Starting in May, the U.S. Treasury Department will begin mailing tax rebate checks to eligible tax payers.  If your home is currently on the market, I have several suggestions to consider as to how to spend your rebate.

1.   Give it to the buyer

What a nice cash bonus for potential home buyers!  It may even be enough to coax them into escrow.

2.  Improve your curb appeal

First impressions do matter!  A little bit of money and sweat equity can go a long way to improving your curb appeal - freshen the mulch, plant colorful flowers, weed the flower beds, and trim overgrown bushes and trees.

3.  Professionally stage your home

Hire a professional stager so the interior of your home makes a positive impression as potential buyers tour your home.  The money invested will be repaid by shorter time on the market and/or a higher sales price.

4.  Buy a home warranty for the buyer

Including a home warranty with the sale of your home helps ease the buyer’s mind.  When it comes down to making an offer on a home, sometimes this extra protection is enough to win a potential buyer over.

5.  Buy a home inspection

This will help you get your home into the best competitive shape for the market.  In addition, it will give you advance notice of what needs to be fixed prior to settlement such as building code violations.