In any real estate market, and especially when there are more houses and fewer buyers, your home needs to stand out from the crowd. If it were a movie star, you'd be able to give it a new wardrobe, manicure, and a personal trainer to help it get into shape for the paparazzi. But impressing buyers won't mean hours on the treadmill, just some honest assessment and cosmetic changes. 

• First impressions do count, so grab them with curb appeal. Look at the exterior of your home and make it shine. Trim bushes, paint the door if it needs it, remove the bicycles and toys, make sure exterior lights work. During the holidays, you have a great chance to add tasteful lights and garlands that will make your home look warm and inviting.
• Reinforce that good first impression as soon as a buyer walks in the door. Scented candles or a simmering pot of cinnamon and orange peel will give your home a wonderful smell that says "home" and "clean." Yes, you have to live in your home while it's on the market, but make an effort to keep it neat and uncluttered.
• Floors get a lot of attention from buyers. If you have hardwood, make sure they are in good condition or have them refinished. If you have carpet, either clean or replace it with a light shade to make rooms look larger. And if you have stone floors, be sure they are cleaned.
• Less is more! If you have a lot of furniture, try to remove some pieces or rearrange them to give rooms a spacious feel. This is your chance to do some pre-packing, and what you should pack away are all the knick-knacks that clutter tabletops and corners.
• Two rooms that have to shine are the kitchen and bathroom. Even an older kitchen will benefit from de-cluttering and cleaning to give it a fresh, open look. In the bathroom, hang your fluffiest towels and clean off the countertops. Here, too, a scented candle adds a nice touch and a pleasant scent.
• Don't forget the closets. If yours are stuffed so full that they threaten to explode, pack things away. Get shoes up off the floors and on racks, or at least neatly arranged. Closets need to look spacious and clean.
• Make your home sound as welcoming as it looks with calm music playing quietly in the background.  

Staging your home so it looks its best has several advantages for you as the seller. By de-cluttering your rooms, you will have done some of the work you would have to do anyway when it came time to move. The sorting of keep vs. donate vs. throwaway items will help you avoid moving things you don't really need or want. You get a start on the packing and have time to take care with your most precious items. But most of all, you've made your home look its best. Lights, camera, action!  

Staging is only one of the ways to improve the prospects for selling your house. The "Special" Ed Haraway Team can help you see your home from a buyer's standpoint. With more than 20 years of experience in the local market, we know real estate, and have earned our title as "The Realtors Who Treat You Special!"

There are so many things to think about when you buy or sell a home. Somewhere along the line – especially if you are buying – questions will come up about the age and condition of things like the appliances and heating or cooling system. Most of us can't open up machines, poke around inside, and get an idea of whether they will last. But these are important questions and can make a difference in the selling price or even whether the sale happens.  

What can you do? There are a couple of things. You can ask about the repair history; if a system has had major repair or replacement, that can tell you something about its condition. You will want to have a home inspection for sure. An expert will come in to inspect the structural integrity of the home and look for any signs of past or potential trouble.

And you can arrange for a home warranty. Home warranties can apply to new or existing homes, and cover repairs and replacement of major systems and appliances for a given period of time. For new construction, builders buy these policies to protect against defects in workmanship and mechanical systems. They are a benefit to the new homebuyer in case the builder cannot or will not make repairs.

It is usually the seller who purchases a one-year policy for existing homes. Especially as markets cool down, having a home warranty can be an attractive feature to buyers, and a competitive edge for sellers. If any of the covered items needs repairs, the warranty firm arranges for the work and covers the cost.

Plans differ on what they cover, so it's important to read and understand the warranty. It is intended to cover normal wear and tear and normal use. Coverage may include:  

• Air conditioning/heating
• Ductwork
• Plumbing pipes and systems
• Septic tank
• Water heater
• Dishwasher
• Garbage disposal
• Stove/range/oven
• Microwave oven
• Ceiling fans
• Electrical systems
• Telephone wiring

Some policies will cover refrigerators, washers and dryers, and swimming pools, but not all do, so be sure you understand the terms. Some policies have deductibles or service fees as well. Ask questions so that you are clear on what's covered and how the policy works.

A home warranty is one more area where your REALTOR® can help with information and suggestions. With all the details a homebuyer has to keep track of, this is one that brings peace of mind.

After January 1, the answer should be "Yes!"  That's when a new licensing law takes effect in Maryland. Those who work for banks are exempt, but loan officers who work for mortgage brokers - some 10,000 to 12,000 in the state – will be required to have a state-issued license.

In today's environment with increasing identify theft and mortgage fraud, you need assurance that the person looking at your sensitive financial information has passed a criminal and background check. If they've been in business for less than 3 years, applicants also have to take a course covering regulations and ethics.  

This new law was enacted because of increasing concerns about fraudulent practices of some loan officers.  The Maryland Association of Mortgage Brokers lobbied for the law, and sees it as a way to help cut down on complaints and the actions of dishonest employees.  This is a law with teeth, too.  It is a felony to originate loans without a license, and the fine can be as much as $25,000 and jail time up to five years. 

What does this mean to the home buyer?  Confidence that your loan originator is a well-educated professional and that your personal information will remain confidential.  And that's one less thing you have to be concerned about when buying a new home.