-toxic products.) If a fan is still noisy, tighten any loosened parts.
Use a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner. Spray floor, counter tops—whatever—makes cleaning fast.
Replace your mop with a Microfiber floor mop. They glide over floors making washing easy. Remove cloth, wet it, put back on mop, and spray a bit of cleaner on it. When it gets dirty, rinse and repeat. These are great on all hard floors.
If you have a mold problem or have black mold, consult an expert.
Clean the creosote on glass fireplace windows with rubbing alcohol and a straight edge razor, see chart. When I moved into my home, the creosote was so thick on fireplace doors that I didn't think I could remove it. Rubbing alcohol really cut through the grime. Alcohol does leave a film, so follow up with a glass cleaner like vinegar and water.
Clean curtains in washing machine or at dry cleaners.
Blinds can be cleaned fairly easily in the bathtub with warm soapy water. Allow them to dry outside or on some old towels or a drop cloth.
Dust everything on walls and all woodwork, including picture frames, banisters, molding, baseboards, around windows and sills and above doors.
Clean all glass surfaces, including glass picture frames and mirrors with glass and mirror cleaner.
Don't forget to sweep or vacuum an unfinished basement, attic and garage. Wipe down handrails and hot water heater, furnace and other stationary objects.
Clean cobwebs inside and outside house, garage, and on any other buildings.
Keep cars in your garage clean.

Kitchens and Bathrooms Must Sparkle!

These rooms must be spotless or it will turn buyers off. With clutter gone, it will be easier to maintain the kitchen and bathroom. If you follow the advice in the book, you will clean cabinets, pantries, refrigerator, closets and whatever else holds stuff when you remove clutter.

Kitchen

If you didn't clean inside cabinets and pantry when removing clutter, do so now.
Clean vents and hoods.
Get in the habit of regularly cleaning counters and walls.
Clean refrigerator. First, turn off the refrigerator. Fill a container with warm, soapy water and begin with shelves inside doors. Going shelf by shelf, remove and wipe down all contents, wipe shelf, then put food back. Throw away anything that is past due or that looks nasty. Remove drawers and wash. Remove everything that can be removed and clean. The interior of the refrigerator is easy to clean once the moveable parts are removed. Turn refrigerator back on. To prevent odors, keep all food covered, and add a container of baking soda to be on the safe side.
Clean freezer. Turn off the freezer and remove contents. Allow freezer to warm up a bit then clean as you would refrigerator. Replace contents neatly. Put freezer back on. Note: If you have a freezer that does not self-defrost, it's time to buy a new one. Put a container of baking soda in freezer.
Remove the grill from the front of refrigerator and pull out the pan that collects excess water and wash. Unplug refrigerator and vacuum coils. Pull refrigerator out and vacuum floor.
Keep sink empty and spotless.
Clean the kitchen from top to bottom.
Clean lighting fixtures. Remove bulbs to clean them and wait until they are thoroughly dried before screwing them back in. Keep fixtures off when removing and replacing bulbs.
Unless room was painted recently, a fresh coat of paint is recommended. Unless wallpaper is in pristine condition and is a neutral color or pattern, remove and paint.
Clean curtains or get new ones. Better yet, remove to allow more sunlight into room.
Keep floor spotless.
Clean oven and stovetop. If the stove has stains, or baked on food that cannot be removed, or is damaged, consider replacing those dirty parts or buying a new stove.
If a garbage can must be in sight, use one with a cover and change regularly to prevent odors.
Empty recyclables regularly and keep neat.

Cabinets

Natural wood cabinets should be polished and any marks or spots removed. Handles, pulls and any other hardware should be cleaned or polished.

Cabinets with washable surfaces should be clean of all marks with an all-purpose cleaner.

Tile and Grout

If tile is in good shape, simply keep it clean. If not, consider replacing. Grout can be "cleaned" with paint meant for this purpose.

Once the kitchen has been thoroughly cleaned, maintenance is fairly easy. Get in the habit of keeping kitchen clean at all times and ready to show.

Bathroom

Like the kitchen, everything must be spotless.

If toilet, vanity or tub is a funky color, stained or damaged, replace with new.

Walls and Ceilings

While you might not notice how dingy the walls in your house look, buyers will see walls that need to be painted immediately. How to choose paint and repair walls and ceilings will be discussed later in Step 6 and paint colors in Step 9.

