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Once winter has passed, "for sale" signs start popping up on lawns across America. And if you're one of the many people planning to put your home on the market this year, there's probably some home improvement work to do to fetch top dollar on the deal.

Luckily, you don't need to spend lots of money to get your home ready to sell. There are plenty of inexpensive projects you can tackle to make your home more appealing to the buyer and get that ‘sold' sign in your front yard.

Identify Your Home's Flaws

Although disclosure laws can vary from state to state, sellers are obligated to disclose property and structural flaws when selling a home. Even if it's an honest mistake, failure to mention a basement that floods or a leaky roof could leave you in the hot seat well after the deal is closed.

While you probably don't want to remodel your entire basement or kitchen before you sell, you should make some minor improvements to your home. Fixing small appliances like the dishwasher might cost you money upfront, but you'll probably recoup that cost when you sell.

Get Your Home in Showcase Condition

Have you ever walked into a space and been immediately overwhelmed by clutter and disorganization? As a seller, you rarely have a second chance to make a first impression.

Spending a week or two cleaning and organizing your home will give your house a more spacious appearance. Minimize clutter by clearing counters, organizing closets and concealing items in stackable crates and baskets. And what about the garage? Remember, storage is key. Make sure it's organized, clean and can fit cars too.

In the bathroom, replace caulking in bathtubs and showers. Modernize your kitchen by replacing a cracked linoleum floor, old counter tops and cabinetry.

Be sure all appliances are working properly. Clean and inspect your furnace and water heater. Make repairs to correct leaky faucets, squeaky doors, broken light switches, burned-out light bulbs, loose doorknobs, torn screens and broken windows.

Minimal Cost - Measurable Results

Painting is one of the best yet relatively inexpensive ways to improve your home. Not only can a new paint job improve a room's appearance, but a fresh coat of paint can give a home a fresh ambiance and modernize outdated décor.

As the selling season approaches, the need for neutral décor is also important. A house with beige walls and neutral tiling or carpeting is a faster sell. The neutral colors give potential homeowners a clean slate to make the property their own.

Curb Appeal is also Key

If the home doesn't pique curiosity from the curb, you'll never get the buyer to step foot inside.

A good place to start is with your yard. A freshly cut lawn, manicured hedge and a beautiful flowering garden should catch the eyes of buyers. Siding and trim should be clean and in good condition, and cracks in the sidewalk or driveway should be patched and treated. You also should repair broken windows, wobbly railings and crooked shutters.

Consider also painting or staining your front door, or even installing a new one, to make the doorway more welcoming. Adding a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of the house can make everything look new again.

Remove everything from your deck and sweep off all dirt and debris. Check all structural elements for damage. Replace any damaged boards, tighten any lose boards or screws and fix any nail pops.

There are the variety of deck cleaning products available. Some are detergents, others are bleaches, and still others are chemical solutions designed to react with certain woods. Whatever cleaner you choose, read and follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Many cleaners can be easily applied with a pump-style garden sprayer following the manufacturer's instructions. It's advisable to test in a small, less visible spot first before cleaning the entire deck.

Sometimes lightly watering down the deck can assist you in applying and spreading the cleaning solution. Many solutions should not be allowed to dry on the wood so periodic spraying/misting may be required. Depending on how dirty your deck is you may see results immediately. But many cleaning compounds require a few minutes to work before you see results.

Depending on the cleaner you select and the amount of algae on your deck, you can use a stiff brush with a long handle (typically a synthetic bristle brush since many cleaning solutions will deteriorate a natural bristle brush) and a regular garden hose or you can use a pressure washer.

Once you've cleaned your deck well, let it dry for 12 to 24 hours and you're ready to sand. Using a pole sander makes this job much easier and saves your knees. Use 120 to 150 grit sandpaper and sand in the direction of the wood grain. Most likely you won't need to sand your spindles or railings because vertical surfaces don't wear as fast. When the sanding is finished, use a leaf blower, broom or wet/dry vac to thoroughly remove the dust, and your deck is ready for staining. You should stain or seal it as quickly as possible after you have sanded to protect it from the elements.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

• Make a list of desired features -- a pond, fountain, walkway, fence, rose garden, etc.
• Inside your home, look out the window at the view and think about what you'd like to see from that vantage point. Are there views from inside your home that you find attractive or otherwise want to preserve? Consider ways that this view can be enhanced by your landscape design. Take advantage of all natural or attractive architectural features to add beauty to the view from inside your home.
• Make a rough sketch of your home and surrounding property. Include existing hardscape like retaining walls, patios etc.
• Determine walkways and desired shape (curved, angled, or straight) as well as width and length and building materials to be used.
• Plan for most of your plantings to be far enough from the house to be viewed from inside.
• A flower bed several feet from the kitchen window can provide a plethora of colorful wildlife for your entertainment while you cook and clean.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

If you long to give your home that sought-after "curb appeal," consider starting with your front entrance. Your front entrance is so important when making that "first impression," because it's really the 'face' of your home. So try following these 10 easy improvements to help give your home a facelift.

