1 SOURCE REALTY LLC (731) 288-0110

Potential buyers often drive by before deciding they want to see the inside of a house, so make sure the front-door area looks nice.

 Front Door Design:   A front door is the division between private and public space plus it's the greeting you offer the world. The choice can make or break the entire look of a home so people are spending a lot of time selecting just the right door.

• The front door allows for a personal statement, perhaps more than anywhere else on a house. It's an easy way to give pleasure to passers by and allows for imagination and creativity.

• As the focal point, entry doors provide an easy way to spruce up the whole house so be open to the large range of colors and styles available. Natural wood doors still make a statement in style, whether for a rustic cabin or a more ornate entry. A decorative door says people are welcome and their visit is an important event.

• Double (French) doors are twice as nice. Etched glass doors reflect both the style of a home and the interests of the homeowners. Doors add so much to a house without great expense. Paint one in a bold color, strip a door to uncover beautiful wood, add a humorous, elegant or antique knocker or change the hinges and doorknob to make something very elegant without a big investment.

Lean an old door that has been carefully stripped and protected with tung oil against an interior wall for instant charm. Glue mirrors to the panels and attach hooks ready to hold coats, scarves and hats

Put away personal photos, knickknacks, boxes, anything that will distract the buyer from concentrating on the house.

Sort your mail as soon as it arrives, then toss out the junk items. Have a specific place for the mail. That way it stays contained in one small area. Magazines and catalogs should be filed into holders. Once the holder is full, throw away old ones.

• Keep a subscription roster for your magazines so you know when they need to be reordered. When ordering from catalogs keep track of the orders in an order book. Sensitive mail should be shredded when you are finished. Use a heavy marker to cross out your personal information on magazines. Keep important documents and photographs in a lock box or a fire-proof safe.

• Set up a bill center with a slot for outgoing and incoming bills. Creative and clever ideas on how to make space in a cluttered home.

• Videotapes starting to stack up around the bedroom television? Purchase a wooden tape container with slots for individual tapes, then purchase wheels (available at hardware stores) to attach to each corner. Now you can simply slide the tapes under the bed but still have easy access.

• The dresser is usually the most cluttered place in the home because the surface holds things we need every day. Keep everything handy but presentable by storing items in decorative hatboxes. There's nothing better than a clutter-free dresser top. Haven't you wished that everything you need to start the day was in one easy place? Now it can be with individual mailboxes--one for each member of the family.

• You can store all the things you'll need for the day's journey such as lunch money, homework, gloves, hats, car keys, cell phone, etc.

• Space in a small bathroom is a precious commodity, with towels usually taking up the most space. Remove towels from cabinets and store in a decorative wicker basket to free up more space for other bathroom items.

Get seasonal clothes such as sweaters out of the way by storing them in a large plastic garbage container. Instead of storing it in the garage, however, purchase a pre-cut round tabletop, place it on top of the container, then top with a beautiful table covering. Now you have a small table.

Take time to make bathrooms sparkle, wash the windows, and clean kitchen appliances. Don't forget under the sinks!

Bedroom Cleaning: Tips on effectively cleaning a bedroom. Generally Try to put clothes away, rather than leaving them hanging around on or the floor. Open the windows to air the room out. Remove sheets from the bed and wash at least every other week. Use a thin flexible dusting wand to clean windows, blinds and furniture.

• Vacuum high-traffic areas frequently. When washing your favorite bedding, add some bath salts to the final cycle of the wash for a sweet-smelling fragrance. Mattress If the mattress is musty, use a commercial foam upholstery cleaner, or mix 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent in a quart of warm water. Whip it with an egg beater to get a froth, and apply the suds with a sponge or soft brush without soaking the mattress. Work on a small area at a time, overlapping areas to avoid spotting. Change the rinse water frequently to keep it clean. Let one side dry thoroughly before you do the other. Use a fan to speed up this process.

• Another way to freshen the mattress is to sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on it to absorb musty odors. Let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum. Making the Bed Straighten the mattress pad. Put on the fitted sheet. Center top sheet on bed. The wide hem goes at the top, approximately one foot from the headboard. If the sheet is patterned, put it down wrong side up so that when you pull the top hem over the blanket, it will be right side up. Put the blanket on the top of sheet, about a foot and a half from the headboard.

