Considering buying your parent's house? Or buying a friend's or relative house? While you may be delighted to keep the home "in the family", there are a few pitfalls to avoid. First, be prepared in a situation like this to let the former owners know that you WILL be making changes to the house, whether it's just the decor or whether you plan some structural changes. You don't want to have former owners (or tenants) tell you , "Wow it looks nice - but it was fine the way it used to be." So by giving them a warning in advance of your plans, you can ward off such comments geared to make you feel bad that you changed something.

Just because you lived in the house as a child or teenager the way it was when your parent's owned it, that's no reason you should not feel free to make adjustments to it after you take ownership. My mother inherited her mother's home after her mother died. At first she was hesitant to make any changes. But she was depressed all the time. Finally I told her, "Look, it's not grandma's home any more - it's your home. So let's totally redecorate the place in your taste and buy some new furniture that pleases you and make it really your home." We did and she was immensely happy afterwards with the outcome.

Some of the biggest adjustments come from the difficulty in separating past memories and emotions from current events. One has to come to terms with those emotions and not feel guilty for "moving on". To help in the process, take video of the home the way it looked while your parent's owned it (or photos for an album). Keep a few things around for old time's sake and memories. But feel free to change things around more to your personal taste and style - and don't feel guilty afterwards.

If you're like me you have furniture out on your patio and over time it has soiled, discolored, chipped or mildewed in the weather. So what to do? Many times outdoor furniture is woven or wicker or rattan. To clean properly involves good tools and patience:

• Use a new toothbrush, or a small paintbrush with bristles cut down by half for hard to get to places and a stiffer brush
• Sharpen a dowel to pick out bits of dirt and debris
• Wooden skewers for shish kebab are also handy
• Remove gunk and grime from weaves
• Vacuum wicker pieces thoroughly
• Wash with minimal amounts of cleaning solution (2 Tablespoons ammonia to 2 gallons water)
• Clean in sections from top to bottom
• Dry wicker immediately to prevent warping
• Tip furniture so tighter weaves are on top for drip drying
• Keep weaves straight so they don't shrink
• Sand and repaint if needed (follow manufacturer's instructions)
• Spray paint saves time
• For aluminum, use plastic scrub brush and dishwashing detergent
• Scrub, scrub, scrub
• Rinse thoroughly and let dry
• For coated aluminum, use sponge instead of brush
• Rinse and dry, then rub on car wax to polish (avoiding fabric)
• Buff metal after it dries
• Plastic chairs may be less expensive to just replace rather than clean
• If you opt to clean plastic, use laundry detergent mixed in a gallon of warm water.
• Avoid stiff bristle brushes which can scratch or gouge plastic surface
• If cushions are washable, use warm, soapy water or foam cleaner.
• Apply with sponge, rinse and dry quickly.
• For wrought-iron furniture, use wire brush on metal lightly to remove rust (but not paint)
• Naval jelly can dissolve rust (get at hardware store)
• Rust stains can be removed with fine steel wool dipped in kerosene
• Wear protective gloves and safety glasses
• Apply in open, away from fire
• For mildew umbrella or chairs: clean with oxygenated bleach in warm water
• Best to check manufacturer's care suggestions (chlorine bleach will fade acrylics)

I know you've heard the term "curb appeal" before but what does it mean? It's a buzz word home stagers use frequently to refer to how the home looks when standing on the curb or from a drive-by. When seeking to sell a home, curb appeal is very important as without it potential buyers won't bother to stop and come in for a closer look. Some quick fix ideas are:

• Make the front of the house attractive and inviting
• The first impression can only be made once
• Buy new house numbers that are easy to see and read and that go with the style of the house
• Buy a new welcome mat for the front door
• Fix what's broken
• Prune everything, both front and back
• Seed bald spots in lawn
• Add a flower bed for color or potted plants
• New coat of paint for front door and garage door could be included.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 53 people die each year from ladder accidents and more than 8,300 are injured. My neighbor fell off his house a few year ago from the roof and broke his back and was laid up for several months. So one must really take care to prevent accidents of this sort. The American Ladder Institute says there are about 300 deaths per year which seems more accurate.

Be sure to check the ladder label for the highest standing level and its duty rating (maximum intended load). You must note your weight plus the weight of your tools or anything you're hoisting up as well. While the most common ladder abuse is over-reaching, here are some safety tips:

• Use ladder of right type and weight for the project
• Wear tool belt (don't carry in your hand)
• Do not stand above the last step
• Do not extend your torso beyond the side rails to reach
• Set ladder at right pitch (1 foot out for every 4 feet of rise)
• Position ladder first, then extend it
• Secure bottom or have someone hold it or both
• Face ladder when climbing up or down
• Only one person on the ladder at a time
• Use ladder with proper length (should extend 3 feet beyond working surface)
• Do not stand on top 3 rungs
• All metal ladders should have slip-resistant feet
• Metal ladders conduct electricity. If in vicinity of power lines, use wooden or fiberglass ladder
• Never let ladder contact live electric wires
• Lock all locks on extension ladders
• Ground under ladder must be level and firm
• Do not place in front of door unless it is locked, blocked or guarded
• Do not step on top step, bucket shelf or rear section of ladder.

Don't spend money for quality products only to try to install them with rickety, broken-down ladders. Be safe. Your life and health are at stake.

Tough Times Call for Extraordinary Tactics

FROM THE BACK COVER - Whenever consultants face challenging times, either economically or personally, the need for deeper, fresh, compelling business tactics and strategies becomes more necessary, even vital for survival for some entrepreneurs.

Home Staging in Tough Times brings together some of the most cutting edge marketing strategies in the home staging industry ever put in print, teaching readers how to think and operate “outside the box” and meet the challenges of the times with a deep passion, a high ethical standard and well-deserved hope. Readers will be introduced to a host of practical tips, ideas and concepts never before published by Barbara Jennings, national best selling author in the industry. Jennings doesn’t just give theory, but she makes the more difficult applications for readers, filling her pages with a multitude of examples, forms, sample letters, sample promotional articles, encouragement, creativity and so much more.

Her easy going conversational style is personable and makes for a pleasant read.

Learn how you can ratchet up your profits from your home staging business, generate more clients in new and unusual ways that work especially well in down markets and keep your business prospering no matter what circumstances currently surrounding you.