FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT IN GETTING HOME READY FOR SALE

Barbara and Steve Cameron were planning to redecorate their Scott City home but then the unexpected happened. A for sale sign in the lawn of a nearby home drew their attention. They toured the house. Their plans changed.

"I fell in love with the house," Barbara Cameron said. Within a few hours, the Camerons put their redecorating and sprucing up efforts into high gear. They hope new owners will soon be enjoying their handiwork.

"I figured someone would like to move in and not have to change a lot," said Barbara Cameron, weary from a long date with a paint brush the night before.

Cameron's instincts are correct, at least for the greater part of the population looking to buy homes.

Generally, people want a house that is ready for occupancy, according to Connie Killian, realtor associate with Century 21 Ashland Realty.

Plus, Killian said, the importance of curb appeal cannot be overstated. "People have got to want to get out of the car."

Yard work is a good place to start. "This time of the year, the yard is looking pretty dead from the winter," Killian noted. Attention to details -- a well groomed lawn and colorful flowers -- can help set the mood for a favorable showing.

"Their first impression is really important," agreed Jeanne Owens of Owens Realty Co. "The first thing that's important is to unclutter."

Inside and out, some elbow grease can make the difference, she said. "You want the house to appear as spacious and roomy as possible."

Killian, likewise, advised, "If there's way too much furniture, put some of it in storage." Potential home buyers look for good traffic flow.

If the home seems too crowded for the current owner's possessions - beware of stuffed closets and overflowing cabinets - chances are the home viewers will think the home too small for their needs.

On the outside of the home, it's neatness that really counts, Owens said. "Make sure the yard is freshly mowed," she noted, "and don't let them trip over toys on their way to the door."

If a realtor is showing the home, it's a good idea for the owner to leave the lights on before leaving the house, Owens added. Besides eliminating a search in the dark for the light switch, a well lighted home is more inviting, home sellers say. Open curtains also help.

ERA Cape Realty advises that persons looking to sell their homes replace all the light bulbs with the highest wattage possible. "You want to bring that light in there," said Loretta Turner, realtor, "that will brighten up the home and make it look larger. If it's dark, it's going to look small."

An inexpensive way to add sparkle -- and enhance the sense of spaciousness -- is with paint.

"Paint is cheap compared with what it will bring you in return," said Art Blaylock of Coldwell Banker Blanchard and Associates Realty Inc.

That's a rule of thumb that Nancy Baker of Cape Girardeau and her 14-year-old son Brandon are putting to use.

"He and I have painted the bedrooms, painted the pillars in front of the house, and the garage door," Baker said. "I still have some things I want to do," she said, citing some odd-jobs about her brick Hillview Street home.

Much of the work about the house that she and her son have tackled over the past few weeks were jobs she would have addressed in spring cleaning, with her realtor also making some recommendations, Baker said.

One significant possibility still under consideration has to do with carpeting. "I'm considering replacing the carpeting upstairs," Baker said.

Carpet replacement can be worthwhile, particularly if the present carpet is worn or dated, realtors say. While it can be a tough call and is dependent upon many circumstances, Owens noted, "I've seen a few instances where it has been worthwhile to replace the carpeting."

If new carpet or a new paint job is planned, realtors typically advise sticking with neutral colors. "That way, they can visualize what their furniture will look like in the house," Turner said. "People will add color to their house with accessories."

Whether to invest in other big dollar items is largely a case-by-case call.

There are at least two rooms in the house to which extra attention is almost always worthwhile. "If your kitchen needs updating, that's a good thing to do," Blaylock said. The same goes for bathrooms, he said. Those are two rooms that make big impressions.

"A woman, nine times out of 10, will head toward the kitchen," upon entering a home for the first time, Killian said. "If you have a lot of stuff on the counters, put it up to make it appear that you have more counter space," she advised. The master bedroom and closet space are other aspects that women are typically interested in.

"Men are, generally, going to go to the garage, the basement and the yard," Killian noted.

Roofing is another larger expenditure about which home sellers may debate. A roofing allowance - or money taken off the selling price to allow for a new roof -- could prove the best choice, at least one realtor said. On the other hand, Blaylock noted, "A roof can kill a sale in a minute.

"Replacement is not that costly compared to the damage it can do to your sale."

Basements are another consideration. "If you've got a dreary basement, paint that rascal white," Blaylock asserted. If the basement has leaks, it's typically best to have it repaired by a reputable worker and obtain a guarantee in writing, another realtor suggested.

Then there's the question of what to leave with the home. Appliances, particularly built-in units, can be an important attraction. "If you can leave all of the appliances, you should," Turner advised.

Besides the importance of visual improvements, such as a inviting front entry, the impact of other senses should not be overlooked.

Softly scented potpourri can add a nice touch. There's the old trick of applying vanilla extract to light bulbs. The tempting aroma of a fresh baked pie can do wonders for establishing a cozy tone.

Owens noted that cinnamon applied to aluminum foil and placed in the oven just minutes before the anticipated arrival of a home viewer can add a pleasant touch. She tells the story of a woman who had homemade cinnamon rolls rising on the counter when the prospective buyers arrived. "The people that were looking at the house could hardly get past the kitchen," Owens said. "It sure did make a good impression and put them in a happy mood."

Then, there are other odors, though sometimes unnoticed by occupants, that should not be ignored. Pet, smoking and food odors can be real killers.

Plus, Killian advised, it's best for pets not to be roaming around the home when potential home buyers arrive. "Some people are afraid of dogs," she noted. "The best thing in the world to do is put him in a pet taxi."

While a pet is certainly the choice of a home owner, there are other reflections of personal taste that would best be absent when the home is viewed by a potential buyer. "Depersonalize your home," Turner advised. "Put away family photos, political symbols, children's art work and rock collections."

"Just take care of the cosmetic needs and have things as well done and finished as possible," said Bob Adams of Adams Appraisal Service. "Don't leave any jobs undone."

Meanwhile, Barbara Cameron pays close attention to doing just that at her First Street home in Scott City. New light fixtures and wallpaper border add finishing touches.

"I'm nervous, it's a big step," she asserted. "Now it's kind of wait and see and that's kind of hard."