Cleaning Windows

Your windows need to be absolutely clean and in good condition. Seriously consider replacing windows with new ones if windows:

are too old to get clean
fog up with condensation
have cracks
open and close with difficulty or not at all

Either hire a professional window washer or clean windows yourself.

If you clean windows yourself, buy a professional squeegee. I used to buy squeegees from the big home improvement stores, and they drove me crazy, because they would leave streaks. I found affordable, professional-quality ones in The Clean Team Catalog and they work great! (See "Resources" under Cleaning Supplies. They also carry microfiber cloths and other good cleaning supplies.) Makes cleaning windows almost painless!

Wash windows with a microfiber cloth or rag or window scrubber using solution shown on page 92.Try an extension pole instead of a ladder to make work easier. Dry the top inch of the window with a rag and then run squeegee down window, starting at the top on the dry section. Wipe squeegee dry with a clean, dry cloth. Continue until window is finished, then wipe rag along three sides of window to mop up any remaining water.

Don't forget to clean around sills, frames and hardware. Squeaky or hard to open and close windows can be lubricated with eco-friendly BPL™, Bio-Penetrating Lubricant by Renewable Lubricants. WD-40™ works, too, but isn't eco-friendly. (See Resources, under Lubricant.)

If you are selling your home when screens are in windows, make sure they are in great condition, too. You can easily clean screens with a microfiber cloth and water. Just wipe them and the dust and dirt comes right off.

Cleaning Flooring

Flooring should be free from debris, clean, odorless, and in great shape. Replace or restore any flooring that is not in good condition. (More details on replacing flooring in Step 6.) After vacuuming, wash floor.

Bye Bye, Bad Energy!

2010-01-12T08:51:00.001-08:00

Just as every home has some odor, every place has an energetic "feel." And, as you seek to minimize odors, you can also minimize negative energies and raise positive energies.

If you have been cleaning, removing clutter, and organizing, you have already greatly reduced negative energies. For that matter, simply opening the window and allowing fresh air into your home reduces negative energy. Using eco-friendly products also reduces negative energy.

Arranging your furniture to allow for a good flow of traffic increases the positive energy in your home. Adding houseplants and fresh flowers adds even more positive, vibrant energy—these are the things that make your home feel great. How to arrange furniture and more about plants and flowers are explored in the next chapter.

Negative Energy

This section goes one step further than simply adding objects to make your home positively vibrate with life-affirming energy; it shows you how to eliminate any leftover negative energies. You can choose to think of this section as "extra credit," as it is certainly not imperative to do the exercises in this step to sell your home. But, it might just sell it that much faster.

That said, if anyone in your home has been ill, or there has been a death, an angry divorce, or other devastation, I highly recommend that you clear your home, as these situations bring negative energy into the home and buyers can often feel or sense it.

An explanation of energy follows, then a guide to clearing your home.

Everything on and of the earth has energy—a continuum from the highest vibrational positive life-force energy to the lowest vibrational negative energy. The earth itself has positive and negative energies that affect its living inhabitants. Buildings and other structures have energy and absorb either negative or positive energy, or a combination of both. Plants are able to absorb negative energy (such as toxins) and convert them to clean, fresh energy in the form of oxygen (air). Animals, including humans, can pick up and create both positive and negative energy.

Some animals, including dogs and cows, seek out positive energy. Cats, conversely, prefer negative energy. If you have ever wondered why your cat is drawn to friends or family who dislike them, this is the reason. Given the opportunity, cows in a pasture will graze in the areas that emit positive energy.

I had my own validation of the difference in energy early on in my practice of dowsing. Several years ago, by dowsing, I cleared (removed negative energy) a client's newly purchased condo. The next day, she called me and told me that her dog, who had always slept in a particular spot on her bed in her old apartment, but had refused to sleep in that spot in the new condo—was now back to sleeping in "her spot" on the bed. When I had doused my client's bed, I had detected and cleared negative energies. It was a wonderful validation of dowsing. Obviously, the dog could not understand what I was doing, but recognized the difference in the energy afterward.

Like dogs, humans feel best when surrounded by positive, life-force energy. And, just like dogs and cows, we know when we are surrounded by positive or negative energy. For many of us, this knowing is hidden from our general state of awareness and may be consciously ignored. But our bodies are paying attention and understand shifts in energy.

