Must read: Valuable information for all sellers and their Realtors.
Learn how too much clutter can cost you money & time.
Thanks Deena Cottingham, GreenApple Staging and Images
In a recent Pre-Market Consultation, I recommended to a home seller that they begin the process of moving and packing now. They were moving for a job transfer and were hesitant about having to do this since their employer would pay for the movers to pack later. It didn't initially make sense to them why they should go to the hassle of packing when they were going to get that service for free.
I'll tell you why . . . because it will mean dollars in their pocket!
Would you be willing to start moving out of your home a little early if someone was going to pay you to do it?
Well, that is exactly what a buyer will do! They will pay you to pack up your stuff.
In HomeGain's latest survey (2009), they published the results of the top 12 low-cost DIY home improvements for home owners to invest in prior to going on the market. And guess what the number one Return on Investment is?
Cleaning and De-cluttering!
They estimated the effort at a cost of $200, with a $1500-$2000 price increase!
As a Home Stager, I often recommend that home owners remove extra furnishings and packed boxes from their home (after they've cleaned and de-cluttered). If they can borrow some space in a friend or relative's basement or garage, it will greatly improve the "show-ability" of their home.
That is a tricky enough sell to a home seller, but they balk e
ven more if it means having to fork out money to rent storage space!
It still pays to make this investment, though. In Calgary, it is possible to rent a storage unit for about $200 per month, or find a private garage for rent for even less. Weigh that against the cost of reaping those couple of extra thousand dollars on the home sale, or having the house sit on the market longer, and tell me that it's not worth it!
Organizing expert, Monica Ricci, says that buyers are looking for homes that will help create simplicity in our hectic lifestyles. The more organized a home is, the more attractive it is to buyers. Order is serenity. Overstuffed closets, drawers, cupboards, basements and garages all scream out to buyers that there is not enough storage space and adds to a chaotic feeling about the home.
There's no doubt about it . . . selling your home and moving are A LOT of work! But you've got to deal with your stuff sooner or later. The good news is that the sooner you do . . . the more it pays off!
So what is leaving your clutter costing you??
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta©GreenApple Staging & Images, 2010
All information is copyrighted and may not be used, borrowed or copied without written permission.
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Mary.....this is so very important to homeowners prior to marketing.....less is better.....
Barbara--I agree less is better. I just need to convince my Hubby even though we are not selling. Life would be less complicated with fewer things. Have a great weekend.
Hi Mary,
Great tips and good information.
Mary...Your post is so accurate. It is very difficult for a prospective buyer to see through mess and clutter and appreciate what the home has to offer---even if it is perfect for them. This activity pays great ROI!
Mary,
I have a couple of vendors that really need this explained to them.
Mary, You're so right. Seller's only get 1 chance to make a good 1st impression.
Steve
Love the comment - "Order is serenity". It does influence a potential buyer when previewing a home.
Don--Thanks for commenting here today.
Carra--It is all about buyer perception. How they perceive the seller's home will determine whether they are interested in the property and at what price.
Terry--I am glad that this post is helpful for you.
Steve--Just one chance and it better be a good impression, right?
Sharon--If I have resistance from the seller, I try to get them to 'wear' the buyer's glasses to view their own property.
Mary - just this morning I went through about 100 MLS listings and I coudln't believe how many agents just didn't give a hoot about presenting a home properly. Clearly they didn't counsel the clients on getting rid of junk clutter. They do their clients no good by markeing a property like this online - I wouldn't show it unless I really really had to.
Mary,
This information should hit every seller right between the eyes! I love the, "would you do it if someone paid you to?" - Right on!!!
Anna--Either they don't give a hoot or they don't know how to talk to their sellers about the importance of decluttering their homes. Perhaps they have hired the wrong agent??
Jane--And hopefully the point hits home, too. Thanks for popping in this afternoon.
Mary,
You are right on with this re-blog. It's critical to de-clutter. Also, why do you want old crap in your new place? Excellent post!
All the best, Michelle
Michelle--I have to chuckle at your wording old crap. I'd love to be able to convince my Hubby to get rid of a lot around our house even though we are not selling. It is good to see you again.
Thanks Mary, missed this previously and it is a very good post. Sometimes its a wall bashing exercise explaining how important decluttering is!
Hi Mary. Thanks for the re-blog! I'm starting to get that spring clean-out fever myself. Stuff accumulates way too quickly!
Mary,
Thanks for reposting. I had missed the original. This makes perfect sense.
Brian
Hi Mary, this is indeed a major issue, and the first thing I tell my clients. Box up everything you don't need and move it out of here before the listing comes out. Then, clean up every morning like your mother is coming to visit ;-) . . . thanks for reposting this.
Great way of presenting a very important point in home selling. Thanks Mary.
Excellent Re-blog Mary. You seem to pick ones that garner more exposure!
Super Re-blog Mary. I don't understand how some sellers expect top dollars for their house when it is not appealing at all. Home buyers make their decision within ten seconds whether they are going to buy your house or not. So if home sellers want to sell their house,make it look good. It's not that hard. Thanks for sharing this Mary. I am definitely going to check out the latest Home Gain survey.
Oh my, oh my, Frank, I have to reply to your comment first because that was ME for so many years when my mother was coming to visit. At 87 my mother still has the cleanest, neatest home. Perhaps I should have hired her to meet with my sellers.
Mary - When we moved away from Houston, we had lived in our home for 15 years. Talk about stuff building up over the years! I vowed never to let that happen again. We've been partly successful. We'll see where we are in another 10 years! :-)
Irene--Don't forget you could control the clutter by . . .
Just suggesting an alternative to add some humor to the day.
How nice to see you this moring.
Mary
Oh dear, I just realized that all my reponses from earlier today did not submit. Ugh, I hate tech issues. Let me start over, by saying I appreciate everyone's visit and the time it took to comment on this re-blog.
Al & Peggy--I love your terminology wall bashing to describe what I have always called beating my head against the wall. Thanks for stopping by.
Deean--Excellent post with very important message for all sellers and agents which is why I wanted to re-blog it. You have a way with words.
Brian--I am glad you caught Deena's post on the re-blog.
Diane--Thanks for the compliment but the glory belongs to Deena. If I had more time I am sure that I would find others with good messages, too.
Lanre--10 second rule, perhaps that it how we should explain the importance to sellers. There will never be another opportunity to make that first impression.
Thanks for visiting everyone.
Mary, I usually try to read Deena's blogs because I love them....I must have missed this one. I can tell you we have some of the worst pictures on the MLS that would look so much better if they picked up first! This is a wonderful article, thank you for the re-blog!
Carole-- I, too, like to read Deena's posts. You are so right about the MLS photos, but I know agents who use PhotoShop to block out the junk. Misleading.