Preparing to list
Houses that are being lived in often appear crowded or cluttered in photographs and, remember, those on line images are what prospective buyers are paying most attention to when deciding whether to tour your property. In almost all cases, listing agents suggest that home owners pare down, clean out, declutter, etc. While most people do report that being forced to evaluate what they really need/want to keep DOES help them in the long run, it’s still a colossal pain to do it. I empathize with sellers who are trying to neaten their homes in order to list them for sale, but I believe the effort will be reflected in a higher sales price.
Where to put all that stuff
Some sellers use a storage facility or a pod; you may also be able to box things up and put the boxes in a basement, garage or attic. Can’t you just stick some stuff in closets? I’ll ask you NOT to. Why? Four reasons:
- People look in closets.
- Closets that are full give the impression that there isn’t enough storage space, whether for clothing or other possessions.
- Messy closets may suggest that the sellers are generally not tidy/clean (even though there may be no correlation).
- Shoving extra items in closets may lead buyers to wonder what else a seller has “hidden” behind a closed door, hoping buyers won’t notice. It’s all about perception!
When to start cleaning out
My advice is to start this paring down process when you begin THINKING about listing your home. Don’t wait for your agent to tell you to do it. If you are going to move, it’s a good idea to go through things to determine if some of them may not be worth taking with you. If you declutter gradually, it’s easier and there’s an added bonus in that you can feel good about donating/recycling things.
Leave a Reply