If you and your family are typical and have lived in your home for somewhat of a long period of time, the chances of you having all kinds of stuff that you no longer use or need are high. Things that we no longer use or need are clutter, yes?
De-Cluttering to Prepare Your Home for Sale
So, if you are about to put your home on the real estate market, it really is important to spend some time de-cluttering. Secretly, most people really enjoy the process of de-cluttering. It is a chance to “lose weight” in a sense. And, it is imperative to the successful selling of your home. You cannot invite potential buyers into your home and leave them no room, literally, to imagine themselves in the space.
Realtors can advise you on where to start where to start with your de-cluttering process and exactly how far to go. Most will suggest that you begin in the kitchen and that all of the countertop space is completely clear upon showing your home. Next, Realtors will ask you to consider cleaning out your closets. You are either going to take those items with you in the move or not, and so going through extra clothing and shoes and such is a productive thing to do anyway.
During the de-cluttering process–both in the kitchen and in the closet–look for things that you can actually throw away. The more you toss, the less you will have to pack. That is your bonus. So choose to be ruthless if you can in terms of what you can toss. If you have trouble being “ruthless” with your own belongings, consider asking a friend to help you. A friend will be much less emotionally attached to your items and can probably make more objective decisions about what needs to go and what needs to stay.
Why Is De-Cluttering So Important?
Why is this de-cluttering important, again? Well, a potential buyer needs to walk into your kitchen and be able to see where their clutter can fit, honestly. And, if your home is full of your stuff, it is difficult for the potential buyers to picture their stuff in there. The same is true for the closets. They want to know that there is great closet space and great storage space for their stuff. You can give that appearance if you clear your stuff out.
Realtors will go a step further and ask you to consider storing, moving, or getting rid of excessive furniture. If you are living in your home until it sells, obviously you don’t want to remove all of your furniture. However, you do want to minimize as much as possible. Give your potential buyer an opportunity to see their personality in the living room, the family room, the dining rom, and the bedrooms. Potential buyers mostly want to see space. They, like you, want to be able to put their own stamp on their home, and they need your home to look as neutral as possible.
If your realtor is not necessarily an expert in “staging” a home, consider hiring one, or at least researching the topic online. Expert stagers know how to market a home by staging the furniture, the smells, the artwork, and such in order to make your home most pleasing to the potential buyer’s eye.
Lastly, do not overlook the clutter in your storage areas. Your basement, your garage, your attic, and such should be cleaned out. Make them as empty as you can, again, so that the buyers can imagine their clutter/junk in those spaces. Obviously, your buyer does not consider their stuff “clutter/junk;” just like you, they have accumulated things over the years, and as they peruse your home, they need to be able to see that your home could be a match for them and their belongings.
This article was provided by Kimberley Joy Kelly who specializes in helping buyer’s purchase Palm Springs Golf homes as well as Non-Golf homes in Palm Springs. If you’re looking for a La Quinta Realtor, you can visit Kim’s website to learn more.
{ 0 comments }
