Wayne Johnson Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper Realtors

When I help sellers, I urge them to organize the rooms and declutter the house. Three primary reasons for this:

• House looks better in the photos
• House shows better
• Shows buyers the available space, and well-cared for nature of the house

Surprisingly, not every seller agrees with the need to declutter. In fact, some sellers are proud to display items or collections of things that may even be objectionable to potential buyers. I think the less is more approach is best for getting a house sold. Although a man's (or woman's) house is their castle, what we have in the castle varies from person to person. Here are a few things I suggest to box and store before showing:

• Family photos (get the buyer seeing their things and family in the space)
• Political Signs or Materials (this is a free country, but you have about a 50% chance of upsetting a potential buyer. If showing your political persuasion is more important than selling the house, proudly display your political materials. Otherwise, save it for your new home.)
• Stuffed animals and mounted heads (hunting and fishing are worthy activities but not everyone likes the resulting trophies displayed in the house.) You are trying to sell the house so take your trophies to storage and display them in your new home.

Leave a comment about the most "interesting" display or item you've seen at a house on the market.

Well, I guess I'm really not sorry because the seller did not have to wait long for a good offer and the buyer is getting a good home.

This is one time where COL Smith's (The A-Team, TV from the '70s) statement rings true. He would say, "I love it when a plan comes together." Cheers to the buyer and the seller.

Last month I posted an opinion regarding getting free help from governmen- approved loan modification companies.

Last week while driving to different appointments I heard several stories on local and national radio stations about some of the so-called loan modification companies collecting funds but not really helping clients work out a solution. In fact, they were making things worse by collecting up-front fees, which then left less for the borrower to use to pay current expenses. I did not catch the name of any of the offending entities.

If anyone has first hand information on companies that are truly helping borrowers work out their mortgage situations, please share.

There are several hundred specific items that agents and homeowners can do to get a home ready for an Open House.

Both the agent and the homeowner should be in agreement that an Open House is the right event to use to expose the property to potential buyers. If both parties are not in agreement, the Open House will be wated effort and the one party not supporting the effort will likely be frustrated and disappointed in the outcome.

Here are my Tips For a Successful Open House

Agent Tasks

•·Promotion, Publicity, Advertising-People have to know in advance that the Open House will occur. Get the word out.

•Directional signs on the day of the event-Good signage can stimulate drive by visits from those in the area, unaware that an Open House is planned.

•Handouts-Property Flyers to describe the property's key attributes, and contact information for the listing agent; and Feedback Cards to rate the pros and cons of the property.

•Register Visitors-The homeowner is entitled to know who toured the property, and registration also provides a means to follow up with prospects. I like to send thank you notes to those who attend my Open House events.

Homeowner Tasks

•First Impression: Lawn cut and trimmed, no overgrown bushes, walk way and porch clean and neat, and remove cars from the driveway, and front of house. The house is the star, no distractions.

•Remove pets, pet dished, pet toys, and pet odors from the premises. Exception:If the property is a farm or working ranch.

•Remove from view money, check books, jewelry, financial statements, and prescription drugs.

•The overall feel being sought for the home is-clean, neat, and spacious.

•Things that lead to decluttering: removing excess furniture, reducing the number of items in closets, and exposing more counter space in kitchens.

Open House events do not guarantee an immediate offer to buy, but it does lead to more people seeing the house. Potential buyers seeing the house is always a good thing. Feel free to add to the list of Tips.