When we enter a place that is filled with negative energy, our instinct is to leave the area as quickly as possible. But, when we are somewhere that emits positive energy, we want to stay and soak up the good energy.

It's common sense, really. What buyer would want to spend time in a dilapidated, dirty, dark, cluttered, and creepy feeling home? If you were a buyer, wouldn't you rather spend time looking at a light-filled, clean, organized, and beautiful space that feels great?

Interview with Chris Cipriano, Owner of Cipriano Landscape Design, in Ramsey, New Jersey

2010-01-08T11:01:00.001-08:00

Following is an interview I had with Chris Cipriano of Cipriano Landscape Design. Chris does upscale landscape and pool design for his clients and is aware of what the hottest trends are today. Note that some of the suggestions—as in the first question—apply mainly to upscale, expensive homes. A custom fountain would look inappropriate on a small lot with a starter home.

What are the most popular features you install for your clients?
Installing urns loaded with flowers and custom fountains are incredibly popular and a great way to increase your home's sales appeal. For those on the more creative side, installing an outdoor kitchen is a great way to differentiate your home and make it more unique to buyers. In terms of adding value, renovating an out of date swimming pool will provide favorable return on investment.
What are the most important features a homeowner can add to their property to add value?
It is incredibly important to have a professionally tuned outdoor landscape. Creating a natural and comfortable outdoor setting by adding the right combination of shrubs, trees, flowers and natural stone is certain to add value and is an essential element to selling the home.
What are the biggest mistakes people do to detract value?
The biggest mistake people make is ignoring the outdoors. Too often, homeowners who want to sell their homes focus all their time, energy and money on fixing up and staging the indoors of the house. A poor outdoor landscape will negatively influence potential buyers before they even enter the home, thus detracting from the home's value and appeal.
Describe the features that would give a home good "curb appeal."
Curb appeal is essential. The view from the street is the first, last and most important impression on all potential buyers. If a home does not have curb appeal, potential buyers will drive right by without stopping to take a second look.
If you want loads of curb appeal, great layering of plants, trees and flowers is essential. Use groups of the same plant types to create a natural look, and be sure to install an abundance of color. Color sells!
When on a budget, what elements on the property are the must-do's to sell a home?
For those staging their outdoors on a budget, it is often just as important what they take away from their property as opposed to what they add. Make sure that all old equipment, tools and clutter are put away and that everything looks professional. Mow the lawn professionally and remove weeds and debris.
Pressure wash porches, decks and the siding to create a clean look for the buyer. Spruce up the gardens by adding a variety of color and install a few hanging plants on the front porch. It is also affordable, and incredibly beneficial, to fix up the front walk or install a new pathway leading to the front door.
Finally, install outdoor lighting that reveals your home's most favorable characteristics, even in the dark. Remember, most people go house shopping after work when it is dark out. If they can't see the home, they will pass it right by.
Describe a dream landscaped property.
A dream landscaped property would have all the latest features: a custom pool and fountain, a nice porch or deck, an outdoor kitchen, an entertainment area and a great assortment of shrubs, stones, greens, trees and flowers. It will look well thought out and natural at the same time.
Do you see any changes with what people want over the past 5 years?

Recently, homeowners have begun to look for more unique elements to add to their outdoors like kitchens, entertainment areas, cabanas, fountains and spas. With the down economy, more people are "staycationing" As a result, they try to create a vacation-like resort in their own backyards.
Are people spending the same, more or less (adjusted for inflation) than they were 5 years ago?

In general, homeowners are looking for value and prioritizing spending on luxury landscaping as compared to five years ago.
Due to the challenges in the real estate market, people are prioritizing curb appeal and spending more money on home staging services.
Is there anything else you would like to add?

When performed correctly, staging the outdoors will increase the value of your home and help it sell quicker on the open market.

Go to Chris's website: www.PlantNJ.com

Tips to Improve Your Property to Make it Sell

2009-12-24T09:27:00.001-08:00

If you have a lawn, keep it well maintained. Once weeds, overgrown or dead bushes, trees and other eyesores have been eliminated, you can easily and inexpensively enhance your property to draw buyers.

Annual Flowers

Nothing beats annuals for the warm months, because they bloom continuously, adding vibrant color. You can buy them in flats, cell packs of 6 or 8, or when larger, individually.

