Spring is the time of year when sellers and buyers gird up for what has traditionally been the most important season for buying or selling a home. Following are some ways to prepare:

 Sellers

Sellers should be aware that there's a lot of competition for buyers in the spring. That means sellers should do everything possible to differentiate their home from others, including the following:

•  Polish windows and floors, rake the yard, mow the lawn, and add flowers in containers.
•  Wash blinds and curtains and have carpeting cleaned.
•  If a seller has spent the winter renovating to sell, new pictures should be taken to show the renovated space to best advantage.
•  Consign dark linens and towels to storage and add bright or pastel accents in baths and bedrooms.

Buyers

Buyers should have a good idea of what they want, how much they can spend and the neighborhoods they're interested in.

Buyers should also:

•  Have a network of experts in place, such as a real estate agent, lawyer, home inspector and mortgage broker.
•  Obtain a copy of their credit report, and if there are errors, clear them up.
•  Approach several lenders for preapproval.
•  Decide before shopping for a home the most they're prepared to pay.

NHL Nashville Predator Mike Fisher tells of the off-the-ice relationship that changed his life. Driven to perfection in a career that demands nothing less, Mike made hockey his life's pursuit. But when he reached the top and signed the contract he always dreamed of signing, he found success a lonely companion. He searched for something bigger than fame, more important than money, and more lasting than a career he so loved. What he found, or rather who he found, surprised even him.

Simplicity may well be the defining value of 2019. With money tight, most of us are homing in on essential needs. Ironically, while many of us are "going simple," we still find ourselves frantically busy. We still need our Twitter accounts and smartphones. We work more hours, cram too much into our days and find it hard to sit still.

Hence, the "slowdown" movement. Everyone from the slightly off-the-wall International Institute of Not Doing Much to psychologists and our family doctors suggest we slow down.

In 5 Reasons to Slow Down Your Life Today, and How to Do It, blogger Henrik Edberg offers simple suggestions for slowing down.
One is to lower your stress by continuing to do the things you do but doing them more slowly.

Running from errand to errand? Don't stop. Just slow your pace. Take a deep breath and force yourself to relax.

But after years of pushing ourselves farther and faster, will we be able to slow down? And if we do, will we fall behind? Will we miss out on Facebook or life?

Maybe, but does it really matter? The simplicity movement sorts out what's important. The slowdown movement helps us achieve it. What's not to like about that?

You want your home to show well, which means getting rid of clutter and making sure it is clean, neat and well maintained both inside and outside.

1. Remove all clutter. Pack or store anything you do not need. Donate the rest to your favorite charity or having a garage sale.

2. Store your valuables or lock them up in a safe place. This includes jewelry, collectibles, artwork and medicines in your medicine cabinet.

3. Eliminate smoking odors and pet odors.

4. Paint the inside and outside with neutral colors, steam clean carpets or replace with new carpeting or flooring. Stage the furniture and accessorize with pillows, plants, candles and other accessories.

5. Curb appeal matters. Manicure your lawn and trim trees and shrubs. Plant new flowers. Mend broken fences or gates.

As cities get smarter, they are becoming more livable and more responsive—and today we are seeing only a preview of what technology could eventually do in the urban environment.

First, good raconteurs offer a unique insight into the human condition. They captivate an audience by bringing life experience to the tale.

Good storytellers also use their personality and history to create a yarn that is relevant and important to the audience.

They use body language, gestures and facial expressions that suit both the story and storyteller.

Good storytellers also pick stories that complement their personality. A witty story may fall flat in the hands of a poet, while a much-heralded raconteur may not be able to instill the passion in a tale of lost love.

Good storytellers are comfortable with their stories.

They bring characters to life and make the audience care about them. They use dialogue skillfully to enhance characterizations.

Storytellers also need to remember that it's always about the audience. A skilled storyteller is constantly gauging the audience's interest and involving them.

Atmosphere helps create the magic, so a good storyteller weaves the setting into the story. The audience should almost believe they are there.

The magic doesn't happen spontaneously. To become master storytellers, individuals must practice and establish the gestures, facial expressions and body language that support the story.

Pending home sales and inventory rose in January, while existing home sales experienced a drop.

To green your home you need to invest in a number of energy and water-saving measures that result in lower energy costs. While the initial cost of your green investment may be higher, greening your home can give you an immediate saving of 30% to 60% off your energy costs. Incentives offered by government and local electricity distribution companies will help too.

Best of all, when it's time to sell, you've increased your home's resale value - some say by as much as 10%.

A simple change of habits can start you on the road to a green home: For example, toasters, microwaves, computers and TVs steal "phantom power" - even when they're not in use. Unplug them for lower electricity bills.

Going greener may be as simple as installing energy efficient lighting, upgrading your appliances to Energy Star-rated products and switching to low-flow toilets and water-saving shower heads.

Outside, planting large deciduous trees on the west and south sides of your home moderates the temperature. The result: lower heating and cooling costs and an attractively landscaped yard.

To kick it up a notch, you could really reduce costs with energy efficient windows and insulation. A high-efficiency furnace will quickly pay for itself; as will an energy friendly air-conditioner.

You may even opt for installing solar panels to reduce your dependence on the electricity grid.

And when you're renovating, why not consider a green reno, using toxin-free building materials, cork or bamboo floors and low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint.

Ready to sell? Don't forget to trumpet your green investments. They may just sell your home.

Yes, we have an on-line store to help our members promote Dorothy.com. You can purchase signs, business cards, clothing, marketing materials, license plate brackets, etc. When you purchase through our store you earn 1 brick for every dollar spent.