(ARA) – You may have noticed an increase in the number of “for sale” signs around your neighborhood, and for good reason: Studies show that home listings increase this time of year, as homeowners want to get their families settled before the next school year begins. If you are thinking of selling your home in today’s tough market, the experts recommend completing a few projects that will help your home look its best and stand out from the crowd.

According to Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s home expert, these projects don’t have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. “There are four easy and inexpensive projects that I recommend every homeowner complete before they stick that ‘for sale’ sign in their front yard.”

Improve curb appeal

Curb appeal is, quite simply, what prospective buyers first see when their car pulls up to your house. According to the National Association of Realtors, half of all buying decisions are based on curb appeal. “Your mother’s advice holds true here – nothing is more important than a good first impression,” says Manfredini. “Strong curb appeal will help set a positive tone for the rest of the house.”

Walk out to your sidewalk and take a look at the front of your house, checking for anything that needs to be cared for. A good first step is to update your exterior hardware, including house numbers, which often become dirty and dated over time. Today there are several great options on the market that incorporate some color and style, like Hy-Ko’s Large Ceramic Tile Address Plaques, which can be customized to your home.

Another quick project is to replace your mailbox. Choose one with a more modern, sleek design such as the Postmaster Amboy Mailbox in black, which looks great on any house and is easy to install. This updated fixture, although small, can do wonders for the overall curb appeal of your home.

Create a luscious lawn

Green, lush lawns always receive a lot of attention. Help your lawn reach its full potential by providing it with the proper fertilizer and grass seed. “My best lawn care advice is to use Scott’s Super Turf Builder with Summerguard,” says Manfredini. “Beyond helping your lawn grow, this product absorbs water so you don’t need to water as often. As an added bonus, it also helps to controls pesky insects.”

Manfredini also recommends making sure that your lawn receives between one and one and a half inches of water per week, including rainfall.

Groom your garden

Nothing compliments a great lawn more than a well-manicured garden. After the cold winter months, gardens and flowerbeds can be left looking unruly. Prospective buyers are searching for outdoor spaces where they can enjoy spending time, so it’s important that you tidy up these areas.

An easy way to do this is by spreading new mulch. Traditional mulch is a great option, but if you are looking for something that will last, consider Rubberific Rubber Mulch, which will last for 10 years.

“Homeowners should also trim and prune shrubs and trees to create a refined look,” says Manfredini. “A ‘jungle theme’ makes your house look unkempt.” This project is made simple with Black & Decker’s easy-to-use Electric Hedge Trimmer.

Finally, give your garden a pop of color by planting inexpensive annuals, such as marigolds and snapdragons.

Spruce up with paint

Now that the exterior of your home is looking great, spend some time on your interior. “Interior painting is one of the most inexpensive and simple projects that homeowners can do,” says Manfredini. “And, it makes a huge difference!”

Choosing neutral paint colors over bold ones won’t distract prospective buyers and will help them visualize making the space their own. Equally important to the color is the type of paint you select. Ace Paint recently launched a new paint called Royal Finest, which is the first paint to combine ultimate stain resistance and environmental friendliness. Royal Finest is made with Scotchgard Protector from 3M, so stains and scuffmarks wipe right off. It is also low-odor, low VOC and GREEN WISE certified, so you know it’s eco-friendly.

For more tips and advice on updating your home, visit www.acehardware.com or stop by your neighborhood Ace Hardware store.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – If you think having great curb appeal is only important if you’re trying to sell your home, think again. Your house is one of your biggest investments and making a great first impression will leave everyone – not just potential buyers – wanting to see what’s inside. With 10 simple improvements, you can easily transform your home into the best looking house on the block.

In a day

There are a number of quick fixes you can complete in just one day that will make a big impact on your exterior.

* Replace old hardware. It’s the little things that make a big difference. Update your dated or dingy house numbers, entry door lockset and overhead light fixture. Each of these elements can add style and interest to your home’s exterior, especially if you incorporate a great finish option like oil-rubbed bronze or brushed nickel.

* Make over your mailbox. Your mailbox should complement the style and color of your house. Restore your existing mailbox with a fresh coat of paint or stain that matches the trim, color and woodwork of your house.

* Tame planter beds and landscaping. If your beds are overrun with weeds and unsightly growth, you’ll need to get them under control to give your home a well-manicured look. Prune, pull weeds and plant flowers to add color. Add a fresh layer of mulch and your yard will look as good as new.

* Illuminate your walkway. Adding low-voltage solar lighting to your front walkway can have a big impact on your home’s curb appeal. It also provides added safety and security. If you don’t have a walkway, string accent lighting in the trees for a whimsical-looking effect.

