After much consideration, you've decided to put your home on the market. You've taken care of all the little things like fixing loose base boards, cleaning the windows, and clearing away clutter, but for some reason your house just isn't selling.

Hazards may include industrial dumping, pesticide or herbicide use, or air or ground pollution from commercial and industrial businesses. Although perfectly manicured lawns and gardens make neighborhoods look cared for and safe, it is worth investigating whether or not neighbors use pesticides or herbicides.

Over time, our homes accumulate more items than we could ever need. It can be hard to throw away certain items and before we know it, the home becomes cluttered with things that we no longer have uses for. Luckily, there is always someone who wants what we don't need, and is often willing to pay for it.

Even if you are only relocating a short distance away, like a nearby town, or a city within the same metropolitan area, learning as much as possible about your new community will allow you to make the best decision before you move.

The exterior of the house itself needs careful attention too. Make sure the windows are clean and examine the siding for moss or dirt and remove if necessary. This can be done with a power-washer and while you're at it, you might as well use it on the driveway, and any decks or balconies.

Combined with rich woods or modern steel, leather floors add class and comfort to any area. Offices, galleries, yachts, clubs, libraries, living rooms, and conference rooms are typical areas that can be enhanced by leather flooring.

Cork is warm to touch, non absorbent, will not trap dirt and fungus, has a cushiony feel, is hypo allergenic, insect resistant, and easy to install. Bamboo on the other hand, is known for its beauty, hardness, and long life.

Preparing to sell your home can sometimes feel like a daunting task. But rather than overwhelming yourself with looking at the job as a whole, it is much more manageable to break it down into bite-size chunks. Here are a few tips, tricks and best practices you can undertake to ensure you are doing everything you can to visit success and become an active partner in the process of selling your home.

If you are fortunate enough to have a sizeable garden or yard, you may like to consider planting some attractive berry-bearing plants such as Blue Elderberry, Hollyleaf Cherry or Toyon, providing energy-rich food for hungry birds. The flowers of the California Buckeye are legendary among west coast wildlife gardeners for their appeal to butterflies, especially those magnificent orange and black Monarchs.

Many local newspapers offer free listings, as do various websites. Lots of people scour the listings looking for sales, so be sure to mention some of the more interesting items that you will be selling, in order to attract particular buyers. Oh, and don't forget to take your signs down after the sale!