For All Seasons

Keeping up with home maintenance can be overwhelming. There is always something to paint, clip, clean or mow. You can make the tasks more achievable by creating an annual to-do list for your home.

In fact the beginning of the calendar year is an ideal time to create a plan of attack, dividing the job into the four seasons.

Winter
- Consider having air ducts professionally cleaned, especially if you have forced air heating. This can improve air quality in your home during the winter months.
- Hire a professional to clean and inspect your chimney at the beginning or end of each fire-burning season.

Spring
- At the on-set of the spring season clean your gutters of debris. You need gutters and downspouts ready to handle seasonal spring rains.
- Conduct a good spring cleaning. Air out the house, dust, clean and vacuum. Pay attention to areas you may not always get to.

Summer
- Inspect the roof for broken shingles or other problems.
- Review decks and porches for rot, insects and splits. Repair as needed.
- Focus on your landscaping. Remove dead plants and trim overgrown shrubbery.

Fall
- If you feel drafts and leaks around windows and doors, make plans to insulate for the upcoming winter months.
- Conduct an annual inspection of your heating system and clean all filters.

A Tough Decision

You've worked hard. For the past few weeks you've cleaned, organized and did everything you possibly could to get your home in tip-top shape. At the same time you've worked with your real estate agent to set a fair, but still profitable, listing price.
Now it is time to run the listing and see what happens.

When the offer you receive is less than your list price, you are disappointed, but not surprised. Even in a strong market buyers are reluctant to start the negotiations at the offered price. By coming in lower, there is the chance for compromise.

Following the advice of your Realtor® you could counter-offer. During these negotiations, remember there are other variables in play besides money. Perhaps they are able to meet your strict moving schedule or are able to offer cash instead of home financing. Both of these might make them more attractive buyers.

In addition, there are things you can do to encourage them to raise their bid. You may include a home warranty or offer to perform improvements before they assume ownership. Appliances and furniture can be other bargaining chips.

In the end, the buyer may not be able to raise their bid. Then the decision becomes, "Do I pass on this offer and hope that another qualified buyer comes along and offers more?" It is a very difficult decision. In this case, you must rely on the advice of your real estate agent and follow your heart.