{"id":495,"date":"2021-05-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legacy.showhomes.com\/the-woodlands\/why-decluttering-accelerates-the-sale-of-a-home\/"},"modified":"2022-05-09T00:09:35","modified_gmt":"2022-05-09T00:09:35","slug":"why-decluttering-accelerates-the-sale-of-a-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legacy.showhomes.com\/the-woodlands\/why-decluttering-accelerates-the-sale-of-a-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Decluttering Accelerates the Sale of a Home & How to Implement It Successfully"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly every professional real
\nestate agent or home stager will tell you how important it is to declutter your
\nhome before selling it. “Decluttering” is a universal term for
\nputting your personal items away, leaving spaces clear from things that
\ndistract from the home and its potential for a new owner. The process involves
\nputting away extraneous belongings, making way for clear lines of sight, and
\nremoving visual distractions. Buyers would prefer not to see the things that
\nfeel personal to the seller and messy to the eye. However, in a pandemic when
\nwe are working from home, children are in classes at home, and more of our
\nlives are spent at home, this decluttering is a tall order.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

Does decluttering really<\/i> matter?
\nAfter all, the buyer has a home too, filled with personal items and can
\ncertainly understand. The answer is yes. Buyers are looking for the magazine
\ncover page, the Instagram® image, the HGTV® reveal. As more than a third of home
\nbuyers are now in the millennials age range, they are seeking the
\npicture-perfect home as promoted on social medias and television networks.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

As a professional home stager, I
\nhave seen some cluttered homes that can be deemed “real hot messes” –
\nto use my southern emphasis. Many of these cluttered homes that have been on
\nthe market for months, and by walking into the front door, I’ve tiptoed around
\nitems and personal belongings. The buyers have likely walked the same maze of
\nbelongings when touring the house. I’ve also viewed properties where sellers
\ncollect lovely things that they display on shelves and dressers, in china
\ncabinets, and throughout the house in various places. While perhaps neatly
\nplaced, these items draw curious glances and distract from the property itself.
\nI have also spoken with sellers who refuse to believe that their personal items
\nare clutter, and thus have paid the price with time on market and\/or lower
\nsales price.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

Growing up, my mother had a mug
\nthat read, “Great Minds Have Messy Desks.” The sentiment was
\naccurate, given that my mother’s desk was often very cluttered. She could find
\nanything she needed, but the desk was definitely a mess. Her desk functioned
\nperfectly fine for her because our house wasn’t for sale. However, if your home
\nis on the market, a messy desk or a messy bathroom, for example, could have
\npoor implications when prospective buyers tour the home.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

To some the idea of decluttering
\nis daunting, especially if you are not an organized person, cherish your
\ncollectables, or have a “real hot mess,” in your home. From my home
\nstaging experience, I have learned some tips and strategies for making the
\nprocess a little easier and less intimidating.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

 1.<\/b>  COUNTER
\nCLUTTER<\/b><\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

Start with horizontal surfaces,
\nlike tabletops and countertops – these surfaces should be free and clear of
\nalmost everything. A buyer’s eye should not be stopped from observing a home
\nfrom floor to ceiling with items that interrupt the horizonal flow of the
\nspace.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

In the kitchen, exceptions may be
\ndaily use items (like a coffee pot or bowl of fruit). Everything else should be
\nput away into the cabinets or drawers. Likewise, in the bathroom, no buyer
\nwants to see your toothbrush, used bar of soap, collections of lotions or other
\nhygiene items. Tuck these items away out of view.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

Finally, in living spaces, dining
\nrooms and bedrooms, clear shelving of items smaller than a man’s fist. Anything
\nelse should be carefully analyzed for color and curiosity. If it is odd or
\nbrightly colored, it should probably be tucked away.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

 2.<\/b>  FLOOR
\nCLUTTER<\/b><\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

Aside from furniture and large
\nplanters, nothing should take up valuable floor space. The more floor space is
\nuninterrupted, the bigger the room will feel. (This may even include removing
\nrugs.) Small statutes, umbrella stands, tray tables, baskets, etc. should be
\npacked away. These items conflict with the scale of most rooms and while
\nfunctional for day-to-day use, are unnecessary for the staging of the home.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

Kids’ bedrooms should be free
\nfrom toys on the floor and as much as possible, any other items that take up
\nfloor space. While many buyers give grace for children’s rooms, it is in the
\nbest interest of the seller to remove as much clutter as possible for a room to
\nfeel large and tidy, creating a positive impression for buyers.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

 3.<\/b>  WALL
\nCLUTTER<\/b><\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

Keep art to a minimum. Remove any
\nart pieces that are off scale (most often art that is too small). Art with
\nstrong subject matter should also be taken down. While it may be tempting to
\nthink that a cool gallery wall could be a great way to showcase art, gallery
\nwalls require very careful measurements and installation. In my opinion, one
\nthoughtfully placed art piece per room is generally enough and should be placed
\non the first visible wall when entering the room.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

 4.<\/b>  WHEN IN DOUBT, TAKE IT OUT<\/b><\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

Less is always more when
\npreparing a home for sale. If you are struggling with whether an item is clutter,
\nit probably is. Many people feel that their home will be too sterile after they
\ndeclutter. In fact, clean and clear is quite attractive and allows a buyer to
\nsee the qualities of the home (space, character, amenities, etc.) without being
\ndistracted by personal “stuff”. It may be helpful to engage the
\nservices of a professional home stager to provide assistance and direction.
\nWhen selling a home, it is essential to present the home at its best to
\npotential buyers.<\/o:p><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font>
<\/font><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

Laura Landesman, Owner of Showhomes of The Woodlands, is a certified staging professional in The Woodlands, Texas and a RESA-PRO member. She is passionate about the power of home staging and loves working with Realtors and homeowners in The Woodlands and Spring areas to help sell homes faster and for more money.<\/span> <\/i><\/b>Thanks to Lorelie Brown, Owner of Showhomes Charleston, for her contributions to this article.<\/i><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n


<\/font><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

#homestaging #stagingsells
\n#showhomes #showhomesofthewoodlands #thewoodlands #homestagingthewoodlands
\n#homestagingspring #stagingworks #realestate #thewoodlandsrealestate
\n#staginghomes #springtexas #luxuryproperties #luxuryhomes #homestager
\n#homestagers #propertystaging #thewoodlandsrealtor #stagewithapro #stagingtips
\n#dontdelaystagetoday<\/font><\/span><\/o:p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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