6 Items to Remove Before Hosting an Open House

You're ready to sell your home and this weekend is the first Open House. You've cleaned and cleaned and cleaned some more. Wall paint has been touched up and windows are sparkling. All rooms are neat and any embarrassing things like dirty laundry have been discreetly tucked away. 

You're ready to go, right? Not so fast!

Most real estate agents (and seasoned home sellers) would add that there are a few other preparations you must do to make sure you're ready for your open house. 

Remember, you are getting your home ready for outsiders which means that there are some key items you'll want to hide away to not only improve your chances of selling your home but also to save you from a headache later. Check out the infographic below:

Bad Credit? Let's Fix it!

Fact: Poor credit history and a bad credit score can have a serious impact on your life. No one wants bad credit but sometimes mistakes happen. Sometimes factors like medical bills, job loss and tragedy influence our financial profile in ways we never could have predicted. Bad credit can happen to anyone.

photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

Factors that Damage Credit

First let’s clarify what can lower your credit score and damage your credit profile.

• Excessive Debt: If your credit cards are maxed and you have several loans, your debt profile is probably contributing to your low score
• Late Payments: The credit bureaus note any 30, 60, 90 & 120 day payment lates. It is essential that you pay your bills on time.
• Dormant Credit: A dormant credit card is an account that has infrequent or no use. In some cases, if an account has no activity for a period of time, issuers may close the account which revokes future charging privileges. Dormant accounts may not have additional debt but they also don’t help your credit score.
• Collections: If you fail to make a payment or pay off your account – the creditor may send your account to collections. This severely affects your score. Make sure to work closely with your mortgage or credit professional regarding paying off collections. Note: Collections on federal loans such as student loans will prevent you from getting financing from most (if not all) lenders.