If you are not familiar with annuals, read the description and care tags that come with the plant. The majority of annuals thrive in full sunlight, which is six or more hours of sunlight per day. The easiest annuals to grow in the shade are impatiens, which come in many different colors. The directions will tell you how far to space annuals and the size they grow. If you are in a hurry to make them look good, just space them closer together.

Annuals can be planted directly in the ground, in hanging planters, and in containers. If there is space for hanging planters, like on a porch, readymade ones are handily available.

If you have removed shrubs or other plants and have empty areas in your gardens, planting annuals will quickly and inexpensively fill the space—and with the added bonus of color.

A few large planters, filled with annuals, can make a huge difference in the appearance of your property.

Landscaping

Add fresh mulch to your garden beds. Use natural cedar mulch, as the artificially colored red and black ones are a real turnoff to many people.
Keep edging between transitional areas like grass and gardens or grass and stone pathways, neat and crisp.
If you are feeling creative, you can add stones or rocks around trees and shrubs. Garden centers and masonry stores carry a variety of decorative rocks. If you choose to use rocks, select ones that are local, for a natural look. I use river rocks that come in shades of grey and are dredged from local rivers. Do the next owners a favor and put landscape fabric down first, to discourage weeds.
If you are using rocks on areas that get walked on, use ones that are two inches or less for ease of movement. Larger rocks—two to three inches—are best around shrubs and trees. To keep rocks in place and give them a finished look and to help keep them in place, you can edge them with rocks that are about six inches or larger.
Make certain that you have adequate outdoor lighting along walkways. If you don't, consider adding solar lights, as they are less expensive than hiring an electrician to install and they are eco-friendly.

Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor living spaces are becoming increasingly popular. A key element is some kind of patio or deck. If you don't already have one, consider adding a patio or deck to your property.

Decks are raised off the ground and are made with either wood or wood polymer composite. The composites are a mix of wood fiber and recycled plastic. Composite boards are more expensive than natural or pressure treated wood, but they last longer and require virtually no maintenance. The environmental advantage in using composite decking is that less wood is used in production, replacement time is less than what is needed for wood decks, and the recycled materials end up in the deck, not in landfills.

A patio is built directly on the ground. Patios are made from bricks, concrete, pavers, flagstone, slate or other natural rock, or even gravel and small rocks.

Depending on your budget and the value of your home, you may wish to install an outdoor kitchen, or simply add a built in barbeque grill. Both are currently very popular. Outdoor kitchens can be elaborate, complete with refrigerator/freezer, sink, counters, electricity, stove, oven and a bar.

If you do add a patio or deck, include a few pieces of outdoor furniture to help buyers visualize themselves enjoying their outdoor refuge. If you don't own any outdoor furniture, but want pieces for your next place, now would be the time to buy. Even a couple of chairs and a table adds ambience. If you are not interested in furniture for your next home, you can buy very inexpensive chairs and a table—or use any board set on something to resemble a table. Add a colorful tablecloth or sheet and you have created a terrific space for relaxation.

Flooring: Green and Not Green Choices

2009-12-22T11:08:00.001-08:00

Environmentally Unfriendly Flooring

Several types of flooring have a negative impact on the environment and indoor air quality. Composite and engineered flooring, plastic sheets, particle board and plywood are all environmentally unsound and unhealthy because
the veneer, glue, backing material and finish have an heavy environmental impact during manufacturing and they outgas into the home. Many types of glue contain formaldehyde, urea and other dangerous ingredients that outgas. These products continue to pollute in a landfill, as chemicals leech into ground, and the product is not biodegradable.

Vinyl
is also environmentally unsound, as it is derived from crude oil, requires great amounts of energy to create and pollutes during excavation and manufacturing processes. Vinyl contains PVC's, which outgas into the home. Vinyl is not biodegradable unless incinerated, a process that emits dangerous toxic emissions. In a landfill, vinyl leaches chlorine and heavy metals into the ground.

Carpet
is notorious for holding dust mites and particulates and thereby creates poor air quality. Unless you choose an organic, pesticide and chemical-free carpet, new carpets will outgas for up to a year, producing that "new smell". Many buyers will be sensitive to this odor and will not appreciate it. Carpets are also known for holding dirt and allergens, which degrades air quality.

