<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Seven Days, Seven Projects for a Kitchen that Sells</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – In today’s market, selling a home involves much more than posting a "for-sale" sign in the yard.<span>  </span>Preparation is key. In fact, experts agree that property appearance and condition play a big role in the home-sale process.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">While home improvements can increase buyers’ interests, most sellers hesitate to renovate, fearing they may not recoup their costs in the sales price. However, with strategic updates in key rooms, such as kitchens, sellers can increase the value of a home – giving them a leg up on their neighbors to sell more easily and command a higher selling price.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>   <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">With just a week’s time, a small investment and a bit of elbow grease, you can easily turn your kitchen into your selling feature with these seven projects.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Clean Up!</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Although you may love your children’s artwork or favorite magnets on the fridge, prospective homebuyers want to envision a home as theirs – not yours. Start your kitchen update by making a clean sweep of the room. Remove everything from the top and sides of your refrigerator and clear off countertops. By eliminating clutter and personal effects, your kitchen will look neat, clean – and even larger.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span>  </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Fix Up Your Faucet</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The faucet is the workhorse of the kitchen – and a focal point. So add new life to your sink area with a fashionable and functional new faucet. For an affordable price, you can find beautiful pulldown models, such as Moen’s Solidad pulldown kitchen faucet (available in LifeShine Classic Stainless finish at The Home Depot for $219). Potential buyers will be amazed with the functionality and the updated styling that it brings to the whole room.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Pull it Together</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Once you’ve updated the faucet, pull the rest of the finishes in the room together by updating the hardware. Drawer pulls and knobs in a beautiful stainless finish are a simple project and can add a finishing touch that dramatically updates the look of new or older cabinets.<span>  </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Become Ultra-Organized</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Be prepared! Potential buyers will open your closets, cabinets and drawers to assess the storage availability in your home. Be sure that you organize each of these areas to make your kitchen look like a storage dream – not a nightmare. Many cabinet manufacturers, such as Masterbrand cabinets, offer custom shelves to help organize, or you can find simple organization systems at local retailers. No matter what system you choose, your organization won’t go unnoticed.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Curtain Call</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Windows are a selling point in any room – allowing nature into a home by providing a source of sunlight. Be sure that windows and blinds are free of dust, fingerprints or pet nose prints for a bright and cheerful display. Adding a neutral, but classic curtain can be a nice touch to frame these focal points of the room.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Follow the Light</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Does your kitchen still have the "builder-basic" or outdated brass lighting fixtures? As a focal point above your kitchen table, be sure to update your hanging chandelier with a model in a finish that coordinates with the rest of the room. A variety of classic-designed light fixtures in stainless steel or oil rubbed bronze finishes are available at local home improvement stores and will instantly light up your kitchen d&#233;cor — literally. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Cosmetic Cover-ups</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">You’ve lived in your kitchen so long that you may not notice the small paint chips in the trim or stain on the carpet, but to prospective homebuyers, these stick out like a sore thumb. A fresh coat of paint on walls and trim will always add more value than its cost and let buyers know that your home is well kept and clean.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Within a week you can easily increase the value of your home in the eyes of potential buyers – as well as provide an enjoyable space for yourself until you sell!</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For more info
rmation on the Solidad pulldown kitchen faucet or other Moen products, visit <a href="http://www.moen.com/">www.moen.com</a>  or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636). </p>&nbsp; <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>