If you're looking for advice on how to prepare your house for sale, you don't have to look very long. Home staging advice is on HGTV and all over the Internet. There certainly isn't a shortage of information on the subject.
The problem is that generalized terms like "update" and "depersonalize"
aren't specific enough.
And of course...
No checklist for preparing a home for sale would be complete without including the term "declutter." It has to be the most frequently used term in real estate preparation today.
Knowing you need to declutter is only helpful if you know how to declutter.
Uncertainty can leave you feeling overwhelmed with the task ahead.
The problem, as I see it: your definition, your agent's definition, and my definition of "declutter" are probably all the same: to remove excess and disorder. However, what each of us deems as clutter, how each of us would actually approach the task of decluttering, and what the end results would be, is another story.
Unless you are a professional home stager, or clean freak, your approach will most likely result in frustration and avoidance, neither of which is going to get the laundry and toys out of the dining room and the hockey trophies out of the living room.
I know what you are thinking...
How does she know I have laundry in the dining room?
Psychic powers...a secret Home Stager ability. But that's a subject for another post.
The subject of this post is to help you understand exactly how to declutter.
The best approach for dealing with clutter is to deal with it in small doses, one room at at time. The most influential rooms (to buyers) are the kitchen and master bedroom. Let's start with the kitchen...
1. Closets, cabinets and drawers. Remove anything you do not use on a regular basis. Items removed go into one of three piles: trash, donate, pack. Everything remaining in cabinets should be arranged in an organized fashion; cans together, boxes together, etc. (Pack up the holiday stemware, extra coffee mugs, and 2/3 of that Tupperware) Your objective - clean, organized, and spacious.
2. Appliances. Clean inside and outside of all appliances. Replace damaged or worn stove burners. Clear off top of refrigerator and remove all magnets, notes, and photos.
3. Countertops. Start by clearing everything off counters. Wash windows, counters and cabinets. Adding cabinet hardware or replacing old hardware will add perceived value. To add color and depth, strategically place a few accent pieces, such as a large platter, cookbooks, or assorted oils on counters.
4. Sink Area. Clean sink, faucet and drains. Keep paper towels, soap and sponges under sink. Never leave rack or dishes in sink.
5. Personal Items. Use a basket or box to keep keys, mail, bills, address book, and other personal items off counter and out of view.
Now that you have successfully prepared your kitchen, it's on to the Master Bedroom:
The master bedroom should give an impression of calm sophistication.
1. Remove all toys, stuffed animals, pet items, hobby/craft items. Ideally, TV should be removed.
2. Organize closets, repeating procedure used for kitchen. Remove anything you are not using regularly and sort into trash, donate, or pack.
3. Remove personal items (jewelry, lotions, paperwork, medications) from nightstands and dresser.
4. Remove all family photos and religious items.
5. Remove excercise equipment and computer/desk. The master bedroom should not double as gym or home office.
Next stop...Master Bath
The key to the master bath is achieving a spa-like atmosphere. The bathroom is a very personal room and buyers don't want to be reminded that other people use it. Purchase new towels and soaps and accessories for your new home and use them now to help you sell this home.
1. Start with closet, cabinets and drawers. You should be getting pretty good at this step by now. Towels should be stacked neatly, paper products arranged orderly, and all personal hygiene products should be stored in a storage container out of view.
2. Remove everything from tub surround and vanity. Never leave your toothbrushes and other personal items in view. Keep them in a plastic tote that you pull out to use each day and then return to hiding.
3. Clean tub, toilet, sink, faucets, vanity and mirror until they shine.
4. Add color and texture using rolled towels by tub and rolled face cloths by sink. For color, add a pair of candles, silk florals, and baskets or glass jars full of bath salts or soaps.
In case you are doubting that all this work is necessary, it is important for you to understand that there is a psychology involved. The more organized and neat the closets and cabinets are, the more of a "clean, anal, martha stewart" you are perceived as by buyers. This in turn means the house has been well maintained. This is perceived as value and justifys asking price.
