The "Top 35 Selling Secrets" show recently aired on HGTV. As you will see, Charlie and Barbara used several of these tips to sell their home. At a minimum, enjoy the read and the creative language they used to describe these improvements. They really made an effort to make the information and their program entertaining and informative.

If you go to the HGTV web-site and search on "35 Selling Secrets" you will also see room photos that demonstrate each item and an expanded description of each tip. Photos included in this article are supplied by Lee from his renovation projects.

#35: De-clutter. Pick up clutter and get rid of your tchotchke’s. All of the little items sitting around on your tables just detract from the buyer noticing important room features.

#34: Clean up to clean up. Take a look around for anything that might turn a buyer off - pet hair, dirty shower doors, dead bugs in light fixtures, or dirty grout. Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. Make sure yours can pass the "white glove" test.

#33: Fix it or forget it. Deferred maintenance just gives the buyer a reason to reduce their offer -- more than what it actually would take to make the repairs.

#32: Go neutral. To appeal to a large number of buyers, make sure that you use light tones of blue, green or tan. If you must paint over bright or dark colors, prime first. New paint also helps to remove any lingering odors.

#31: Design to Smell. Odors are deal breakers. Any foul smells - pets, garbage, shoes, mold - will make a buyer walk right back out the door. To make sure your home smells fresh and clean, open windows to let fresh air in before a showing, heat cinnamon water on the stove or bake cookies or bread, add scent packets to paint when you redecorate.

#30: Spring into action. Spring is the best time to sell. Make sure your home has curb appeal and draws buyers in.

    

#29: Clear it out and clean it up. Clear up the yard. Put in fresh pine straw or mulch. Trim bushes. Add bursts of color with flowers or mulch.

#28: Embrace your architecture. If your home has any special features, show them off.

#27: Opportunity knocks. Make sure your front door says, "Come in." Either sand/stain or paint and add new hardware or install a new door.

#26: Deck it out. Improving your outdoor space adds usable square footage to your home. Make sure it’s welcoming.

    

#25: Have them at "Hello." I love that line from the movie Jerry McGuire. But it’s also pertinent to the 10 seconds you have to make a first impression of your home. The first room they see has to say, "WOW!"

#24: Fire up the fireplace. Everyone wants one so make sure it’s the focal point - draw attention to the mantel or paint the fireplace wall an accent color to compliment the rest of the room.

#23: Furnish for selling. Furniture must be in proportion to the size of the room. Pulling furniture off the walls make a room appear larger.

#22: Money’s in the details. We usually tell clients that sometimes you can spend $1,000 and make it look like $10,000. Small upgrades, i.e., installing larger base boards or crown moulding, enhances the value of the room.

#21: Design to dine. Make sure you have at least one defined dining area, whether it is adjacent to the kitchen or a separate room. Dress is up with an updated chandelier and place settings.

#20: Know your competition. Attend other open houses. Listen to potential buyers’ remarks about the property. See how other agents are marketing the home. Make sure your home would make it to any buyer’s top list.

#19: Pare it down. The Master Bedroom must be comfortable and a place to relax - not an office - not for storage. "When in doubt, take it out."

#18: It’s all about the bed. The bed should be placed on the wall you first see when you enter the room. Bedside tables and lamps should be on each side to complete the look.

#17: Create instant luxury. For not a huge expense, you can purchase new bedding, window treatments and paint the room a coordinated paint color.

#16: Clean out your closets. Buyers open everything to see how much space they will have for their things. Make sure yours are organized -- show how "roomy" your storage areas are.

#15: Price it to sell, not to sit. Pricing too high scares off buyers and your house gets stale. There should be just a small gap between list price and sale price.

#14: Use high end materials in kitchens and baths. Splurge in small spaces - granite, stone, marble, tile - the biggest part of the cost is in the labor.

#13: Primp your vanity. You don’t always have to replace them - give them a facelift. Sand, stain or paint the base cabinet with enamel paint. Add new hardware. Update mirrors and lights.

    

#12: Don’t pour money down the drain. You don’t have to do a major bathroom renovation. Change/update a shower door or refinish a tub enclosure to update.

#11: Whisk them away. Make your bathroom look like an expensive spa. Give it a fresh, untouched look. Roll up towels and provide spa lotions in baskets.

#10: Cook up your kitchen. Even modest alterations will help.

#9: Reheat cabinets. Paint with a high gloss or enamel paint or stain and seal instead of replacing. Add new hardware.

#8: Use counter intelligence. Make sure your counter is food chopping ready. Granite is today’s material of choice. You can upgrade using granite remnants or prefabricated sections without incurring custom materials costs.

#7: Apply yourself. New appliances sell kitchens. You will get your money back by replacing old appliances.

#6: Open up and say "offers." Open floor plans are the most popular.

#5: Go with the flow. Make sure your floor plan has flow - room to walk through and around to get to the next living area.

#4: Trash to treasure. Every room and every square foot counts. Make sure you aren’t missing an opportunity to turn unused space into a selling feature.

    

#3: Match the book to its cover. The exterior of your home should provide a hint to what’s inside. Mismatching the exterior and interior of your home sends mixed signals to a buyer.

#2: Complete the picture. Finish any projects you have started. Make sure your home is move-in ready. No one wants to purchase your uncompleted projects.

#1: Go over the top! Take what you have and make it better.

Don’t do nothing - Do something!

We hope that you found at least one thing new and useful that you might consider implementing.

"Good Luck" in this Spring home selling market.