I didn't check out your comps so I don't know how you are on price. You need to take the family photos down. They look nice, but you don't want the house to reflect your family any more. You need someone else to be able to envision themselves there. You might replace some photos like the focal point in the dining room with a nice looking art piece. The baseball player in the living room needs to be taken down. I'd ask for new pictures on the realtor website. These pictures don't show your house well. The first picture needs to be taken at a different angle. The garage and driveway shouldn't be the focal point. I'd remove the picture in the entryway. It's not good and shows that you have a vent in an awkward place. The blinds need to be adjusted or closed in several pictures. I'd remove the second photo of the kitchen. I think the previous picture shows off the room better. Is picture #10 your master? I think the photo needs to be taken from more of an angle. The bedding needs to be tucked in at the bottom. If it were me, I would use a less patterned bedding and add several pillows or something to make the room look more inviting. You might even try switching the bed and the dresser around and then snap a few pictures to see if it would look better. This may not be how you normally live, but if it sells the pace, then it is worth it. I don't like the bathroom shot, but it is a hard room to photograph. Fixing the blinds so the light and shadows aren't affecting the picture would help. I'd remove the picture of the towel in the bathroom. It isn't a good picture and focuses on the towel not the features of the room. My second grader would love the Star Wars bedroom. I would remove the camouflage thing and the thing on the floor in the corner and then retake the picture. I'd get the toys and wheelbarrow out of the yard picture. It looks like you've gone to a lot of effort cleaning and decluttering. I think better pictures and a few minor adjustments will show off the house better. Good luck! I hope you have a quick and painless sale.

ncrealestateguy, thank you for money saving tip on pool chemicals. I will check out the poolcalculator website. This will hopefully offset some cost in running pool equipment + in pool opening/closing. The previous owners spent years on building the pool and the surrounding deck and waterfall. I wouldn't want to undo their hard work by filling in the pool.. stir_fryi, our house is in a nice neighborhood, which is surrounded by woods. Our 1 acre is cleared, mostly flat land. Kids can definitely ride bicycles and play football on it. (Occasionally, I see neighbors' kids riding small motorcycles in their yard & on the streets in our neighborhood. What luxurious toys they have!) Edit to add: Given the current housing market, if we sell the house now, we would most likely not gain anything financially (after factoring in all the costs related to selling & moving). If the current market were similar to 2004 or early 2005, we would probably be able to pocket some profit, but I don't think it would be close to half million.. This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Tue, Apr 9, 13 at 12:16

LOL My DH reckons I should have them in to photograph the house for their inhouse magazine, we have so much Ikea. The funny thing is, few people believe me. Like so many of you said, you get what you pay for, so the cheapest doesn't always last, but if you get the higher range stuff and the "real" stuff, the quality is fine. I had a classic pine coffee table for over 20 years that eventually got passed on: it had been sanded and resealed and was solid as a rock despite being in my possession from my early teenage years through 3 kids... My knack is that I mix Ikea with other stuff that is a bit more eye-catching, maybe that is why our house isn't so noticeably Ikea. Also I have been buying there for nearly 25 years so people have forgotten that some of my stuff was ever for sale there! I am lucky to live close by and often go by to see what is available - it is sometimes hard to go with expectations and things are out of stock, but if you can be relaxed, I find plenty. Some nice accessories never even make it to the catalog and sell out if you don't happen to be there in the few days/weeks they are selling them. I am happy with most things from there, the beds last forever, the wardrobe is awesome (it was the only store with closet systems that were low enough for our 250 yr old house ceilings!), our oak table beautiful, our last and present dining chairs indestructible (my mom inherited the last set when she moved), the kids' stuff fun and nothing can beat Billy shelves. I have used them everywhere for continuity, some with doors on the lower half, some with glass shelves, some with tall glass doors. My only problem is that they have discontinued some sizes of Billy and Lack, which is very annoying. They also change the colours available according to the "fashions", so oak is unpopular in this area and not available. I have certainly had no trouble with upholstered goods. I had the cheap version of the Poang chair over 16 years ago and often picked up a new cushion for it in the cheap range when pets ruined the old one or I wanted a different colour, though they are also washable. Now I splashed out on a leather cushion for it, it is so comfortable and still looking as good as ever. Also my Ektorp sofabed has been used a lot and squeezed up the narrow stairs of this house and is going strong. I have 3 sets of covers for it, they wash well, haven't faded or worn and I can put them on slightly damp and they need no ironing. What more could I want?! Each season I check to see what new colour covers they have in case I need a new set, as they are not expensive. In this country, no other store has sofas with removable covers, it's a great novelty for my friends and neighbours that I often change the covers! All this is why I am a fan, not everyone agrees, though...

janjan212 Unfortunately, buying an expensive item without a warrantee is like rolling a dice that the unit will work well enough for a few years. If this is a drop in cooktop, then it is not easily replaced because of the cut out in the countertop. I wish you the best but unlike free standing appliances, built in appliances are much more tricky to buy and sell. What if you donated it to Habitat for Humanity and take the tax deduction. Since you have the receipt, you MAY be able to take the full value deduction. (I don't know the rules... You need ask a tax person.) Depending on your tax tracket, selling it at 1/3 of the original price or taking the full value deduction maybe about equal in "value" to you....