Your home may be in good condition and well built, yet
simple clutter will create a perception of chaos, confusion, and disorder. The purchase decision is an emotional and
intellectual response, based on a level of trust in your home. When buyers see clutter, they assume that the
home has been neglected, with more to fix than meets the eye. This perception undermines your home's market
value.
De-cluttering is an essential part of your preparation, and
is virtually cost free. This activity goes hand in hand with moving. Before you put your home on the market, have
a garage sale, throw some things out, and box stuff up. Your move will be easier, and you will create
an open, spacious, simplified look that buyers love. If you need support, a local home staging
service can work with your furniture and create a whole new look. When it comes to selling your home, less is
truly more.
1) Front Yard
De-cluttering starts with your front yard. Make sure the yard is mowed and edged, and
remove toys, junk piles, empty flower pots, etc.
An evenly cut yard is pleasing to the eye. Fertilize the grass a month or two ahead.
Overgrown, woody shrubs give an old, tired look. Trim or remove them.
Do not allow shrubs to cover windows. They block light on
the interior, and give an appearance of crowding on the exterior.
Coil hoses and place any tools inside the garage.
Find a place to store extra cars or boats - other than the
front of your house.
De-clutter flower beds.
Mulch is inexpensive and does wonders to simplify
garden beds, especially in winter when plants are thin. Add flowers on the
porch or in beds if weather permits.
Too many flowerpots are distracting - use a few large pots
with healthy plants.
Never have empty pots or dead plants sitting around.
Dried wreaths may be used on doors in winter, for a simple
focal point.
2) Entry
The buyers' first impression is critical, and shapes their
attitude throughout the showing.
Invest in a brand new welcome mat.
Stains, scratches and dirty spots create distractions to the
eye, and are a form of clutter. Clean,
paint, and eliminate as many of these as possible.
Pay close attention to your front door. Is it dirty, darkened by mildew, or in need of
re-finishing?
Fresh paint or stain will make a huge difference.
Consider having your whole house power washed to remove
stains, spider webs and other clutter.
The foyer should be clear of shoes, coats, or excess items
on the walls.
Create a single focal point in the entry with an attractive
table or painting.
3) Living Areas
Rooms should be sparsely furnished to appear larger and
lighter.
The garage or an off-site storage room can be used to hold
extra pieces of furniture.
Move large pieces of equipment - drums, telescopes, exercise
equipment, etc. - to the garage or off-site.
Do not allow furniture to block windows, doorways, or
traffic patterns through rooms.
Do not allow wires to cross traffic patterns.
Choose one or two elements as the main points of interest in
a room - wood floors, a view, a table or piece of furniture, a nicely
made bed, etc.
Too many personal collections and photographs are
distracting for buyers.
Buyers must be able to imagine their own family in the home.
A few decorative items or photographs on tables are fine,
but reduce these to just a few nice pieces.
Remove hunting trophies. They can be overwhelming in a small
room, and may bother some buyers.
Large plants often take up too much space. Allow only a few
healthy plants in the house.
Bookshelves add a warm touch to a room, but be sure that
they are not overloaded.
Place books so that the backs are even. Lay some books
horizontally, and leave open space for art
objects.
Open window blinds and leave on a few lamps for pleasant lighting.
4) Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home and plays an important
part in attracting the heart of a buyer. This is an active area that usually
needs special attention.
Clean, evenly finished cabinetry is a must. Add new paint or stain, if necessary.
Benjamin Moore Paints has a product called "Howard's
Restore-a-finish" that works wonders on scratched or worn cabinets.
New cabinet pulls are an inexpensive item that can help tie
the room together in terms of colors and finishes.
Remove purely functional items - such as baking pans, small
appliances, vitamins, phone books, plastic bags, etc.
Do not have notes or photos on the refrigerator.
Clear the counters completely, then add back a few decorator
items.
Choose decorative pieces that contribute to a warm, elegant,
organized look.
Some suggestions: Flowers, fruit, cookbooks, wine, bowls,
antiques, new dish towels, small designer appliances, etc.
Often the area under the sink needs organizing and cleaning.
Never leave trash containers out in the kitchen.
5) Bathrooms
It is important to de-clutter bathrooms to give them a touch
of elegance or romance.
Keep in mind that you will give up some privacy during the
marketing period.
Start by removing everything from the counters.
Remove any toilet brushes or cleaners that are visible.
Put items that you use daily - toothbrushes, soaps, razors - in a container,
and place the container inside in a cabinet.
Decorate with fresh soaps, flowers, bowls, photos, or
designer bath items.
Invest in new towels and fold them carefully.
Never leave medicines, money, magazines, jewelry,
guns, or personal possessions of this type on display.
6) Bedrooms
Bedrooms should appear restful and serene. Sparsely furnished is best.
Use your best covers, or invest in new ones if yours are
worn.
Clear off bedside tables, and add back just a few books or
nice items.
Bedside lamps add a warm ambience for showings.
Remove excess paintings or photos from the walls.
In some cases, old curtains do more harm than good. Take
them down and clean the windows for a fresh look.
Children's bedrooms usually need to be simplified. Take down posters and box up toys. Avoid an overcrowded look.
7) Closets
Organize your pantry with everything facing forward. Remove
excess food and containers.
Relieve your closets if they are stuffed. Pack items that are not needed.
The laundry room often functions as a spill over room with
junk on the shelves. Clear everything out, and have just a few soap boxes
visible.
Often sellers have organized their homes to express
themselves - their travels, collections, interests, favorite colors and unique
tastes. However, when selling a home,
the goal is just the opposite. It is to
create a clean, simple background that many different buyers would like to move
into. Excess items and clutter confuses
and distracts buyers during showings. They should not be required to “look
past” your possessions. They are there
to see if your house fits them, and their emotional level response is a strong
factor in their decision. Warm, clean,
simple, spacious, well lighted, neutral - and uncluttered - these are the keys
to getting the best price for your home.
