1/2014
This is the time of year that I get calls from clients about how to prepare to put their house on the market in Early Spring. As a Realtor, I appreciate any preparation that sellers can do to have the house ready, well before that sign goes up in the yard. Of course, I can give a list, but the main things are to de-clutter the house, de-clutter and clean out the closets and cabinets, and de-personalize.
De-Clutter the House:
This is pretty easy. The less things lying around, the bigger the rooms look, and it shows a buyer that the house is kept up. If there are lots of magazines, stacks of papers, and other clutter lying around, the buyer questions how well the seller keeps up on everything! The thought of this can be overwhelming. One way to start is to take one room at a time. Simply take a laundry basket and pick up anything that is “lying around” and put it in the basket. One can see pretty quickly that every item in that basket either has a place and can be put away, or can go into the trash or the give-away pile.
De-Clutter and Clean Out Closets:
“A place for everything, everything in its place” …Benjamin Franklin.
Putting away the things in that basket can be a bit of a challenge if there is no place for them to go. For many of us, those closed closet doors are best kept closed. That is not going to happen when a house is on the market. Every closet door and every cabinet door and drawer will be opened – and we want them to be. Everyone wants “lots” of storage space and an unkempt or overstuffed closet, cabinet or drawer gives an appearance of not enough storage space. One way to start is the same way I mentioned starting to de-clutter a room. One closet or cabinet at a time, pull everything out, and before it is put back, separate all items into piles of keep, give-away and trash. In no time, there is a “place for everything”.
De-Personalize:
There are many things that make a house a home. During the selling process, it is time to make a home a house that is ready to be a home – for someone else. It is much easier for a buyer to spend time in the house imagining their “stuff” and family there, if there isn’t anything personal around. I am talking about everything from family photos to personal items. Even toothbrushes next to the sink will say “this house belongs to someone else.”
These are two websites that I found that may be a helpful guide:
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=22240513
http://www.hgtvremodels.com/closet-planning-guide/package/index.html
Happy Winter Organizing!
Carrie