By Melissa Dittmann Tracey Real estate pros offer their best, most affordable staging ideas for kitchens. Tease Their Noses "I believe in appealing to all five senses of a buyer, including smell. I always put something in the oven like apple pie or fresh bread." -Chad C. Caramanna, Shadetree Realty Group Inc., Fellsmere, Fla. Accessorize "Adding decorative items in the kitchen can warm up the area and make it more 'cozy'. Go to a thrift or resale shop and get great deals on glass items. Use a tray (wood, silver,... read more

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey Real estate pros offer their best, most affordable staging ideas for color and lighting. Go Neutral "The moment the potential buyer walks into the front door they should be 'wowed' by the rooms on either side of the entry. Paint a nice neutral khaki color allowing for the painted or stained wood work to stand out. Make the color bold enough to make a difference, not just an off white. Tans and khaki's 'warm' the space." -Julie C. Preston, GRI, REALTOR®/interior designer, Indianapolis, In... read more

Last week, 53 newly-hatched leatherback turtles made their way from their nest on Holden Beach to the sea. The nest is Holden Beach, NC’s first known leatherback turtle nest. Loggerhead turtles often nest on Brunswick County’s beaches, but Leatherback turtle nests are much less common. Volunteers with Holden Beach Turtle Watch dug a trench from the nest to the ocean and protected the Leatherback hatchlings from the crowd that had gathered to observe. Their work was illuminated by red lights, so as not to disorient ... read more

Before you put your home up for sale, use the right comparable sales to find the perfect price. How much can you sell your home for? Probably about as much as the neighbors got, as long as the neighbors sold their house in recent memory and their home was just like your home. Knowing how much homes similar to yours, called comparable sales (or in real estate lingo, comps), sold for gives you the best idea of the current estimated value of your home. The trick is finding sales that closely match yours. WHAT MAKES A ... read more

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey Real estate pros offer their best, most affordable staging ideas for bathrooms. Add Bathroom Elegance "Get some decorative hand towels, tie a sheer ribbon around them, and place them on towel racks in all of the bathrooms. This does wonders to dress up the bathrooms of your listings. I also put some dried flowers and candles in complementary colors to add a little more pizzazz." -Haley Hwang, e-pro, Coldwell Banker, Glenview, Ill. Put a Lid on It "The best thing you can do for your home,... read more