Whenever someone has to move, they must consider 3 things – purchasing a new home, moving out of their old home, and of course, selling the old house. If you’re in a hurry to move for some reason, you may just take the first offer on the table – after all, you’ve got a lot of things to do, like selecting a new home and packing up and moving to your new neighborhood. But don’t take a loss on the sale of your new home, even in a recession. There are some easy and simple upgrades you can do, to increase your house’ appeal and value.

1) Paint – a can of paint can be inexpensive, and you may just need a some touch-ups here or there. A freshly colored wall can give any room a “pick-me-up” and make it seem brand new. The same with your window trims and outside doors.

2) Energy efficiency – check with your utility companies for a free energy audit. Decreasing you home’s energy consumption can attract potential buyers. You’ll probably be able to make anything from small changes (like installing some weather stripping) to some major changes (like installing new windows).

3) Update the kitchen – most buyers focus on the kitchen, since this is one of the places everyone will be spending a lot of time in. You can make a few small changes – if you have worn out or broken tiles or fixtures, it’s easy enough to take a trip to the hardware store and replace them. If you have a bigger budget, see if you can replace cabinets and paneling to make everything look cohesive.

4) Refresh the bathroom – a clean-looking bathroom makes a big difference to potential homebuyers. Simple things like getting a new toilet seat can give your bathroom a facelift. For the floor, you can easily purchase pre-made vinyl tiles that are easy to apply over the old floor. Look at your wall tiles and check for dirt – get some industrial cleansers (or a professional) to get them sparkling again. If the case is too extreme, you may want to think about regrouting and replacing the tiles.

5) Wash the outside – never underestimate the value of a good first impression. You can easily rent a powerwasher for a day and give your walls and driveway a good scrub.

6) Upgrade your light fixtures – instead of a plain light bulb, consider purchasing an inexpensive light fixture to spruce up any room.

7) Spruce up your front yard – plant some shrubs, a tree or two and keep your lawn cleanly cut, especially if you know people are coming over to view your house.

Clean up and organize clutter – if you have a garage, clear it to make it look neat and clean. Install some storage systems, which can cost only a few hundred dollars, but will add immeasurable to the appeal of your home.

9) Make repairs – go around your house, inside and out, and take an inventory of anything that needs to be fixed and just do it, especially stuff that you’ve been meaning to fix but haven’t gotten around to fixing.

A few weeks ago, we gave some tips on how to help young kids deal with the changes of moving. As we mentioned, it’s the younger ones that usually have an easier time with the move. Usually, it’s the teenagers that have the hardest time coping. Teenage hormones and moving just don’t mix – they’re going through enough changes with themselves and their bodies, trying to fit in and then here comes another major change in their lives. We’ll discuss

Try to understand what they’re going through

Parents are sure to encounter lots of teenage angst and drama when they first announce that they have to move – this is, of course, quite normal. Your teens are about to leave everything and everyone they’ve known their entire lives – friends, teachers, neighborhoods -and plunging into the unknown. It’s difficult enough spending your pre-teen years trying to fit in, and now they’ll have to start all over again. Trying to see things through their eyes will give you a better perspective and open up the line of communication to talk things through.

Open up

Get your teen to open up about their concerns over the move and address each one. Talk to them and let them know your concerns as well, and you just might find out that you have similar worries. You may also be surprised – perhaps he or she may not be as unhappy as they may seem.

Get them informed and involved

Get everyone together for a family meeting and tell them about the move. Explain why you have to move and don’t sound patronizing. If you haven’t selected your house or neighborhood, get input from your children. Ask them what they and put that into consideration when making the final decision. Give them as much information as you can on your new place and let them do their own research on the net.When it comes time to move, give them responsibilities and tasks to do, such as putting together a moving kit, or packing up their own room. When you get to the new place, allow them some freedom when decorating their room.

Give them time to say goodbye

Ask them how they want to say goodbye to their friends – maybe have a big party or sleepover or a (supervised) weekend trip. Allow them to spend a reasonable amount of time with their friends and encourage them to keep in touch.

Another sensitive topic may that be of boyfriends and girlfriends. On one hand, your kid is still young and you may view it as “puppy love.” On the other hand, you wouldn’t want your teen to think you don’t give their relationships any importance. Whatever the case may be, help them make the decision. Give them advice on breaking up or having a long-distance relationship and let him or her know that you will be there for them no matter what.

Consider scheduling the move around their academic schedule

Moving in the middle of the school year can be hard on teens, so try to move at the end of the summer. That way he or she can start fresh with their new schoolmates. If your teen is in his senior year, consider letting him stay with relatives or a family friend so he or she can finish the year. It’s difficult to make the adjustment in this final year, not to mention the added stress of SATs and college applications.

Teens can be resilient. Just give them some time and they’ll get used to the idea of moving eventually. Pretty soon, they’ll be settling into their new school, meeting new teachers and making new friends.