But, if your carpets are in great condition, you can probably leave them. I wrote probably because hardwood is the favored flooring these days. If you are uncertain about whether you should replace carpet with certified sustainable hardwood or bamboo flooring, ask the advice of your agent.

Generally speaking, most agents across the country told me buyers preferred hardwood flooring in the social spaces—kitchen, living room, entry—and carpeting in bedrooms. So, if the carpets in the bedrooms are in great condition, it doesn't pay to change them to a more eco-friendly alternative.

If your flooring is any of the above materials and is in poor condition, I recommend you replace the products with hardwood or bamboo. If the vinyl, composite flooring or carpet is in great condition, however, you can opt to clean them thoroughly and leave them.

That said, if all your neighbors have hardwood instead of carpet, your home will most likely sell faster with the change in flooring.

Eco-Friendly Flooring

Hardwood

Hardwood is a wonderful choice for flooring, if the wood comes from a sustainable source or is reclaimed. Sustainably harvested wood is wood that comes from forests where growth is managed. Look for sustainable hardwoods or softwoods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Hardwood flooring is also very popular, as Philip Kent Kiracofe, President of Manhattan Association of Realtors puts it: "The elegance and character of hardwood flooring makes it the most popular flooring option. Usually, this is dictated by what is already in place in the building, with pre-war buildings often featuring herringbone pattern and parquet floors, while new developments may feature sustainable floors like bamboo, or fashionable wide plank designs."

Reclaimed wood flooring is wood that has been saved from an old building and is very popular now.

If you have hardwood floors, but they are dull, scratched or stained, refurbish them. Refurbish hardwood floors by sanding them and putting on a new finish. You can rent a sander yourself to save money, but they are tricky to use. Most refinishers will use a urethane finish, which is both toxic and smells. Instead of urethane, opt for natural wood oil, like Osmo's Polyx Oil (See Resources under Wood Finishes, Eco Haus™).

Urethane seals a floor, whereas wood oil penetrates, leaving pores open. Wood oil results in a very natural look, and a subtle shine. It also has only a faint orangey smell when freshly applied and is non-toxic. Keep the floors looking brand new with natural wax and cleaner. (See Step 4 on how to use.)

If you decide to go the eco-friendly route, make sure you include that in the eco-friendly chart. As a gift, leave the buyer with a container of wax and cleaner.

You can also purchase prefinished floors that have been finished with urethane that is cured using UV light, which prevents the outgassing of urethane. This finish is more appropriate in places like kitchens or entryways that get wet frequently.

Bamboo

Bamboo is actually
grass that grows approximately six times faster than wood and is almost as dense and hard wearing as oak. Bamboo does not need pesticides or fertilizers to grow. Bamboo is also an affordable choice in flooring.

All of the following types of flooring are eco-friendly; if you have any of them and they are in good condition, leave them.

Stone
Marble
Slate
Ceramic
Brick
Tile
Mosaic
Terrazzo
Concrete
Cork— an entirely sustainable crop; features flexibility, high insulation value and is resistant to water.
Linoleum—composed of natural ingredients including linseed oil, wood flour, pine resin, jute and limestone. It is also biodegradable.
Marmoleum by Forbo, is one brand that I like. However, some manufacturers may call their product linoleum when it is composed of polyvinyl chloride; so check product contents carefully.

Linoleum is fairly inexpensive and Marmoleum offers an amazing choice of colors and patterns. It is a nice choice for laundry rooms, kid's bathrooms, bedrooms and playrooms and other casual spaces.

Buyer's Benefit: All the eco-friendly flooring is safe for children and pets to play on. None of them degrade air quality and all are recyclable and biodegradable.

8 Clutter Removing Tips for Bathrooms when Selling Your Home

2009-12-18T06:42:00.001-08:00

Remove contents of all cabinets and drawers. Clean cabinets and drawers. Discard expired or no longer used items. Put back items you regularity use neatly, with labels facing forward. Box and store backup supplies elsewhere. As with closets, less is better, as it makes cabinets and drawers look spacious if stuff isn't overcrowded.
Remove reading materials and other non-essential items.
Keep garbage can empty and preferably hidden in a cabinet.
Remove anything that doesn't belong in a bathroom.
Keep surfaces clear of personal care products and belongings. If some items must remain in view, keep them neat.
Keep medicine in cabinet, not out.
Remove bath toys.
Remove or store medical equipment when buyers are coming. Buyers do not want to buy a home they associate with illness and it can make them uncomfortable.