1. Repair the Walkway:

Patch cracks and replace loose bricks and pavers. Rent a power washer or purchase a chemical treatment to clean up embedded stains in concrete, stone or asphalt.

2. Illuminate the Path:

Lighting helps ensure guests arrive safely and also acts as a theft deterrent. Clean light fixtures and replace burnt-out bulbs with energy-saving CFL bulbs, replace outdated fixtures and add landscape lighting to brighten walkways and shrubbery.

3. Use Foliage and Shrubbery:

Strategically-placed plants can conceal any unattractive aspects of your house or surroundings. Place large pots or hanging baskets around the stoop or porch. Bushes or hedges hide air conditioning units or propane tanks, and flower beds and window boxes will stylize a stark facade.

4. Prune and Mulch:

Prune dead branches, trim back overgrown shrubbery or remove obstructive plantings. Spread mulch or bark around trees, shrubs and flowers for a weed-free, well-kept look.

5. Decorate Your Door:

Restore the luster of your door by polishing the hinges and knobs. Paint or stain the door with a color that stands out, yet complements, the trim and siding. Hang a pretty wreath to finish the look. If your front door is weak or unattractive, invest in a replacement door or storm door for security and energy efficiency.

6. Focus on Windows:

Fix broken windows and torn screens and paint sashes, trim and shutters in a neutral color. Add window treatments and keep the glass crystal clear.

7. Accessorize:

Choose a few lawn and garden ornaments. Match a decorative handle, door knocker or kickplate with shiny new house numbers and a mailbox.

8. Feature Furniture:

Spray a fresh coat of paint on furniture and replace the cushions. Fill an empty spot on the porch or stoop with a quaint bench or porch swing.

9. Keep it Clean:

Sweep the sidewalk and stoop, clear away cobwebs, tighten wobbly railings and repaint posts and supports.

10. The Finishing Touch:

Put out a clean, new welcome mat and make sure the doorbell works because you're sure to attract more visitors now!

By following these 10 simple steps, your front entrance will be beautiful, well-maintained, and most of all, welcoming.

Credit:  Lou Manfredini's Tips From the Tool Box, Ace Hardware

• Use a posthole digger to dig a hole about 1 ½’ deep.
• Use a 5’ tall piece of treated 4”x4” in your posthole, so that about 3 ½’ extend out of the ground. (This is the height specified by the USPS.)
• Fill the rest of the hole with dry cement, tamping the cement down with a shovel handle every 4”. Leave an inch or two unfilled at the top of your hole.
• Level your post.
• Activate the cement using a garden hose or 5-gallon bucket of water.
• Let the cement dry and cure for a minimum of 48 hours.
• Nail a treated 12”x6”x1” board to the top of your post and attach your mailbox.
• Fill in the top of the posthole with dirt. Sprinkle grass seed into the dirt and water.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Maybe it's toasted marshmallows you crave or a place to warm your hands on a chilly night. Or perhaps you want to create a central gathering place for guests. Whatever your desire, a backyard fire pit adds a special touch to your outdoor entertaining.

Fire pits can be useful year round. They extend your outdoor entertaining season by giving friends a cozy place to visit in cool weather. Even in warmer months, a fire pit can ward off a nighttime chill.

Fire pits come in a variety of styles including freestanding fire bowls and bowls mounted in the center of low tables that are convenient for guests to sit around. Another style, the chimenea, is an upright fireplace that stands on legs and has a chimney on top. Wood is inserted through a door on the front.

Backyard fireplaces come in wood-burning as well as gas models. You can choose from elegant metal and stone versions or the more rustic clay chimeneas.

Smaller fireplaces have the advantage of portability, meaning you can have a party for a handful of guests on a patio or move the celebration to a larger, open area of the yard and still offer the pleasant atmosphere of a fireplace.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.