Sort through the chaos

First, toss or donate everything your family doesn’t use. Group the rest by theme: yard tools, sports equipment, beach toys, and so on. Stow the small stuff in translucent, stackable, snap-top bins ($5 to $23 at thestoragestore.com) so you can see what’s inside.

Can’t bear to face the mess alone? For $200 to $1,000 you can hire a professional organizer to help (find one at napo.net). Or bribe a neat-freak friend to dig through the clutter with you. To keep a lid on the chaos for good, you need a real organizing system; your best choice depends on your space and budget.

The simplest solution is to put freestanding shelving, such as the 48-inch-wide, five-tier Real Organized system ($90 at lowes.com), on the back wall. You can also hang shelves high enough on the side walls so they don’t interfere with car doors. The Elfa Utility (at the Container Store) offers a range of shelves, bins, and tool hooks that attach to horizontal strips. One-wall systems start at $250.

If space is seriously tight, put up shelves that hang from the rafters (about $70 at hyloft.com). Or install simple pulley systems that hoist bikes and kayaks out of the way ($15 to $70 at Amazon.com). You can also hire a handyman to cut an opening in the ceiling, install a pull-down ladder, and lay a plywood floor on top to create a hayloft-like storage area (about $600 to $1,000).

If you’re lucky enough to have a wall at least three feet away from the nearest vehicle, it’s worth spending extra money on an attractive storage system that you can also modify to suit your needs. For example, Gladiator Garageworks makes a line of rugged steel cabinets, workbenches, racks, and tool drawers that sit on locking casters– no installation needed ($100 to $800 apiece at sears.com).

The best-looking, most flexible option is to cover the walls with horizontally grooved paneling onto which you can slide various shelves, racks, cabinets, hooks, ball caddies, and golf-bag racks. A single wall of GarageTek’s product costs $2,500 to $3,500 (garagetek.com). That’s a splurge — but it’s money well spent to turn your garage into useful space, gain control of your stuff, and put your cars back where they belong.

Clean it up, it’s not always what you add but what you take away that makes a good first impression.

• Remove any tree limbs near or touching the roof.
• Clear rain gutters and chimneys. Check for needed repairs.
• Kill mold on sidewalks, roof, and patio.
• Check all areas of grass for moss build up.
• Pressure wash siding, porches, sidewalks, and decks
• Remove leaves and weeds; mow and edge lawn. Finish with bark dust.
• Put away garden equipment and tools. Check side of house where these things gather.
• Clean windows so they shine and glimmer. Repair shutters and touch up paint if needed.

Create atmosphere and welcome home feeling.

• Pay attention to where people may park when they tour the home and make sure they have a clear path to the door.
• Place flowers in large pots entryway. Grasses and heat hardy plants and flowers are best and lowest maintenance.
• Try to avoid adding flowers to the landscape it’s self, many are seasonal and won’t last through the hotter months.
• Freshen paint, especially on the entry door or surrounding architectural features.
• Add new door hardware and make sure the numbers on the home are visible and it good shape.
• Make sure to check light fixtures and door bell. All should be up to date in style. Replace if needed.
• Add texture and a welcoming invitation to your entry with a chair and pillow if room.
• Add river rock for a dry creek bed or a berm to add texture and height to your yard.

Not all agents work the same way. The most important attribute of an agent is that he/she is well connected to the real estate industry. He/she should know the market and provide information on past sales, current listings, his or her marketing plan, and at least 4 solid references. In addition, you also want to look for an agent that is honest, assertive, and one that best understands your needs.

Try to go with a local agent. They can better serve your needs; they are familiar with what the local market condition is, the local prices are, and what’s hot or not in your community.