11 Steps to Organize Your Bedroom to Sell Your Home!

2009-12-17T07:21:00.001-08:00

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom should exude romance and peacefulness; how to make that happen will be addressed in Step 9. Therefore, this is no place for things like a television, exercise equipment, or family photographs.

If dirty clothes must be in the room, keep them in a covered hamper in a closet.
There should be nothing but air under your bed! Stuff under a bed is visually and energetically unappealing and makes it appear as if you don't have enough storage space.
Make more room in your closet by removing and storing out of season clothing. Donate or sell what you have not worn in one or two years. Repair or discard torn clothing and shoes. Arrange like clothes together; casual shirts, work shirts, casual pants, etc.; it looks really nice and you'll have the bonus of discovering how easy it is to find everything! There are additional tips on how to deal with your closets in the entryway section, see page 20.
While buyers probably won't look in your dressers, you may as well use this opportunity to get rid of clothing you don't wear. Neatly fold what clothing remains. Pack and store out of season clothing.
Keep only personal items in the bedroom, if possible. If you must store paperwork, keep it neat and hidden in a closet or drawers.
Remove photographs of family and you as a couple.
Sort and organize jewelry. A jewelry box on a dresser is fine. Sell or donate what you do not like. Any valuable jewelry should be stored in a safe in the bank or in your home, as you never know who will be going through your home, and it could get stolen.
Remove any stuffed animals, dolls or other collections.
Remove personal items on dressers or tabletops.
Remove exercise equipment.
Remove television and computer.

Preparing to Sell Your Home

2009-12-15T09:03:00.001-08:00

Preparing to sell your home includes deciding what needs to get done, hiring an agent (unless you do it yourself), agreeing on a price, and listing your home, which includes taking photographs.

As you are reading, I suggest you record what work you plan to do in the "Notes" section at the end of the book. Before you contact agents, complete the list of changes you would like to accomplish.

I find a fresh perspective really helps people determine what changes to make in their home. To really "see" what your home looks like, try the following at night: turn the lights on inside your home, go outside and look in through the windows of your house. Doing this exercise will give you a new point of view and truly captures what your home looks like. My husband and I do this periodically; it feels as if we are looking at a TV or movie set and it helps us to determine if we want to make any changes.

Looking inside your home in this manner will help you see the clutter, the outdated kitchen, the oversized furniture, the worn-looking sofa and other problems. Write down all the changes you would like to make.

I also recommend that you take photographs of your property and inside the home as this will also help you decide what needs to be altered.

You may be tempted to sell your home on your own, thus avoiding paying an agent, but I strongly advise against that practice. An agent can market your home far better than you can, and in this buyer's market, you need all possible advantages.

Additionally, after reading this book, you will be pretty certain about what you need to do to make your home sell. However, if you are considering any major renovations, I strongly advise you to seek the advice of a real estate professional before you do anything. The agent can tell you what condition comparable homes are in and what renovations will help sell your home.

An agent will also know what specific home improvements are trendy and hot in your market. Most importantly, an agent will give you a realistic price to sell your home. Also, you can ask what the selling price would be if sold "as is" and then after the changes you plan to make are implemented.

If you don't have a budget yet, this might help determine what you choose to spend, especially when it comes to major renovations.

However, you may be discouraged that your planned improvements might not raise the value as much as you would like. However, keep in mind that in a buyer's market, selling your home is the goal. By improving the look and feel of your place it will make it sell much more quickly. Homes that sell quickly get closer to—or more—of the asking price than homes that languish on the market.

Before you hire an agent, you can get an idea of what your home is worth by using a real estate appraisal website. Here are several:

You can also look for comparable homes to yours at sites that list homes, like www.Realtor.com.

You can begin the process of finding an agent while still doing homework on what changes you need to make in your home. Your homework involves seeing what comparable homes look like and what they are selling for.

Visit homes for sale when they have their open houses. In addition to seeing prices on homes, study the features inside and out. During an open house, listen to what potential buyers are saying about the different features, what they like and dislike.

Go to online sites like www.Realtor.com for even more information. You can insert your zip code in the search box and compare houses similar to yours. The key is to see what type of features they have and how long the house has been on the market.

