Improve your relocation with valuable home improvement tips.

By completing a few home improvement projects, you can increase its value and appeal to prospective buyers. Some of the home improvements you may wish to make on your home before you put it on the market include:

• Remove clutter and organize your rooms.
• Repaint your walls and ceilings in a neutral color. Patch any cracks, chips, and holes.
• Repair any defective electrical components and replace burnt-out light bulbs.
• Fix any leaky faucets or other plumbing issues.
• Apply fresh caulk and redo grout in countertops, sinks, showers, and bathtubs.
• Shampoo lightly soiled carpets. If carpets are faded, stained, or smelly, replace with a neutral color.
• Paint the exterior of your house if it is an odd color or if paint is peeling.
• Maintain your yard by trimming overgrown areas, mowing the lawn, planting additional flowers or shrubs, raking leaves, and shoveling snow.
• Talk to your real estate agent for additional suggestions for boosting your home's resale value.

Remember, most buyers are looking for a home that has no deferred maintenance. While some buyers may be willing to accept a discount in the sales price to make necessary repairs, most buyers recognize the value of a house that doesn't require any repairs.

Before you move everything into your new home, you may want to consider completing some home improvement projects. Doing these projects now may save you time and hassle later:

• Replace carpets or install hardwood and tile floors to save you from having to move your furniture twice. If you decide to do this before you move in, remember to have the flooring ordered in time to install it a day or two before the moving truck arrives.
• Paint your walls without the hassle of moving furniture, fixtures, drapes, and pictures.
• Change the locks on your house. You'll receive peace of mind by knowing that no unauthorized person will have access to your home.
• Organize your closets with a complete closet system. Then, when you're ready to unpack, you can find the perfect location for your wardrobe – and not have to live out of a suitcase until the system is installed.
• Put your garage in tip-top shape by painting the floor with an epoxy coating, installing a workbench, or hanging storage shelves. All of these projects are easier to complete when you don't have to work around your vehicles or boxes stacked to the ceiling.

If you're looking for specific decorating suggestions or how-to tips for improving your home – either before you move or after – visit these informative web sites:

• Hometips.com
• DIY Network
• Consumer Reports
• HGTV

Sharing responsibility in protecting the environment is quickly becoming a way of life and business. Learn how you can become more energy-efficient at home and at work by visiting these helpful web sites:

• Federal Trade Commission – Energy and Environment
• DMA Environmental Resource Center
• Sustainable Industries
• GreenBiz.com
• Energy Star