In case you haven't dealt with the home-selling business for awhile, you might want to be aware that real estate agents are coming "into season." This does not mean you can legally go hunting for them with a bow, black powder or a 30-30. Nor does it mean you should go into the woods with a pair of binoculars listening for rutting sounds of licensed brokers. But, you might encounter more real estate professionals at watering holes, toasting sales.

Spring is when, for any number of reasons, people begin moving. So they start selling homes and buying homes.

As someone who visits plenty of properties coming on the market, I see a lot of differences in the way homeowners get ready. Here are a few tips offered by Showhomes (www.showhomes.com), a professional company that helps people present their residences in the best light, that I concur with. I might also add that a number of Southwest Oklahoma real estate agents are also firm believers in "staging" vacant homes. Some have a real eye for it.

1. Curb Appeal - the better the curb appeal of your home is, the more attractive it is to prospective buyers. When selling any home, it's all about presentation. Trim overgrown bushes, weed beds and add a fresh layer of mulch; Clean your front door and repaint if needed; Add a fresh doormat - thick sisal or coco mats make the best first impression; Keep grass cut, edged and blown; Plant some color in the beds to add contrast.
2. Cleaning -  For most buyers, dirt equals stress and the last thing most buyers want is more stress in their lives. Cleaning is easy to accomplish. Clean inside and out. Also, pressure-wash the driveway and sidewalks; Clean both sides of the windows;  Pressure wash decks and patios. 
3. Paint - When selling any home, the condition and color of the paint can make a huge difference in how buyers react to your home. Touch up or paint your walls and trim and select neutral colors. Avoid painting white - it is sterile and stark and can make buyers feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. Select light neutrals - creamy khakis, pearly grays or soft green.
4. Replace Worn Carpet - nothing runs buyers off quicker than worn and stained carpet! Replace the top layer with inexpensive neutral colored carpet and you will always recoup the investment.
5. Stage your home! - Buyers who look at vacant homes only see floors, walls and ceilings. With nothing else to look at, they focus on flaws. Because of this, vacant houses are very vulnerable to low-ball offers and often sell for 15-20 percent below list price.

Simple as it sounds, "staging" your vacant house, so that it looks like the Employee of the Month at Better Homes & Gardens magazine is renting it for the season, will likely make you a whole lot more money.