* Freshen up the front door. The front entry is the focal point of your home’s curb appeal. To keep it looking free of abuse from the elements and use, clean off any dirty spots and remove any loose paint. If your door is beyond repair, install a new version that reflects the design of your house. Once you’re all set, be sure to add a piece of decorative flair, like a wreath or door knocker that showcases your personality to the outside world.

In a weekend

In just a couple of days, you can boost the beauty of your home with easy upgrades.

* Renew paint and trim. Give your home an exterior facelift by adding a new coat of paint or stain. You’ll automatically update the look of your home by fixing any obvious defects, like loose paint, fading colors or cracks in your trim and fence. Be sure to use high-quality painting tools to get a professional-looking finish, like the Pro-Extra brush from Purdy. The extra length and thickness of the filaments on these paintbrushes provide superior paint-holding capacity and are specially designed for all exterior paints and stains.

* Replace gutters and downspouts. If your gutters are loose and worn out, not only do they look neglected, but they’re also a danger to guests. To prevent any injuries, as well as improve the overall appearance, install a new, snap-fit gutter system that go together with a few tools for an easy and important upgrade.

* Add shutters or accent trim. Everything on the exterior of your home should be a reflection of what’s inside. To mirror the pulled-together appearance of your indoor rooms, install shutters and trim to provide an extra layer of interest on the exterior. Not only do shutters help control light and ventilation, but new materials such as PVC resins or polyurethane make them durable and low maintenance.

In a month

Using a little elbow grease and taking extra time on some projects can reap huge rewards for your home in the long run.

* Upgrade railings. Porch and stoop railings deteriorate over time and can become loose. If yours are past their prime, look for quality wood or metal replacements. Make sure the color, scale, design and details coordinate with the rest of your home’s main features.

* Dress up the drive. If your driveway is cracked, stained or has weeds sprouting up from it, now may be time to show it some TLC. Upgrade it without completely starting over. Repair any cracks or stains and be sure to kill the weeds and then add some extra character by staining the concrete or affixing flagstone. For additional flair, add stone, bricks or pavers to the sides for a completely custom look.

With these easy curb appeal cures, your home will be the envy of all your neighbors. For more information about the Pro-Extra brush series or other Purdy painting products, visit purdycorp.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – Owing more on your mortgage than your house is worth may seem like a bad investment. But the alternative – choosing to default on your mortgage even if you can afford the monthly payments – will take a significant toll on your credit rating.

“Strategically defaulting – deciding to stop paying your mortgage regardless of your ability to actually carry the debt – will have a far-reaching, long-lasting impact on your ability to secure future credit,” says Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education for global information services company Experian, one of the three large credit reporting companies that receive and update consumer credit histories which are scored to help predict risk. “It’s by no means a move to be undertaken lightly.”

About 355,000 borrowers strategically defaulted in the first half of 2009, according to research conducted as part of the Experian-Oliver Wyman Market Intelligence Reports. Interestingly, Experian and Oliver Wyman found that the homeowners most likely to strategically default were also those with the highest credit scores.

While it may seem like a good move to simply stop paying and walk away from a bad investment, keep several factors in mind when you consider strategic default:

* It’s very final. Strategic default will lead to foreclosure by the lender. Foreclosure will negatively impact your credit report and scores. In fact, only bankruptcy will affect your scores more adversely than foreclosure.

For more information on just how severe the impact can be, VantageScore LLC recently completed a study that evaluates the effect that foreclosures, bankruptcies, short sales, and various mortgage programs have on consumers’ VantageScore credit scores.

* The default will remain on your credit report for seven years. Since credit scores are based on information in your credit report, the foreclosure will greatly impact your credit scores during those seven years. Securing other credit at reasonable terms and rates will be very difficult, if not impossible, during that time.

* Potential lenders aren’t the only ones looking at credit reports these days. Insurers, employers and even cell phone companies are considering the creditworthiness of those who want to do business with them. By impacting your credit report, a strategic default may affect your ability to get a job, secure insurance and enter into important service contracts.

* Fannie Mae, the government-controlled mortgage giant, announced on June 23 policy changes that will make you ineligible for a new Fannie-Mae-backed mortgage if you walk away from a current mortgage that you actually could afford to pay. The ineligibility will last for seven years from the date of foreclosure.

* Finally, in some cases, the debt that foreclosure “erases” may be recorded as income, which means you will have to pay taxes on it.