Study what is hot or trendy in decorating. While buyers know they aren't buying your possessions, having a stylish look—as opposed to an outdated one—will make your home look current. Buyers will assume that if you keep your look up to date, you will also have maintained your home. In addition, a great looking home will be associated with increased status and good taste—something buyers seek.

Put another way, imagine your home is decorated with doilies, teacup collections and plastic covered furniture. Potential buyers will see an obsolete home. Nobody wants to move into a home that will make them feel old and behind the times!

You can also flip through magazines for what's hot in decoration and eco-friendly features. Here are some good magazines to read:

Natural Home
Dwell
Better Homes and Gardens
InStyle Home
Oprah's Home
Home

Things to look for in magazines include trendy colors. Every year has its hot colors and they show up in magazines. You can use trendy colors with things like pillows or candles. Trendy colors feel fresh and people will respond to them.

Note that magazines never feature homes crammed with stuff; rather, there will be minimal amounts of objects, and you will likely see only a couple beautiful accessories and lots of space between furniture.

As you study homes in your price range, see what features they have. Do the homes have granite countertops or tile? Is there carpeting or hardwood floors? In this market, make improvements to be on par or even a notch above comparable homes, especially if there is a glut of homes in your area.

How to Qualify an Agent and What Questions to Ask

2009-12-09T07:53:00.001-08:00

At open houses, talk to agents to determine their competence.
Online, see which agents are making sales.
You will want an agent that you have a good connection with; someone you like and trust.
Ask each agent you meet with how they plan on marketing your home. Good real estate agents will provide a detailed report of how they will market your home.
Find out how long the agent has been in the business and pick a seasoned professional.
Note the agent's interest level as they view your home.
Ask if they will provide a pricing analysis called a comparative market analysis (CMA) that compares your home to similar ones on the market.
What services do you provide?
How long does it take for your listings to sell?
What is your range of fees?
What is your success record?
What are the asking prices of other homes in the area?
Can you supply references from three recent sellers?
Will you have a brokers' open house for my place?
Will there be a public open house?
How will you market my home?
Do you list green improvements? (All green improvements you make should be written down and given to your agent. (There is a form called "Eco-Friendly Features and Appliances" in the Appendix that you can use for this.)
The agents that I spoke to were all enthusiastic about green improvements and said they told buyers about them. Eco-friendly improvements will only become increasingly important to buyers as awareness continues to shift towards social responsibility and the health benefits of green living.

Introduction to Sell Your Home Fast in a Buyer’s Market, Continued

2009-12-08T08:27:00.001-08:00

Buyers are also looking to move into a home in pristine turnkey condition. "Turnkey" means that the home is ready for occupation, that no changes are necessary for the new owners. Many families are already overwhelmed with children and jobs and have neither the time nor extra money to make changes. Make your house completely turnkey and priced right and it will sell quickly.

Ways to make your home eco-friendly will also be found throughout the book. A green home, you will discover, is healthier for you and the environment. Eco-friendly features are also becoming increasingly sought after by buyers.

You may be familiar with the concepts of "staging" and Feng Shui. The term "Home Staging" was coined by a woman named Barb Schwartz, who understood that a clean, organized home without the seller's "memories" sold faster than ones that were left untouched. I depart from traditional staging in that I don't like the literal "staging" part, as it seems fake. Instead, you will discover how to create an environment that feels and looks authentic. You will create a home that feels like a sanctuary. Buyers will gravitate to your home because it looks and feels so good. They will want to step into the lifestyle that you have created. Furthermore, you can apply what you learn about making your home look and feel good to your next place.

I have studied and practiced Feng Shui for many years, and if you are familiar with the practice, you will see principles of Feng Shui applied in this book. You will discover the importance of how energy flows throughout your home and how the placement of objects will help sell your home. Specific Feng Shui principles will help you get the most money possible for your home.

Central to understanding how to sell your home quickly is to understand what it is the buyer does when they shop for a home. When a buyer looks at a home, they invoke four senses:

Sight
Sound
Smell
Sixth sense: "how it feels"= the energy of a place

This book will explore the many ways to make your home delight the buyer's senses. When all four senses are positive, your home will sell quickly.