• Use a laundry marker to mark a small X at the top center of the blanket to help you line it up more easily. Go around the bed just once, the way the hotel maids do, tucking in the sheet and blanket together. To make a "hospital corner," pick up the edge of the sheet (and blanket, if you're going to make them together) about 15 inches from the foot of the bed. Lift it up so that it makes a diagonal fold. Lay the fold on the mattress, then take the part of the sheet and blanket that is hanging and tuck it underneath the mattress. Drop the fold, pull it smooth, and tuck it under the mattress as well. Turn the top of the sheet over the top of the blanket near the headboard. Replace pillows. Cover with bedspread if desired. If you're tired of dealing with the top sheet, make it simple. Eliminate it altogether, and use a duvet.

• Rather than having several fitted sheets for each bed, just have one. When it needs cleaning, wash it and put it right back on the bed. No storage needed. Head/Footboards Both varnished and brass beds can be dusted, then rubbed lightly with lemon oil on a dampened rag. Wooden headboards can be cleaned with furniture polish, and for laminates, use all-purpose cleaner or a liquid abrasive.

Cleaning Bath Fixtures: An old toothbrush makes a useful tool for cleaning grime from around bathroom fixtures.

Tips for easily and effectively cleaning faucets and showerheads.

A common mistake made by many people is to clean chrome, brass and enamel bathroom fixtures with a strong disinfectant cleaner. The best cleaner to use on these items is a neutral spray cleaner, which can be purchased at a janitorial supply house.

• Showerheads need attention only when they get clogged with mineral deposits. The head must be removed from the downspout for cleaning. Place a layer of heavy cloth over the chrome of the showerhead to protect it from scratches, and gently remove it from the spout with an adjustable wrench. Working from the side the water comes out of, poke any debris out of the holes with a wooden toothpick or needle, and rinse the entire head well with water.

• Using a brush or toothbrush and vinegar can also loosen sediment. If the holes are encrusted with hard-water scale, soak the showerhead in white vinegar overnight. Dry and reassemble the next morning. Be sure to wrap plumber's tape over the threads before screwing the showerhead back on to ensure a tighter seal. Liquid dishwashing soap and water will remove small marks from chrome.

• To remove scale from a chrome faucet or showerhead, fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie the bag onto the faucet so it is submerged in the vinegar. When the scale is gone, rinse and buff. Mix equal amounts of grapefruit juice and salt to make a cleanser to remove rust stains from faucets or showerheads, and use a washcloth to wipe off rust. The mixture provides a light acid and abrasive.

• Remove a dirty ring around the base of a faucet with a damp toothbrush dipped in a soft cleanser. Just scrub around the base and wipe clean. If using a commercial brass cleaner for the first time, read the label and test it first in a hidden area. Many cleaners leave a film on brass or gold plated hardware. A lemon dipped in salt works well as a cleaner for brass faucets or showerheads.

• Just cut the lemon in half, pour a little bit of salt onto a plate, dip the lemon into it and rub it over the faucet. Buff the faucet with mineral oil when finished. Another cleaner for brass is a paste made from equal parts vinegar, flour and salt. Rub on the fixture then buff with mineral oil. Rub stained enamel fixtures with a cut lemon.

For stubborn stains use a paste of lemon juice and borax.

A little paint can go a long way in making your home sellable: repaint much-used rooms in neutral colors to make them look clean and fresh.

Painting a Room: Tips for painting a room. Choosing Paint Be sure to choose the proper type of paint for the job. For areas that are moisture-heavy, such as a bathroom or kitchen, it is best to choose a satin or semigloss paint that is mildew resistant. These are made so that the walls can easily be cleaned.

• A flat paint is more appropriate for bedrooms or rooms that are generally more dry. This type cannot be washed. Buying Paint First, determine the room's square footage by measuring the perimeter (the distance around the room). Multiply the perimeter by the height of the room. If you're painting the ceiling, multiply the length times the width of the ceiling. The paint container will indicate how much square footage one gallon of paint will cover.