Work smart, one small area at a time. No matter how much stuff you have to deal with, it all has to be dealt with eventually for you to move, so do it now and be ahead of the game.
If you really want to have the best possible results, (you knew I couldn't get through this post without saying it) hire a professional home stager to come in for the finishing touches. If you want to avoid the work all together, you could hire a stager to do it all. Unlike you, who does not enjoy organizing, stagers thrive on it. It's not just our business, it's our passion!
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For More Information Visit My Website
Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast
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603.661.8524
most of that is every day good advice for being in the office and keeping it decluttered. thank you i always look forward to what your blogs. I like the recipes the best though.
Great article Sharon! I love the pictures too! This would be great to keep as a reference for clients. So often I will write in a consultation report - "declutter" countertops and the clients's eyes glaze over.
Great advice! Now you make the call...I think a beautiful (although giant) basket on the top of the fridgie is fine since it holds all my chips. I had a realtor friend walk through with fresh eyes and she said to take it down....rats. If you say my giant basket is better on my fridge I bet I can put it back up there! Help me PLEASE kitty is nibbling on my chips!!!!
Tom: Your comment has made my day! Just for you, the next one will be a recipe! Thanks so much!
Sheila: "Eyes glaze over" is a great way to describe it. They have heard the word so much that it has lost it's value. Feel free to pass this on to your clients. Thanks!
Tara: I will sometimes strategically place something on the refrig. but it is risky telling sellers they can. As for the basket: If you are selling, I would have to see a picture to say for sure whether I think you should use it. Come back with a picture and we will see.
If you aren't selling, then I say it is up to you. If you like it there and it serves a purpose (I'ld rather see the basket than bags of chips) go for it.
yeah....about that...I AM selling and it is HUGE....admitting it was cheap ploy to try and get my chip basket back...:) Thanks!!! Tara
Sharon, this is phenomenal advice. I am currently prepping my own house for sale and you make me feel very....um....behind on what I need to do! This is wise, wise advice and words I need to take to heart. Thank you for such a wonderful post.
BTW Tara, I have that same big basket on mine....eeesh.
Later in the rain~Deb
Tara: Nice try, at least you are being honest! When you make room in the cabinets, you can keep your chips there.
Deb: Thank you so much! You better get to work! A little bit each day, you will feel empowered!
Sharon,
Great post! Well organized, well presented, and great pics!
You sure know how to present value. I didn't really realize until reading your posting, how much value I would get from your services. I was thinking that just beacuse something is clean and organized that it wouldn't be cluttered. Reading your entire posting, looking at the pictures, and re-reading it... well you've convinced me that your way will better show the value of the house than my way. Great Presentation!
Wow, awesome detail! This is one to keep. Your master bath section was a perfect example of necessity in home sales. Let's face it, it is the woman who will make the final decision on the home and the bathroom can be the biggest seller. When I see an okay home but which has a "spa-like" bathroom, I start to imagine myself with a glass of wine soaking in the tub and then I dream about moving in. THAT is what sellers want....
Nicely written Sharon! Useful guide for sellers who are overwhelmed and do not know where to start.
Excellent post, Sharon....in fact I like it so much I am going to re-blog it! It is great how you spell out what you need to remove and such a great point that everyone may have a different definition of decluttering a home. GREAT tips for sellers, thanks for posting and sharing!
Suzanne: Thanks, this one took me a long time to write. I envy the bloggers who just pop them out. I appreciate your letting me know you liked it.
Jim: Thank you so much for such a complimentary comment. This post was a lot of work and your comment makes it so worth it! I have subscribed to your blog after visiting it. I can see I will learn a lot from you too.
Rebecca: I'm so glad you approve! The bath is so personal, no one wants to walk in and see toothbrushes and deodorant on the vanity. It's like arriving at a hotel room before the cleaning is done. Can you imagine? Who would stay in a hotel room that had not had all evidence of prior guests wiped away? Thanks for commenting.
