Staging your home properly when you're ready to list it on the Long Island real estate market can mean the difference between selling it quickly or having it languish for months. Our real estate agents compiled this checklist of ten tips to make your home shine and stand out from the crowd.

1. Clean the Clutter
   Although your wedding photos may be a source of enjoyment for you, potential buyers want to envision themselves living there. You're moving anyway, so why not purge, right? Take all unnecessary knick-knacks, toys, photographs, and books and box them up or get rid of them. It's also a good idea to stow away countertop appliances like toasters, blenders and hair dryers.

Our real estate agents are here to support your home buying goals every step of the way.

That includes providing expert insight on the parts of the home buying process people find confusing. Many customers report their biggest questions have to do with securing a home loan.

No matter what kind of mortgage you pursue, odds are credit will be a factor. Good credit can help you get better loan terms. Only a few programs, most catering to first-time homebuyers, do not consider credit.

Your credit score is a numerical representation of the level of risk lenders take on when they offer you a loan package. It is determined by your history of paying debts on time, as well as the type and number of financial obligations you have.

Feel like chillin' out, but don't want to have to go far to have a great time? To find fun with friends and family, all you have to do is head on to TOBAY Beach on Ocean Parkway on the morning of March 16th. That's when polar bears from throughout New York will descend on Oyster Bay to splish and splash their way through a day of unforgettable memories.

Polar Bear Plunge - 15 Years of Support for Special Olympics

Special Olympics New York is one of the largest athletic organizations in the country. There are currently just under 69,000 athletes and partners training with the organization. Each year they support area athletes who are eager to show off their skills at competitions around the world. Since 1968, the organization has made it possible for hundreds of thousands of athletes to compete in everything from track-and-field events to basketball games and Alpine skiing. With 22 Olympic-styled sports to choose from, there are plenty of opportunities for athletes to shine.

Whether you are buying or selling your first home or your fiftieth, it's always a good idea to have an experienced real estate professional by your side. You often hear people use the terms real estate agent and REALTOR® used interchangeably.  While both types of professionals must be licensed to sell real estate, there is a difference. If this is your first time entering the Long Island real estate market, knowing the differences could be a little confusing.  

Our team at Laffey Real Estate is here to explain the difference hiring a REALTOR® during your real estate experience makes.