• Divide the wall area by the figure on the paint can to find the number of gallons required for one coat. Holes in Walls and Masking Remove any nails from the wall. Smooth a dab of spackle across the nail hole with a dab of plastic spreader. Allow the spackle to dry for one hour. Sand with fine (220-grit) sandpaper. Before beginning to paint, be sure to take steps to protect the rest of the room.

• Don't just stop with laying a tarp on the floor. To protect doorknobs, electric switches, faucets and other items that you want to keep paint-free, cover them with aluminum foil. The foil can be crimped and folded to fit the shape of the object and should stay put until you have finished painting. Add a coat of lemon oil to woodwork before starting. Any paint speckles that get on it will wipe right off. Just make sure to wipe them off right away, rather than waiting for the paint to dry.

• To keep paint off shoes while painting, slip an old pair of socks over them. The cotton will absorb splatters and save you from ruining a decent pair of shoes. If you're working on a ladder or slippery floor, it's probably safer to remove the socks. Use common sense. Safety counts! When using a new can of paint, it's inevitable that the paint will slosh and spill over the side. A great temporary fix is to wrap a newspaper around the bottom and sides of the can and affix it with a rubber band. The newspaper will catch the excess paint until the paint level lowers.

• Instead of wiping a paintbrush on the side of a can, causing paint to run down the side, string a piece of wire across the can and wipe the brush on that. When painting walls, roll the first coat on diagonally and the final coat with straight vertical strokes, so that you can distinguish where each coat begins and ends.

A good way to remember the type of paint that was used in each room is to write the color and brand of the paint on a piece of masking tape and affix it to the back of one of the light-switch plates in the room. After the room is finished, fill a clean baby food jar with the remaining paint and screw on the lid. When the time comes to do touchups, you've got an easier "paint can" to work with.

Arranging Furniture: Separate large rooms into specific areas such as reading, conversation, and entertaining areas, to provide the room with a cozy feel.

• This effect can be created with plants, wall hangings, and furniture. Work to create a focal point in the room by grouping similar accessories together to create emphasis. Fish tanks become the focal point for a large blank wall in this home. Lighting behind the tanks creates soft shadows, and the surrounding plants add to the natural atmosphere.

If you want to create a cozy conversational area, arrange two sofas so that they face each other. A colorful rug placed between the sofas helps define the area. Don't get stuck in a rut when you arrange accessories on a bookshelf. Vary the placement and size of accessories. If your shelves are movable, arrange them so some are deeper than others.

People never forget smells when they walk in the door. Try your best to remove odors caused by pets, smoking and cooking.

Homemade Air Fresheners: Take the stink out of the air-freshener business by using some clean-air solutions. Commercial air fresheners can be very expensive, contain materials that can prove harmful to the environment and tend to mask odors rather than eliminate them.

• Air Neutralizer Combine one part white distilled vinegar to five parts water. Pour into a spritzer and spritz in odorous areas.

• Another way to purify the air is to dampen a cotton ball with pure vanilla extract, place in a dish and set in odorous area of the house. A dish with three cotton balls is great for the living room. A room in which heavy smoking occurs might require another dish.

• Air Fresheners Instead of throwing away candles when they burn down, place them in a heat-resistant container on the coffee maker. Turning the coffee maker on will melt the candles and act as scented potpourri.

• An alternative to buying costly potpourri is to create your own fresh scent. Fill a saucepan half-full with water and place on the stove. Add cloves, cinnamon sticks and orange peels, then bring the liquid to a simmer. As the liquid reduces, just add more water. This smells wonderful and lasts all day.

• Spritz some of your favorite perfume or cologne on a light bulb (when the bulb is cold). Replace the shade and every time the light is turned on a fresh subtle scent will fill the room.

For the bathroom, dampen a cotton swab with your favorite perfume or cologne and swab the inside of a toilet-paper roll. Each time the toilet paper is rolled, a fresh scent will fill the room.

Take a hard look around your home and see it from a buyer's perspective: oil door and window hinges, fix loose handrails, etc.

