Every seller wants to sell their home fast and for top dollar. That’s what I would want and I’m sure that sounds good to you too. The question is, “What do I do?”

The easiest answer is to Stage your home. Staging has been gaining popularity by Real Estate Agents for years. It really can help you achieve your goals and get top dollar. The problems are where to start and how much is this going to cost. The truth is, sometimes you have to spend money to make money. I know this isn’t what you probably want to hear, so I’ve come up with two solutions that shouldn’t cost a penny.

The first is a no-brainer, clean. And I mean really clean, not just sweep it under the rug. Your house should sparkle, as if your mother-in-law were coming to town. Make sure the wastebaskets are always empty. Keep your soap dish pretty, keep a new one around to switch when your house is being shown. No one wants to see someone else’s trash or dirt.

You will also need to clean out your closets and cabinets. If something falls out, it will leave an impression, just not a good one. Clutter makes your house appear small. People today need storage space. If your clothing doesn’t fit in there, how is theirs supposed to?

And another part to cleaning, make sure your house smells great. Strong odors such as pet and cigarette smells have a strong impact on buyers. I have personal experience with this. I don’t smoke, so when I’m showing a house or walking into an open house filled with the smell of smoke I want to leave as soon as I can. We become so accustomed to certain smells that we no longer notice them, but someone else always does. And the same goes with pets. I have a dog and two cats, so I’m comfortable in a house that smells like it has pets. Some of you are the opposite of me. I understand. The best way to find out if your house smells is inviting someone over who either is a non-smoker if you are or a non- pet owner if you are. Ask them for their opinion. Ask for their honest opinion and don’t let your feelings get hurt. They are helping you in your house sale.

Second, de-personalize. I know you love your knick-knacks and personal belongings; the problem is the buyers coming into your house might not. Your treasured salt and pepper shaker collection all over your house might distract the buyers. You want them to imagine their clutter in your house and their pictures on the walls, so make it easy for them. De-clutter.

There’s another part to this that might cost you money. It’s totally optional. Do you have a cherished family chandelier hanging in your dining room? Do you want to keep it? Then you should seriously consider packing it up and replacing it now. If a buyer walks through that door and loves the chandelier, they might fight for it in negotiations. You don’t want to lose a treasured family heirloom over a technicality or a potential buyer in the end. And this goes for any curtains, built-in appliances or fixtures you want to take with you.

I hope this gets you started on the right track. There’s always more; painting your walls neutral colors, fixing anything broken, or maybe replacing worn carpets. I know we all don’t have the money needed for these types of fixes, so I wanted to give you some ideas that should help. One more thing, it’s never too early to start these things when you are thinking about selling your house. Good luck.

Everyone knows moving to a new house can be nerve-racking. Even if it’s just down the street, your canine companion can become just as stressed as you. So how can you reduce this stress? For starters, good planning never hurts.

But if you’re like me, your dog is part of your family. You want to make it a happy time. Branndon and I purchased our Golden Retriever from a local breeder while shopping for our Wedding Reception site. Believe me, it was not planned to leave with a new puppy. But with a little pout on my future husband and I was a goner. We had a new puppy, Tobey. Branndon and I still laugh about how we got him, and neither of us would change a thing. He’s family.

When Branndon and I moved back to Orange County after a couple of years in Santa Barbara, we didn’t have too long of a drive. Tobey is always with us, we take him where ever we can, so he was used to being in the car for long periods of time. We’ve all been to Monterey, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Cambria… they all have accommodations for dogs. I like to search online at PetsWelcome.com for pet-friendly places to stay. Some hotels like to pamper them with dog massages and special plates from Room Service. One of my favorites is the Fess Parker in Santa Barbara.

“What can I do to make the move easier?” you might ask. Now, I do things that are pretty simple, but I think they go a long way. I make sure to stop at least every hour to let Tobey relieve himself and stretch his legs, not to mention my own. I’ve read that you’re not supposed to give your dog water before the trip, because they might have an accident in your car. I’m bad and don’t listen; I give water and food. But, I know Tobey, we’ve taught him to let us know when he needs to go and I know he can hold it for at least 8 hours when we go to bed. So, for me if something happened it would be my fault. I think you need to know your dog. You know whether they should or shouldn’t eat or drink on a road trip.

Having treats on hand can always bring a smile to your canine companion. Bringing their favorite bed or blanket can make their transition easier. And don’t forget; always bring extra disposable plastic bags. I always seem to run out at the most inopportune times. Learn from my mistakes and have a happy move.