Clear out the clutter

When selling your home, one of the first and most important items on the “to do” list is decluttering. In our Staging Consults we tell our clients that a good rule of thumb is to remove 1/3 of your items in your home. But, in some cases, it could mean more than 1/3, especially if you have lived in your home for a number of years.

Why is Decluttering so important?
The majority of today’s home searches start on the internet, which means your photos are your “first showing”. This might sound surprising, but you only have about 30 seconds to 2 minutes to capture the buyer's attention and get them to schedule an appointment to view your home. Cluttered homes, bright wall colors, large scale furniture making rooms appear small are all things that can quickly deter a buyer's interest and lose a prospective buyer.

Balance is the Key
They say ninety percent of buyers have a difficult time walking into your home and removing your things to picture what their furniture would look like in its place. This is why staging has become so prevalent in today’s housing market. A well staged home helps the buyer envision living in the home. On the flip-side, I have seen people take decluttering too far and remove too much furniture, making the home feel a little cold or sterile.

Ask us!
If you're thinking of selling, consider a staging consult before you begin! A staging consult with a trained professional can help you determine what to box up, how to position your furniture, what color to paint, if painting is needed and take the guess work out of your decisions. A room-by-room checklist can eliminate stress and set your home up for success!