Cracked Wall Repair: How to repair wall cracks using spackling paste and mesh tape. On a elbow grease scale of one to four, this job a two.

• Tools: basic metal can opener - vinyl spackling compound - drywall mud - mud bucket - shop vacuum cleaner - sanding mesh - small putty knife - wide putty knife - self-adhesive mesh drywall tape - sponge - paint - sponge-type paintbrush - safety glasses - dust mask

• Steps: 1. Put on a dust mask and safety glasses. Use the pointed end of your basic can opener to widen the crack and clear away as much debris as possible. Clear away debris by vacuuming the crack.

• 2. Pack the crack with spackling compound using the putty knife. Smooth out excess spackling with your fingers.

• 3. Cut strips of drywall tape and press on the wall, covering the crack. Spread a thin, even layer of drywall mud over the tape using the wide putty knife. Wipe the putty knife regular with a warm, damp cloth to clean it and help prevent lumps.

• 4. Sand down the rough edges using a piece of sanding mesh, a screen-like material that resists clogs. Wet sand and area with a damp sponge.

• 5. Dip the damp sponge in the drywall mud and dab it over the area to create texture. Knock the sharp edges off by very lightly wiping over the area with the wide putty knife.

• 6. Once everything is dry paint the area to match using a sponge paintbrush.

Wall sconces, recessed lighting or pendant lights are good alternatives to that single old-fashioned overhead fixture.

Lighting Fixtures: Lighting helps determine the mood and atmosphere you want to create in the bedroom and bath as well as the way the room functions.

• Here are some design decisions that must be made when selecting appropriate lighting. Bedroom lighting should be applied in layers, since it is a multi-functional room. Task lighting for reading and dressing are extremely important.

• A pendant lamp in a reading area is an interesting alternative to the more common table lamp. Wall sconces provide soothing indirect light as well as provide dramatic effects on walls.

• A sconce can be used as a point of interest on a wall, or provide light in the upper reaches of a room where the lighting is dim.

• A rich, beautiful chandelier is a good way to add importance to a space. It provides excellent down light and ambient lighting.

• Recessed lighting tends to have a more contemporary look. Alternatives include lamps, art lighting and sconces. The most important aspect of lighting is the bath is to provide shadow-free light for ease of personal grooming.

This is best done with side lights around the mirror rather than down lights, which produce pronounced shadows. Working with a qualified lighting designer will ensure that you have the proper lighting for your bed and bath.

Unless it's extremely worn, you may be able to avoid replacing carpet. Buyers often prefer to choose their own new carpet or opt for hardwood floors.

Cleaning Carpet: Clean carpets like a professional and save money! * Note: One of the keys to using any of these products is to test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous area of the fabric, such as upholstery under the sofa or carpeting in the closet.

• Spot removers: This works on carpeting as well as upholstery. A hard spot such as grape juice or wine that has gone unnoticed for a few days can actually be treated with this cleaner. Spray it in and allow it to soak, use a brush to scrub the stain, then just vacuum away.

• Foam cleaners: It may look like whipped cream when sprayed on, but this type of cleaner is very effective. Again, spray on the affected area, allow to soak in and dry, then vacuum away. Not really a spot remover, these cleaners are great for high-traffic areas.

• High-concentration chemical-based cleaners: This type of cleaner can address stains from magic markers. Just soak a rag with the cleaner and blot the stain. Allow to set in for around 10 minutes, then wipe clean. The stain will come out nine out of 10 times. Be sure to use rubber gloves and keep the area well-ventilated.

• Citrus-based cleaners: These are great for food stains. Remove and blot up as much of the stain as you can with a towel, then squirt on the cleaner. Wipe up the area. It may take several applications to remove the food stain, but this is quite an effective product for recent stains, not ones that have set in for several hours or days.

• Steam-sprayer rental machines: These machines are a wonderful alternative to calling in a professional carpet cleaner. Ranging in price from $25 to $40, these cleaners are effective on fresh or old stains. A carpet agitator enables you to spray liquid on the carpet, scrub lightly, then bring the wand back over the area several times to bring up all the water. The trick is to keep traffic off the carpet overnight, ideally with a box or oscillating fan on to enhance the drying effect.