Michele: Thanks! Most sellers are overwhelmed, they don't get satisfaction like we do by decluttering.
Debra: How exciting...a "reblog" is a good thing! I'm glad you like it! Thanks!
Great list and love the attention to how you presented with photos. De-cluttering cost nothing and some time but puts so much more back into the pocketbook and minimizing days on market. Great post and congrats on the feature, well deserved!
Sharon-Great, great post! Very well written and the photos are the perfect touch. I have bookmarked for future reference for the clients that don't want to take the advice when there is too much clutter.
Sharon ~ First - Congratulations on the well-deserved Feature! Second, these are great tips that offer a little bit more than just the phrase "declutter"; some people are not sure how far they need to go to declutter. Also, your tips work pretty well for living; your home looks so much neater and cleaner by not having so much stuff out and about. And listen, stop going in my dining room - the laundry just makes a pit stop there on its way upstairs! ; )
Connie: It is with your comment that I'm finding out it was featured! Thanks for being the bearer of such nice news. Especially thanks for commenting so kindly!
Debra: You are welcome, I hope the post is useful is convincing your clients. It makes no sense to me how they can fight us on our advice when we are trying to make them more money and save them some aggravation.
Kathy: You are so right. Even if you are not moving, you should be considering these tips as general rules to live by. When the day comes to move, you will be ahead of the game. Having the declutter cleared away is like lifting a weight off your chest. You will actually breath better and feel happier and less stressed. Thanks for commenting. What happens in your dining room, is your business, no judgment from me!
Great information and congrats on the featured post!
Dear Sharon,
Congratulations on your well deserved feature! The pictures were great. I book marked it.
I now have a plan for Spring cleaning at my place! How do all those strange things wind up on your counter tops?
Barbara
You clearly put a lot of effort into this post, and I'm betting that's what your clients can expect from you when you stage their home. Great information and photos. Thank you!
Sharon,
This is an eye catching post, it's very well put together and its not CLUTTERED! Probably why you were featured, ;) This only makes sense less clutter, more appealing, faster sell! Thanks for the great post.
-Lisa
Sharon - Such great information! You did a wonderful job of explaining... :)
Wonderful detailed post. I agree -- it is overwhelming for many clients on where to start -- and this post is a great tool for anyone to use. Congratulations on the well deserved feature!
Sharon.... this is some excellent information and a great perspective to those that don't know much about home staging. It's funny, I was only introduced to home staging about 3 years ago, and boy, has it grown and helped so many. Nice jobn here.
Excellent guidelines well written for the truly cluttered soul.
Hi Sharon, Great ideas. I think I will send this to some of my clients. They don't get it! When I talk about declutter they look at me like I have 4 heads....you know what I mean.
Hi Sharon,
Some excellent tips here. We think people know what we mean when we ask them to "declutter". They usually don't and become easily offended if we offer feedback on their efforts. Kinda like what happens when I ask my 14 year old to clean her room. Having clear instructions like the ones you posted here...with pictures...can only help. Thanks!!
I think I'll forward this one to my daughter...
Helpful guide Sharon ! Nice job !
... I love the photo of the bathroom with the twin sinks ... very eye pleasing :o)
Thanks for the concrete examples. Certainly clarifies terms: depersonalize, declutter, and update.
Sharon, great advice and good photos to give a look & feel for what you are recommending. Declutter into three categories is a great breakdown.
Sharon, What an excellent post. Once you start you hardly want to stop. I do the three box system as well and if it takes me longer then 15 seconds to think whether or not I need an item, it means I don't :)
Sharon, I need to do this in my own house..yikes. You have offered up some great advice. I know from my point of view, it can all be so overwhelming. Toss a move into that and our sellers can tend to be bogged down with "to do" lists. I'm going to bookmark this and make a list for my sellers from it, if you don't mind!
Wanda: Thank you. I appreciate it.