“Strategic default may seem like ‘walking away’ from a bad debt, but it’s really anything but,” Sweet says. “While you will no longer have to pay the actual debt, you’ll almost certainly ‘pay’ in other ways, in the form of lowered credit scores and a drastically curtailed ability to secure future credit for the next seven years. Higher interest rates and unfavorable terms could end up costing you more in the long run than continuing to pay on an upside-down mortgage.”

To learn more about credit management, credit reports, credit scores and the factors that affect them, visit www.Experian.com.

(ARA) – Practical pays off when it comes to kitchen and bath renovations. Gone are the days when virtually every kitchen or bathroom remodel involved top-of-the-line luxury upgrades and a budget big enough to fund an Ivy League education. Today’s homeowners want more value for their remodeling dollars, and that means turning to improvements that make both functional and fiscal sense.

If you’re contemplating a kitchen or bathroom remodel, here are some pointers for keeping it practical:

Be like the Swiss . . .

That is to say, stick with neutrality in both the bathroom and the kitchen. Choose neutral colors for the walls and for parts of the room that might be especially costly to change later if your taste in bold colors doesn’t play well with the preferences of potential buyers. Keep fixtures such as sinks and toilets, tiling and flooring in neutral tones and use accessories like shower curtains, towels, artwork and small appliances to put your personal color stamp on the room.

Reflect action

No matter how big your bathroom feels to you, there’s no downside in making it feel bigger. Use mirrors to make the room appear larger than it is. Wall-to-wall, counter-to-ceiling mirrors, free of frames or bevels, fit with contemporary styling and can make a modestly sized bathroom feel much larger.

Sink into it

Sinks play a pivotal role in the usability and desirability of both bathrooms and kitchens. In baths, replace dated, single-basin vanities with dual-sink models, which are in high demand by homebuyers. For kitchen sinks, which are on display in your home 24/7, opt for a blend of practicality and beauty. Kohler’s Vault family of fabricated stainless steel sinks blend form and functionality. The sinks can be installed as undermount or self-rim, so they work with virtually any decor. Log on to www.kohler.com to learn more.

There’s a place for us . . .

Storage is a significant issue in virtually every American home, and both homeowners and home buyers are acutely aware of how much – or how little – storage the average bathroom or kitchen has. In both rooms, adding cabinets and shelving can improve the room’s livability and practicality. Storage is so important, you may want to consider replacing a powder room pedestal sink with a modestly sized vanity. If you really want to make a storage splash in a bathroom, add a shower storage unit.

And speaking of showers . . .

A great shower isn’t just a luxury, it’s a practical concern as well. Americans rely on their showers for more than just cleanliness – a shower is also a spot to relax and decompress. It pays to shell out a few more dollars for touches – like a good showerhead such as the Kohler Flipside Showerhead — that will turn your shower space into a more welcoming experience. Shower surrounds have made it particularly easy to upgrade an existing shower. Sterling has introduced the Accord seated shower, with a seat that is movable and removable. The seating area is the largest available to consumers, and allows you to relax in a seated position, leaning against the shower wall. Log on to www.SterlingPlumbing.com to learn more.

(ARA) – You’ve made the decision to sell your home. But before you put the “for sale” sign in the yard, make sure it’s ready to make a good impression on prospective buyers and clearly stands out among the many other homes on the market.

There are many easy and inexpensive ways to clearly differentiate your home so that it appeals to a wide range of buyers … and in return, yields a fast and profitable sale.

To begin, purge. Nothing makes a home look smaller than cluttered countertops, cupboards and closets. Plus, buyers want to envision a home with their own possessions – not yours. As you start cleaning, sort items in three categories: donate, sell or keep. Soon, your home will look neater and you may add some cash to your wallet or gain a tax write-off.

Next, consider tackling projects that are easy, fast and inexpensive – but will significantly boost your home’s appeal. Magazines are a great source of inspiration, and brands such as Krylon even have Web sites (www.beamoverandshaker.com) that offer practical advice and dozens of projects specifically designed to stage your home for sale.

Some indoor and outdoor projects that are quick, inexpensive and guaranteed to get your home noticed include:

Focal point finishes
Lighting fixtures are the focal point of many rooms – but replacing them can cost hundreds of dollars. With a little elbow grease, $20 and less than two hours, you can update your existing ones with a new, more attractive and popular stainless steel finish.

Directions: Cover your work area with newspaper and disassemble the fixture. Clean the pieces and tape off areas that don’t need to be painted. Following the instructions, apply indoor/outdoor primer followed by the new metallic paint. Once dry, remove the tape and reassemble the chandelier.

Cover the smallest details
When sprucing up your home for sale, sometimes it’s the small details that can make the biggest impact. Painting dull, dirty or chipped register covers or light switch plates can give any room a quick pick-me-up, in less than an hour.