Currently, the overwhelming majority of buyers shop online for homes, finding places they will ask their agent to see. Buyers are not going to ask to see homes that don't look great, so it is crucial that you make your home look as inviting as possible and that good photographs are taken.

I wanted this book to be as current as possible, with input from real estate professionals working in this economy. Therefore, in 2009, I interviewed dozens of agents, staging professionals, interior designers, mortgage bankers and others in the real estate field around the country. They are quoted throughout the book for their expertise.

Keep in mind that above all other matters, price is the key factor that will sell your home and Step 2 is devoted to the subject.

To sell your home in a buyer's market, it is a given that it must be clean, clutter-free, and looking its absolute best. Additionally, you will need to decide what upgrades, home improvements and appliances to buy based on comparable homes in your market. For instance, it makes no sense to put a professional grade refrigerator, granite countertops and top-of-the line cabinetry in the kitchen you are selling if you own a starter home.

Making upgrades using eco-friendly choices will give your home a competitive advantage over similar homes in your market. Your home will sell faster than the competition because buyers are seeking out what is now becoming increasingly desirable. As the trend toward "green" renovations grows, buyers will feel as though they are hip for buying a home that features these cutting edge upgrades.

If you read and follow the advice in this book, you might end up transforming your house or condo into the home of your dreams! In fact, this book has a dual purpose--as a designer, my hope is that this book both helps sell your home and enables you to create your dream home in your next place. So, think about the project you are about to embark on—selling your home—as practice for your next place!

Instead of viewing this process as a chore, consider it a life-changing adventure. Once you have created the space that will sell your home, you will experience what it is like to live in it; even for a short period of time. You will understand what it is like to reside in a really clean, clutter-free, organized space with vibrant energy. If you are like most people, you will feel liberated, be more organized and calmer with less stuff in your life.

You can choose to read the book in its entirety and then do the work, or read and do the work Step by Step. Preparing a home for sale can be overwhelming. Try to give yourself plenty of time to get your home ready and focus on the task at hand, instead of worrying about everything that needs to get done.

Selling Your Home?

2009-12-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

The purpose of this blog is to give you the information you need to sell your home quickly in a buyer's market. Please feel free to comment or ask questions. The following is an excerpt from the introduction of my forthcoming book, Sell Your Home Fst in a Buyer's Market: Secrets from an Expert Green Feng Shui Staging Designer.

By definition, a buyer’s market means that the buyer has the advantage over the seller. It means that the buyer gets to be highly selective among a large inventory of homes and can pick the best house that they can afford. This puts the seller at a disadvantage—unless they have one of the best homes compared to similar homes in their market. Think of it this way: buyers know how much they can spend and are looking at lots of choices in homes on the market within their price range. The buyer will pick the home with the most value added to it; the one that looks and feels the nicest.

The purpose of this book is to explore the steps necessary to make your home chosen over the competition.

But first, you need to understand the psychology behind what goes on in the buyer’s mind when they are shopping for a home. Virtually everyone wants to maintain or improve their lives and desire health, wealth and happiness. The expectation is that in buying a new home, their dreams of a better life will be realized.

A buyer is not going to feel like their dreams will come true in a poorly maintained, dirty or cluttered home. Most buyers cannot (or simply won’t) look beyond the clutter and dirt to visualize what a home would look like if it were in great shape. Your job is to make your home a space that conveys to the buyer that their dreams will come true if they live there.

This book will show you how to turn your home into a “dream magnet.” It goes beyond the obvious chores of cleaning, removing clutter, and organizing. You will do those things, but you will also add touches that will make your home look and feel fantastic. It will be that look and feel that will sell your home, because that is the feel of possibilities. You will create a space that conveys a lifestyle that a buyer desires, a home that promises to make them happy, content, and financially comfortable.

9 Steps to Sell Your Home Fast

2009-09-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

This is the first post for my new blog, 9 Steps to Sell Your Home Fast! In the future, I will be posting tips on how to do just that, as well as excerpts from my soon-to-be-released book on the same subject.

My name is Norma Lehmeier Hartie, and I am an award winning author and an expert in Green Feng Shui Design.

Future postings will include cleaning, clutter removal and clearing tips; green home improvement and features to add to a home to sell it; Feng Shui and staging tips; creating great curb appeal and more!

Email me at: norma@HarmoniousEnvironment.com or sign up for newsletter to get notification of book release.