You might be used to the smell and the shedded hair, but it's new to your guests. This goes for you, too, small dog people. Because they do. Never fool yourself into thinking your pets Do not stink. Bad yards make the neighborhood look bad and bring property values down, plus they're an eyesore.

You'll get the whole neighborhood quietly hating you, making passive aggressive comments, and then one morning you wake up to find the whole block cleaning up your yard, as you stand on the porch in your robe with bed head. Every street has one, but Do not be that guy! Do not be the person who doesn't take care of your yard. You've got to keep the money you put into your house realistic compared to the average price of houses that are similarly sized in your immediate area; otherwise it is extremely difficult to get your money's worth. However, you need to keep your remodeling within the general costs of your neighborhood.

Now you might have so much money that you just need to get rid of it, and if so, might we recommend a few charities that do some good work? Do not remodel too much. Not a good idea. Same as with number one, except that you have the added danger of getting electrocuted.

Do not do your own electrical. Of course, if you like the texture of pocketed space, more power to you, but also more cost to you. The reason not to do this is simple: The cost per square foot of this improvement is so high that you might as well opt for a more sizable addition at a much lower cost per square foot. Bump-outs are when you move a wall out a few feet just for a little extra space (like a bay window, but to a greater degree).

Do not do bump-outs. However, if you are doing it yourself, you need to ask an engineer or a solid contractor. Certainly, if you are working with a quality contractor, this professional will know which walls can come down and which can't. Do not remove walls between rooms without knowing if it is load-bearing.

Plus we just wanted to let you know that we didn't miss this one. But, you'd be surprised. Now we know what you're saying, anyone who cares enough about their house to read an article about things you shouldn't do to them already knows not to do this. Do not park in the yard. Plus, if you mess something up, water gets everywhere and might ruin a great many things.

It's not so much that houseowners can't do this or can't learn, but most houseowners are not familiar with the safety requirements laid out in the Uniform Building Code (UBC). But even if you are an ambitious and skilled DIYer, just leave this one to the pros. If you already know how to do it, then this is just a list of the top seven things you shouldn't do. Do not do your own plumbing.

Our apologies if you've already done one of these (or several). Of course Do nots include set it on fire, paint it all black and take off the roof are givens, but we've come up with the top eight items to be avoided that many people already do.  The list for things you should do to your house are endless -- change furnace filter, clean gutters, leave a faucet running when it's freezing out -- but there are likewise many things you shouldn't do.

1. Seek for the assistance of a high-caliber real estate agent There are lots of real estate brokers and independent agents that could help sell your house fast. However too few truly can sell it in a winning pace that would satisfy both your needs. Your first stop to finding one is to seek for the more credible agencies that specialize in your neighborhood. From your choices, trim down the actual agency that would work for you, remember that both of you are transparent in the agreements and everything in between.

An agent or a broker is a must when selling your properties unless you are skilled in this particular field or you are an agent yourself. There are lots of complex regulations and schemes in this industry that you cannot let just another person to handle your business. Ensure yourself of a good service and quality transactions. It is not enough that someone is there to work for you. What you should be looking after for is that someone's there to sell the house for you.

2. Make the price right. Sellers often have the tendency to overrate and underrate their properties. Both ways, you will lose much.

When you quote the property too high, the initial effect is to discourage buyers from entertaining your offers. On the other hand, when the price is too low, you are likely to face a lose-lose situation where you earned nothing in return but you still have to cover the expenses for taxes, unforeseen fees, and others.

In this regard, you have to hire an agent that could easily provide the reasonable price for your property. Most real estate agents have the full knowledge of the pricing in a neighborhood. Be sure to get in contact with only the best since they are the most reliable people in the industry.

3. Make your home inviting to new owners A common mistake among homeowners is to package the house including the clutter. Well, in most cases this is inevitable.

People typically become too much attached with their homes that they fail to see that there are things that must be taken away from the house during sale. For example, the sentimental value that a family picture may have could repel buyers from becoming interested in your house.

The principle in selling a house is to make it amiable with the new owners. Remember that it is no longer your house, it will soon become another person's home. Thus, your mementos, awards, picture and everything that reminds you as the past homeowner must be taken away and packed somewhere away from your house.

4. If nothing works, then rent it. Unless your house is ideally matched with somebody else's picture, price and all other criteria of a house, it cannot be sold so easily. In this case, it's best that you have your house rented for a while. This would help cover all costs while you are waiting for a buyer to come by. However, you must make a clear arrangement with your renters regarding the availability of showing the house to prospect buyers.

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