Directions: Remove register covers or light switch plates and place them on newspaper. Sand the surface lightly and wipe clean. Clean all pieces to remove any built up dust and grime. Following instructions, apply a number of light coats of primer, followed by a couple coats of gloss or metallic spray paint. Once dry, reinstall and enjoy.

Illuminate the exterior
Exterior lighting showcases the beauty of your home, so make sure that your light fixtures are just as attractive. Update faded, rusty or outdated finishes with a fresh new finish for a minimal price and maximum impact.

Directions: Turn off power to the lights and detach the fixture from the house. Remove the light bulb and mask off any parts that should not be painted – including wires. Place the fixture on newspaper and lightly sand. Clean all pieces and wipe dry. Following the directions on the can, spray several light coats of Krylon’s Outdoor Spaces Metallic Finish. Make sure to evenly apply paint to the entire fixture. Once paint is completely dry, reattach the parts, reconnect the lightning fixture and turn the power back on.

Freshen up with flowers
The right landscaping and use of plants and flowers can greatly improve your home’s curb appeal for prospective buyers. Brightening up your flower boxes is a quick and easy way to add some color to the front of your home in just a few hours.

Directions: Place a clean flower box on newspaper, sand the exterior to create a smooth surface. Apply several light coats of indoor/outdoor primer to help ward off drips. Next, apply a few coats of indoor/outdoor paint in your favorite color. Once dry, the box is ready to display your favorite flowers.

Whether you’re prepping your house for sale or fixing up your new home, you’ll find dozens of fast and easy projects at beamoverandshaker.com.

(ARA) – Many would-be home sellers are concerned about reduced housing prices, and those who are highly motivated are pulling out all the stops to make their homes more appealing than the competition.

If you’re preparing to sell this spring but aren’t in a position to invest in ambitious renovations, such as a kitchen remodel or new hardwood floors, the best advice is to look to the “bonus” spaces in and around your home and maximize their appeal.

Decks, patios, sunrooms and porches have always been popular with home buyers, but real estate agents say that too often those spaces are neglected or not used to their best advantage.

“Anything that adds living space adds value, and the least expensive way to gain space is to build a deck or turn the one you have into an outdoor room by staging it so that it flows seamlessly with the rest of the house,” says Mary Beth Harrison of The Harrison Group, a Dallas-based real estate agency. “A great deck can set your home apart from others with the same interior floor plan or square footage, and deck additions typically add value when it comes time to sell.”

A bonus space – for example, a tiny deck or rarely used balcony off a master bedroom – can be transformed into a romantic getaway by staging it with cozy, cushioned seating and a raised fire pit. You can safeguard your deck and add designer style with deck stones, 16-inch interlocking square tiles made of natural slate or granite. Deck stones can provide an effective fire barrier that’s an asset under fire pits or grills, or when used to create an outdoor kitchen.

“More than ever before, people look at their decks as outdoor rooms,” says Chris Fox of Universal Forest Products, an American company that’s focused on easy-to-install, low-maintenance decking material and deck add-ons. “For some, it’s a kitchen; for others, a living room. Decks can be party spaces or quiet retreats. With so many different types of deck materials, lighting, rail systems and decorative accents, it is possible to turn a nondescript deck into a great outdoor space.”

Universal’s Latitudes line features low-maintenance, top-quality composite decking and accessories. Their Capricorn line gives the exotic look of rich tropical hardwoods which are a current design trend that will instantly update a home.

Whether working with an old deck or a brand-new one, details count when it comes to staging. Outdoor lighting on a deck or patio provides ambience and adds versatility to the space, showing buyers endless possibilities for evening entertainment.

If you want to open up the view on a bonus space, consider replacing wooden deck balusters with contoured glass balusters from Deckorators, or update the rails with distinctive aluminum balusters. New rails will add a dramatic difference to your deck. Deckorators aluminum rail systems come in kits that allow easy installation and give old decks a fresh look at a fraction of the price of a total deck replacement or addition.

“Buyers always react positively to nice decks that look like a great place to hang out,” says Harrison. “From a buyer’s perspective, if all else is equal, it’s true that the home with the best deck wins.”

(ARA) – The high volume of foreclosed homes on the market is allowing some astute buyers to turn eyesores into eye-catching properties with only minimal investment. While not every property can be fixed up affordably, there are some common projects that dramatically improve a foreclosed home’s appeal and value.

“Many people are finding huge opportunities in fixing up foreclosures,” says Tom Sullivan, founder of Lumber Liquidators, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring. “Most of these houses can be completely transformed with just a few improvements. Often, the fixes are easy enough to be do-it-yourself projects.”

