INCREASE YOUR HOME'S VALUE (w/out breaking the bank)

1. Add Light -- inside and out, adding or updating your interior, exterior and landscape lighting or maximizing the bulb wattages will make your home appear much brighter and more inviting.

2. Underfoot Interest -- a nice new natural fiber throw rug or deeply piled area rug will jazz up an otherwise bland room or if you have hardwood floors under the carpet, pull up the carpet and refinish the floors or use a mop and some wood cleaner to dress them up.

3. Spruced Up Landscaping -- a new set of house numbers, a few in-expensive hostas and some new wood mulch go a long way to making your curb appeal pop.

4. Paint and Vinegar -- clean your windows with a vinegar/water solution and paint at least an area or two near the main entry or possibly an accent wall. If your furnace is old and dirty, clean the exterior and consider having it serviced. It will look good and a sticker with a recent inspection/tune-up date will help an otherwise critical buyer.

5. Kitchen Cabinets -- new knobs will make almost any set of kitchen cabinets look 10 years newer.