When looking at Cedar Rapids homes for sale, you'll likely notice that each one has its own unique look. Interior design is personal, and every homeowner has their own preferences and ideas. If you are about to buy a home, it's a good idea to start thinking about and establishing your own personal style. Finding your own interior design style can make it easier for you to create decorative schemes and choose decor that makes the space truly feel like your own. Here are some tips to help you discover your own interior design style.

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A property's outdoor spaces are one of its most important components. Our real estate agents know that staging these spaces helps make your home more appealing to prospective homebuyers, helping you sell your home faster and for more money.

Staging allows potential buyers to see how they might use the space and better envision themselves living in a home. Planning on getting your home ready for the market this summer? Here are some tips to follow for staging your outdoor spaces. 

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One of the most important parts of selling your home is staging: decorating and arranging it to look more appealing to potential buyers. Every room requires a different approach to staging. So how do you stage a kid's room? Here are a few tips when getting ready to list your home among Iowa City homes for sale.

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The hallmark of a truly beautiful home is that it is so clean that it sparkles. Most of us maintain a cabinet of chemicals to make sure our homes are clean but are they really necessary? If you're tired of spreading chemicals throughout your home, you may want to give these homemade cleaners a try.

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A beautiful, well-maintained driveway increases curb appeal and adds value to your property. It's the first thing people see when they drive by or visit your home. Our real estate agents know that a buyer's first impression has a big impact on a sale.

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Have you ever noticed that sometimes, even when a home appears to be clean, it doesn't have that fresh feeling others might? The difference is probably in the little details that are often forgotten. Whether you are moving into a new home, getting one ready for sale, or just want your house to sparkle, you want to be sure to address these often-ignored spots. Our real estate agents will always recommend a deep cleaning before showing or photographing a home going on the market. Make sure to pay attention to these areas in your home.

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With a crisp chill in the air and the soft crunch of leaves underfoot, there can be no doubt: fall has arrived. With it comes a chance to make some improvements to your landscaping before the long, cold months of winter set in. 

Our REALTORS® have long recommended landscaping as a way to boost your curb appeal before selling your home in fall. But even if you have no plans to list your among the Cedar Rapids home for sale, this season still offers a perfect opportunity to make some improvements to your landscape.

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Spring came and went. Now summer is almost over, and it seems like you didn't get all the clutter out when you took care of the dust bunnies. If you can relate, you are not alone. Homes across America are filled with more clutter than we know what to do with. Our real estate agents can relate and recommend these five ideas for decluttering your home before the leaves start to fall. 

1. Take it 10 Minutes at a Time 
   No one wants to spend all day cleaning out clutter. It's tiresome and exhausting. Instead of dedicating a whole day to the task, all you have to do is dedicate 10 minutes. It will feel like less of a chore if you break it into little bites. Moreover, as one drawer becomes one closet, and one closet becomes one room, you will build momentum as you see your efforts start to bear fruit.

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With the rise in popularity of virtual assistants and smart home hubs, it's a wise decision to make sure your home has up-to-date technology before putting it on the market. Smart features are one way to help your home stand out from other Cedar Rapids homes for sale. Buyers of all ages are searching for properties that make it easy to add convenience, privacy, and security to their lives via home automation. Here are a few smart features that will appeal to today's homebuyers.

1. Smart Lights
   Smart lights are one of the easiest smart features to add to your home. All you have to do is swap your existing lightbulbs for smart bulbs. Then, you can configure them using a compatible home automation app. Not only do smart lights make it simple for you to turn your lights on and off from another room, but they also help you save money. You can program your lights to cut on and off at designated times so that you aren't needlessly wasting electricity. Many smart lights boast multiple colors and brightness options so that you can change the ambiance in the room with a few clicks. 

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Every opinion and decision we make is influenced by several conscious and unconscious factors — including why we choose to purchase a home. Understanding these behaviors and using them to your advantage is a fantastic way to help increase the speed and success of your home sale. Our REALTORS® identified the following useful psychology tricks to encourage potential buyers to make a generous offer as swiftly as possible.

• Price the Property Strategically
  Proper pricing is critical and perhaps even the most important element. Also, if there is work to be done on a property, a great price point can inspire buyers to take advantage of the deal before they miss out. When listing the home, you need to price it at an amount that is appropriate yet reasonable. Compare recently sold properties around your home and make sure your listing falls below that number to make it competitive yet more appealing. List your property with a price that avoids round numbers and ending the asking price with the number nine. Broad prices such as $150,000 or $149,000 can turn buyers off. However, a price of $151,500 or $148,600 makes the buyer believe that these specific prices were set appropriately to mirror the true value of the home.

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Are you contemplating selling your Iowa City home? It's a big decision to put your home on the market, and when you do, you want to make sure that you get the highest price possible when selling your home. First, it's a good idea to understand which exterior home features Iowa homebuyers want when looking for Iowa City homes for sale.

Below are five of today's hottest trends in outdoor home features. You may want to consider adding one or more of them to boost the value of your property.

1. In-ground swimming pool - There's no denying the appeal of an in-ground swimming pool outside in the back yard. Homebuyers at all phases of life enjoy having a pool—young marrieds, families with kids, retirees. While putting in a pool is a major expense, it can boost your asking price significantly when you do decide to sell your home.

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