Here are some popular cost-effective options for breathing new life into a home in need.

Add new countertops.
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home, since it is a space where people spend a lot of time – from cooking dinner to entertaining friends. One of the most dramatic changes that can be made to a kitchen is adding new countertops. It alters the appearance of the space by changing the color scheme, depth and texture of the whole room.

Countertops range in price depending on room size, type of material and mode of installation. In an average kitchen, a new laminate countertop starts at around $1,000, with granite or quartz ranging from $3,000 to $6,000. Butcher-block countertops are another attractive, yet cost-effective option. Williamsburg Butcher Block Company offers options in both maple and American cherry starting around $310.

Replace the bathtub.
Foreclosed houses frequently come with water stains left by standing water in sinks, toilets and bathtubs. Updating a bathroom by installing a new bathtub not only removes the problem, but, because the tub is a core item, it creates a more pleasant feeling in the room. Bathtubs are available in many different styles and sizes, so there is likely to be one that suits any taste, from traditional to contemporary. Bathtubs start at around $300, depending on the size and style.

Trade carpeting for new wood flooring.
Foreclosed houses are frequently abandoned with soiled carpet that continues to gather buildup over time. Mold is also common in homes that have been left bare for extended periods. To get rid of hidden odors, allergens, irritants and mold, replace carpet with wood, particularly in high-traffic areas such as living rooms and great rooms.

In addition to reviving these common areas, swapping carpet for wood adds style and creates a more spacious feel. The choice of wood can also make a big difference. Light wood colors can make a room appear larger, medium-toned woods can make a room appear more traditional and dark flooring can make a room appear warmer.

“The introduction of so many new species, colors and types of wood flooring in recent years gives homeowners a lot of options when renovating a room at different price points,” says Sullivan.

Laminate flooring can deliver the appearance of solid hardwoods, but costs less than $1 per square foot at places like Lumber Liquidators. This allows budget do-it-yourselfers the ability to transform a 400-square-foot area for as little as $750.

In addition to making a foreclosed home look new again, completing these easy and affordable updates can go a long way in restoring the value of the property when it comes time to sell.

(ARA) – With today’s record low real estate prices and attractive mortgage rates, now may be a good time to think about investing in a second home that ultimately can be used as your permanent residence upon retirement. By taking a “buy-and-rent” approach before you’re ready to retire, your new home will actually have partly paid for itself by the time you’re ready to move into it.

“Buying and renting out a second home as a vacation rental property until you’re ready to move in upon retirement can significantly help offset the cost of ownership,” says Brian Sharples, CEO of HomeAway, the world’s leading online vacation rental marketplace. “The income stream, in addition to tax write-offs for maintenance and repairs, make this an attractive strategy for many people nearing retirement.”

According to HomeAway, the average second-home owner rents out their property to travelers 17 weeks a year, generating more than $28,000 in rental income annually. And the demand for vacation rentals among travelers is growing, which is good news for second-home owners. In fact, 87 percent of travelers who looked into a vacation rental in the past say they plan to stay in a vacation rental in 2010 – a significant increase from the 67 percent who stayed in a vacation rental in 2009.

To generate income from a second home prior to moving into it when you retire, Sharples suggests consumers take the following steps:

* Consider the location and market potential – Carefully review the markets where you want to retire, and before you buy, consider the areas where consumer demand for vacation rentals is high, but inventory is low. For example, Atlantic City, N.J.; Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.; Hampton Beach, N.H.; Dauphin Island, Ala., and Mount Pocono, Pa., were among some of the most underserved markets for vacation rental properties in 2009, according to HomeAway.

* Factor in tax write-offs – Talk to an accountant about the tax advantages of owning and renting out a second home. Expenses such as insurance, utilities, home maintenance and depreciation can be deducted, depending on how often you rent out the property and how many weeks you personally stay there each year.

* Advertise to attract renters – When you’re ready to rent out the property, be sure to market the availability of the vacation rental to travelers by listing it on sites like HomeAway.com or VRBO.com, which reach millions of travelers each month. A 12-month listing costs $329 – or less than $28 per month – on HomeAway.com, so the advertising pays for itself with your first booking – and the rest is pure rental income.

* Stay competitive and network with owners – Check out other similar vacation rentals in the area to determine what rates they’re charging travelers, and price your home at a competitive rate to help drive bookings. Also, be sure to talk with other owners to get their tips and advice for maximizing a second home investment.

For more information on buying a second home and effective strategies for maximizing rental income, check out HomeAway’s online community for vacation rental owners at ownercommunity.homeaway.com.