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Before putting your home up for sale, it pays to take a good look around. Is your home décor out of date? Will it appeal to prospective buyers, or send them running out the door?
Barbara Ballinger, architecture coach and columnist for the Style, Staged and Sold blog, says that while vintage features may appeal to some buyers, they could cost you a sale. Here are a few designs that could turn off potential buyers.
• Excessively bold or dark paint or tile colors, such as deep plum or jet black
• Walls painted with lacquered or high-gloss finish, faux- and sponge-painted walls, and wallpaper
• Worn, cracked laminate countertops and backsplashes
• Outdated bathrooms with small sinks, short toilets, squat bathtubs and tight shower spaces
• Stained and worn wall-to-wall carpet or worn linoleum
• Bedrooms decorated with a theme that is incorporated through the carpeting, walls, ceilings, light fixtures and furnishings
• Too many mirrored walls, ceilings and doors in a single room
• Ceilings with too many recessed lighting spot
From Council of Residential Specilists-10/2009

In the Town of Bristol, Sun Prairie had 3 sales of residential houses in the month of August. The average days on market was 52. For September, the Town of Bristol, Sun Prairie has 39 active listings with 127 average days on the market. This information came from the South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service.

In this challenging real estate market, curb appeal is particularly important for a home seller. Here are some tips for hiring a landscaper who will do a good job at a reasonable price.
Review a portfolio. A neighbor’s recommendation is a good starting point, but it is also worthwhile to examine other jobs the landscaper has done and ask for references. Hiring someone who isn’t reliable, doesn’t finish the job or who uses unhealthy plants is a costly mistake.
Consider maintenance. Asking for a low-maintenance design will ensure that even if the home owner isn’t able to spend hours on the task, the lawn will continue to look good.
Know what good landscaping is worth. It can’t hurt to let a potential buyer know what the value of the trees and shrubs are.

From: Real Estate Update