Barbara: I know what you mean about strange things accumulating. By nature, we humans have a tendancy toward laziness and the counters are a convenient place to leave everything.
Margaret W: What a wonderful thing to say! I do my best at every job and sure hope the clients feel as though that is what they are getting. I love doing it!
Lisa: Thanks for the great comment! I'm happy to hear that my post was not cluttered! That would not have looked good for me.
Debi: Thanks, I appreciate it.
Margaret O: I hope it is useful and that agents will print it out or forward the post to their clients. I would love to think that someone is better able to prepare their house because of my help. Sometimes people just need the guidance, someone to steer them in the right direction. Thanks!
Jeff: Thanks, I appreciate it! Hopefully I can help some sellers understand what they need to do.
Sandi: Sounds like a book, Soup For The Cluttered Soul. Thanks!
Sharon great post. It looks like something out of a magazine. I wish my closet looked like those. This would be great to give to clients too.
Hi Sharon -- Wow. Very practical, solid and sage advice. As a full-time broker/agent, and an ASP, I couldn't agree more with you!
Sharon,
Great advice. I tell all my client that this is an important but overlooked area of the selling process.
Sharon, this is usually one of the first frontiers in moving a seller to action. The longer they've been in the house, the more challenging. This was a great post. Thanks.
Thanks Sharon, great post. I'll do my best to educate those sellers unable to afford staging.
Debbi C: Thanks and you are right... I know the "four headed" glazed over look very well. Hope this helps!
Hal: You know that is a very good analogy, the teen and their bedroom. We say "clean" it and expect them to make it look the way we want it to look. It would be smarter to be more specific in what we expect of them. I think I feel a new post coming on...thanks Hal!
Sharon, We've been consulting with a Home Stager for the last couple of listing clients and it makes a world of difference even in the nicest homes. Great blog.
Sharon, I hope it helps, too! I was so happy to see this post and be able to re-blog it. I also find it amazing when someone hires us but does not listen to our honest, professional advice that we give in their best interest. I guess not everyone listens to their Doctors, though, either!
It really is wonderful to work with someone who does take our advice and works as a team with us to get their home sold. It's a win-win!
Those are some great tips and examples. I usually get some odd stares when I ask people to remove religious items. Those and the family pictures are the most personal things in the home, and buyers do not need to see those things when looking for a place for their own family.
Sheldon: Thanks. That bathroom was in a vacant and adding a few accessories made it much more appealing.
Lydia and Kelly: Thanks for the comments. I appreciate it.
Excellent tips that will work for ALL sellers! Thank you for sharing.
Carole: I know what you mean, you get on a roll. Once you start seeing progress, you become motivated to do more. It is empowering! Thanks.
Elizabeth: You go right ahead and copy it for your sellers. I hope it makes a difference and makes their lives a little less stressed. Thanks for the comment!
Lee and Carol: A magazine, huh? Well, thank you very much! I hope this helps you and your clients. That is my hope and intention.
Chris and Shuki: Thank you, I appreciate it.
Great advice for a seller!
Janice: You are right about that, the longer they have lived there, the more "stuff" that needs to go. And of course they don't want to deal with it, it's too much.
Gabe: Any help we can get at educating about the value of staging, we will take. Thanks.
Yvette and Dennis: I'm happy to hear you have a stager that you value. Staging will make all the difference.
Sharon - this is an excellent "how to" post. I think as agents we always say "declutter" and assume a client will know what that means. This is excellent on how and thanks for breaking it down.
Great post today Sharon, I need to "declutter" and quite honestly procrastinate each day. This will help me when I get to do it. Spring time is a good time I think. Thats only 39 days away.
Portsmouth NH Real Estate
Patricia Aulson
Love you post, but I really don't want to hear it anymore. I threw in the towel of being an unprofessional stager about a year ago and my life is wonderful since. Every single listing gets a professional home stager.....no matter how nice the house looks. It is part of my package and that is the way it is...no negotiations. I don't do photography.....home staging....bills.....accounting.....listing flyer prep.....closing procedures....or commission disbursements. That is not my deal. I sell homes. That is all I do and that is in the best interest of my sellers and me.