It's tempting to stash stuff away in these areas of the home, but when you're selling, they have to be neat and clean too!

Garage Maintenance: Tips on maintaining the interior of a garage.

• Use empty coffee cans or vegetable cans as garage tool holders. Remove both the top and bottom of the can with a can opener. Nail the can to the wall and insert your tools' handles. Now the tools will no longer tip over when they are leaning up against a wall.

• Removing oil stains from concrete garage floors can be done with nearly any chemical or cleaner. If the garage floor is made of asphalt, the only safe remedy is to use detergent cleaner.

• Turpentine, paint thinner, gasoline and kerosene all dissolve asphalt and cause it to deteriorate. To clean soiled and stained concrete floors, use a strong solution of degreaser. Flood the concrete and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub it with a nylon pad or brush. Use a squeegee to gather the muck into a puddle. Pick it up with a dust pan and dump it into a bucket. If the floor is really dirty, rinse and scrub it again.

• Concrete absorbs moisture when cleaned. Even after it looks dry, it is still releasing "sweat," and that's a bad time to wax, paint or mop the concrete. If you're not sure whether the concrete is really dry, lay a rubber mat over it. If moisture doesn't accumulate under the mat after a few hours, it's OK to wax, paint, mop or otherwise treat the concrete.

• Garage-Door Maintenance: A garage door is one of the largest moving objects in a home, therefore, it is important to keep it properly maintained. In order to prevent damage such as rusting, which is caused by foreign matter adhering to the door, the garage door should be wiped down with a soft cloth twice a year. Use a mild household detergent that has been diluted with water.

• To protect the finish of a garage door, apply car wax. This will help repel dirt and moisture. Check for broken or bent components, and lubricate all moving parts of the door with a light household oil. Lift cables at the bottom bracket button and hinges. Lock hardware where surfaces turn or slide. Lubricate steel rollers. Do not lubricate nylon oil.

• Inspect the bottom weather seal on a garage door. This is called the rubber astragal. If it is cracked or broken, replace it by taking off the old gasket and sliding a new one into place.

• Doors equipped with automatic door operators can cause serious injury or death if not properly adjusted and operated. To ensure safe operation of these doors, test the sensitivity of the operator's safety reverse mechanism once a month. Here's a way to ensure the safety reverse mechanism is operating correctly: With the door in the up position, place a roll of paper towels on its side directly in the path of the door. Close the garage door. When the garage door reaches the paper towel roll, it should reverse and rebound back up into the open position. If the door crushes the roll of paper towels, then the door is out of adjustment. Refer to the owner's manual of the garage-door opener for instructions on how to properly adjust the safety reverse mechanism.

• All screws and nuts on bolts should be tightened every six months. Make sure that the slide lock does not extend past the end stile of the door when it is in unlocked positioned. The door should open and close easily. With the proper adjustments, the door will hang into the opening four to six inches.

If the door is difficult to open but falls closed, or if the door is difficult to keep closed, contact an authorized dealer to make the proper adjustments. Springs are under considerable tension. Do not attempt to make any adjustments yourself.

Repairing Cracks in a Concrete Floor: Repair surface cracks in your garage floor by using concrete crack filler. On the elbow grease scale of one to four, this job is a one.

• Tools: workshop vacuum - stiff-bristled brush - scraper - chisel - ball-peen hammer - broom - dustpan - trowel - towels - kneepads - gloves - safety goggles - concrete crack filler -

• Steps: Use an awl and a chisel to remove any large pieces from cracks in the floor. Sweep away fine particles using a wire brush. Use a grease-cutting cleanser to remove any oil or other contaminants around the repair area that might prevent the concrete filler from setting up properly. Sweep up all the debris around the area, being sure not to sweep dust back into the cracks. Finish cleaning by vacuuming out the cracks with a workshop vacuum. Cut the nozzle on the bottle of the concrete filler to fit the cracks, then slowly fill the cracks. Give the filler a few minutes to settle and top off areas if needed.

Smooth out any excess using a trowel. Allow the filler to cure overnight. Add more filler if necessary.