Your house is on the market. You have cleaned up all of the clutter and organized your life so your house looks neat and ready for buyers to view. Your house looks good and feels good.

Now here is the question. Does it smell good?

Yes. As strange as it might sound, the smell of a house can be just as important as the look and feel. The perfect house might not sell because it doesn't smell right. When a person is looking for a house, all of their senses are heightened and they are paying close attention to all details. You need to cover all of the bases make sure all of the senses will be attracted to your house. As with anything, you don't want to do too much or too little. Here are some tips for making your house smell just right.

• If you have smoked inside the house, you should consider painting the interior of your home


• Burn some candles in the house before you leave in the morning


• Put the candles away before you leave (see clutter)


• Always run the fans in the bathrooms after use


• Spray your home with air freshener before you leave


• Use mild scents like vanilla and lavender


• If you have small children make sure diapers and other smelly items are discarded outside


• Empty trash cans regularly to avoid bad smells

If you are not sure what to do, follow your nose, it always knows.

Posted July 13, 2006 1:58 PM by Jenni McKenna | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

When preparing your home for sale, it is important to realize what the buyers are going to be paying close attention to. Think of the rooms in your house. There are the bedrooms, the bathrooms, the living room, the dining room and maybe a playroom or a loft of some sort. These are all very necessary rooms but many would tell you that the most important room in a home is the Kitchen. My husband would certainly agree with that statement.

So this month, I want to share some things that you can do to make your kitchen more attractive and appealing.

• Organize the pantry


• Keep the floor clear of debris (sweep and mop regularly)


• Clear all countertops of notepads, loose pens and other items


• Keep the refrigerator tidy and neat (yes, some buyers will look in the fridge)


• Take all magnets, kids' drawings and pictures off of the refrigerator


• Keep the sink clear of dishes


• Store countertop appliances out of sight (toasters, blenders, etc.)


• Keep trash bins out of sight

Continue reading "Can you eat off of the floor?" »

Posted May 9, 2006 3:56 PM by Jenni McKenna | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

One of the most important things to remember when you are preparing your house for sale is to really focus on making the front of your home appealing and inviting. Don't give the potential buyer anything negative or unappealing to look at while their real estate agent is getting the key from the lock box.

You certainly don't want a buyer to have bad feelings about your property before they even enter the home. Remember that first impressions are the strongest and you only have one chance to make a first impression.

Continue reading "Curb Appeal or No Deal" »

Posted March 31, 2006 5:55 PM by Jenni McKenna | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

It's important to realize that we all spend a lot of time in the bathrooms of our homes, whether it is getting ready for work or taking a relaxing bath after a long, hard day.

When potential buyers walk through your house they will scrutinize the quality and environment of the bathrooms. It is ultimately important to prepare each and every one of the bathrooms in your home for showing.

Here are a few tips for making the bathrooms more presentable:

• Always keep the bathrooms spotless


• Apply new caulking around all sinks, showers, baths and toilets


• Purchase new bathroom mats and place them in the bathroom only when you will be showing the house. (Keep the new mats looking new.)


• Purchase new towels and wash rags and place them in the bathrooms only when you will be showing the house. (Keep the new towels and wash rags looking new.)


• Keep all countertops clear of clutter. (Store make-up and other toiletries in the cabinets.)


• Make sure to maintain a pleasant odor in all of the bathrooms


• Keep all mirrors and windows clean


• Do not leave any clothes or towels lying around the bathroom

In general, make each and every one of your bathrooms look as though it is not used. Your bathrooms should look like a hotel bathroom looks when you first check in. Putting forth this effort will make your home more presentable and should lead to a quicker sale.

Posted March 1, 2006 10:35 AM by Jenni McKenna | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Take the screens off of your windows.

It is important to create a bright open feeling in your home and the best way to do that is to remove all of the screens that are attached to your home. I have previewed many homes for potential buyers that I have crossed off of my list because the house is just too dark and gloomy. We live in a warm sunny city. People who live here love the sun and want to feel it.

Get the screens off of your windows and open up your house. Just like they sang in that 60s song "Let the sun shine in."

Continue reading "To screen or not to screen" »

Posted February 1, 2006 10:04 AM by Jenni McKenna | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

If you're in the market to sell a home, you're usually willing to take some professional advice.

Introducing lifetime resident and real estate pro Jenni McKenna from The McKenna Team.

In her monthly column, Jenni's Jewels, Jenni will share her insight and advice to all you desert dwellers looking to sell or purchase a home.

You know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words. And in real estate, a few words from a pro can be worth thousands of dollars in your pocket.

Note: You can read all of Jenni's tips by selecting the Jenni's Jewels category under stuccoed's sections heading.

Posted January 25, 2006 10:46 AM by Pete Codella | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This