H I R E A S T A G E R ! ! ! ! ! !
Debra K: Thank you for the reblog! What a waste of time, energy and money to hire a professional but not take their advice. It's ridiculous.
Donna: Removing the religious items really falls under "depersonalize" but I threw it in there. It can really color the way a potential buyer will look at the house. Thanks for the comment.
Amber and Ken: Thanks for the comments.
Sharon P: Thank you and you are welcome. I hope it helps with your clients.
Patricia: 39 whole days away! It seems like forever. I know it will go by fast, time has a way of doing that lately. You should start that organizing now, a little area at a time and save that beautiful Spring weather for something outside!
Tim: You scared me there for a minute...with the "don't want to hear it" line. As I read on I got more and more impressed. Good for you! I bet your business has reaped the rewards of your "do what you do best" attitude. I may be using your comment in marketing literature. You are every stager's dream agent. Thank you!
Great post and tips! Thanks for sharing!
Myrick: Thank you for commenting. I'm glad you found it useful.
Thank you for posting a wonderful, practical post about this topic! I am re-blogging it! Thanks!
Sonja: You are very welcome. Thank you for the reblog.
This should be essential reading for anyone who is considering selling their home and all agents too!
Great "clutter free!" post!
Craig: Thank you so much! I appreciate your comment.
Good informative post about staging Sharon! . You should do well in the carnival contest. A well deserved star :)
Castellum: Thank you very much. It took me much longer to write this post than any other. I have gotten such wonderful comments, I am very appreciative!
Great Advice! I also tell my clients to get a medium sized box to put their "everyday" uses in so when they may have an open house or have potential buyers come through, they can easily pack their "everyday items" in a box and store it in the garage or something not noticable so buyers won't be looking at unnecessary clutter on the countertops and such. I always tell my clients that Home buyers want to see real estate, not clutter. It seems to work very well for all parties.
John: Thanks! I usually say a laundry basket and take it with you when you leave. But, I like this idea of storing it in the garage in a box. Not everyone has room in their car.
Sharon,
Congratulations on 3rd place!! 1000 Point's, So awesome! Great post indeed, you deserved it.
-Lisa
Congratulations Sharon!! Hopefully people understand that de-cluttering is merely the start for preparing a home for Home Staging. Decluttering does not equate to 'staging' a home for sale. Thanks for representing! Regards-Kathleen G
Hi Sharon! Love it, Love it, Love it! To me this is the #1 no cost, easiest thing a homeowner can do to get their home ready for the market, and you have covered ALL the bases! Very deserving post as a contest winner!
Lisa: I was surprised and very happy! Thanks!
Kathleen: De-cluttering, just like staging, is so misunderstood! I don't think we can define them enough. Thanks for the comment.
Debbie: I love your enthusiasm! Thanks so much, love right back at ya!
Hi Sharon, I'm with you all the way on this one! Buying a house is such an emotional experience. I look at client's homes the way a buyer would, thus I set the stage so that the house 'sells itself'. Buyers love it, sellers love it and I sell ALL of my houses!
Sharon, We're in sync, my dear. I've just subsc. to your blog!
Marian: Sounds like you really get it! I'm happy to hear it. Good for you selling all those houses!
I guess I'm in good company, in sync with you! I subscribed to your blog too!
Sharon, very good and detailed! Now I see why you won a PRIZE FOR YOUR POST! Way to go, girl, keep cranking out those great tips.
Join my new AR group and post your blog at http://activerain.com/groups/virtualoffice
Regina P. Brown
Sharon thanks for the tips. Congrats on winning 3rd place.
Regina: Thank you for the support! I have joined the group and look forward to spending some time later today checking it out.
Rebecca: You are very welcome. Thank you for the congrats!