SELLING HOME....? Preparing your home for sale before staging!
Here's a scenario we'd like you to consider:
All things being equal, two homes…
There is a raised ranch style home listed at $500,000 it is full of clutter and it is difficult to see in the storage areas as well as the overall home. The furnace room, basement and closets are all full of years of collecting.
The second home has the same layout and is listed at $500,000 as well. This listing however, is clear of clutter, minimal furniture and it's very easy to access all the areas one would need to inspect.
The first home, you don't actually see the clutter when you first walk in, but then you open the front closet. This is where your three kids, you and your partner will be hanging your coats. The door only opens part way because something is caught and it's too full. There's a thought in the back of your mind that says “maybe this house isn't big enough".
As you enter the kitchen, which isn't a bad size, you notice the counters are full of appliances and other items. Now you're thinking, there doesn't seem to be enough kitchen cupboards. When you enter the bathroom the counters have the usual toothbrush holder and soap dish, however the three curling irons and the blow dryer are taking up 2/3 of the counter. You start to wonder how your family will get ready in the morning,you take a quick peak and find the space under the sink is packed full.
The next stop into the master bedroom, which is beautiful, however when we open the master closet it is packed. There is a lot of doubt that your clothes are going to fit in here, basically because you can't see farther than a foot into the space.
Heading into the second home, this listing provides clear rooms, decluttered storage opportunities and lots of SPACE.
New buyers are looking to see if their “stuff" is going to fit into this home. If they can't see the space because of your stuff, how are they ever going to imagine their stuff in there too?
In the second home, closets and counters are free from excess things. Hallways and furnace rooms are easily accessible. Showing this home is bound to be successful.
Listing a home needs to be done at the right time. The right time for the market, the right time for you and the right time when considering the state of your home.
You want to be able to walk through a home you are considering buying with ease, to be able to look at things that are important, and not wonder what is under or behind all the stuff.
That is where we come in, call us before you list and we will help you declutter, get rid of what you no longer need and prepare for your next move in a smooth and efficient way.
It's not my stuff, but should I keep it? Is it wrong to let it go? A question so many are faced with when they downsize or lose a loved one. There is no right answer with how to begin the process of letting things go. There are steps you can take, and things to consider, to help make the process seem less daunting and stressful. First, start with what's easy. Go through the home and remove garbage and recyclables. Talk to family members and close friends to see if there are items they could use or want. Tip: Make sure that everyone understands that any items they want/need to be picked up in a timely manner. Next, look for items that are not sentimental and evaluate them. Are there some you want to sell? If so, be honest with yourself. Ask yourself if the items you want to sell will give you the return in time and effort to do so. Items you do not plan to sell, donate. Now, you are left with the items you feel you need or want to keep. If you have space for these items, great! If you don't really have space, but you just can't let them go yet, that's ok. That feeling could change in time, so pack them up and put them in a safe place to be revisited in the future. What you don't want is to overwhelm your space at home, so be honest with yourself when going through items. Consider taking a picture of the item. If it is a set of dishes, keep a piece of it, maybe a serving plate, or tea cup and saucer. Most importantly, if the whole task is just too overwhelming, or you just need some extra help, there are professionals out there to help.
WE EMPOWER YOU! So many people approach us in every manner you can imagine. Email, Phone, FB, LinkedIn or walking up to us in a parking lot after we get out of our company vehicle. And the question they ask?
"What do you do?"
Our Answer...We Empower you. It's not just about organizing. We take that overwhelming feeling and self doubt and, right beside you, we battle against it.
Do you walk into your home and ever feel like turning around and walking out again because there is so much "stuff" in your space?
We take the time to understand why you're feeling this way and use our 20 years experience to bring your space back to you.
Is there a place in your home that is not being used the way you want it? A spare room that's the "dumping ground" for everyone in the family?
To be honest...we make things right in your world. That's what we do. We streamline, organize and bring back that smile.
Are your parents wanting to downsize and do not know where to start?
We do, we love helping people go through all their memories and precious things they have collected and decide what to move on and what to keep.
Is the tsunami of paper coming into your home about to cause a major disaster?
Setting up systems in every part of your space so that you can maintain an organized and stress-free home. That's what we do.
Have you just been left with an estate to clear up and have no help to do it. Are you thinking what do I do with everything, is anything worth selling, who do I get to sell their home, and the list goes on.
Estates are a challenge for the one left in charge for many reasons. Call us, we will be your third party and relieve as much stress as possible. We are confident we have the answers and if not we will find out.
Can you do this yourself? Yes, quite possibly you can. Can you stay on task, not get distracted by everyday life and get the space "cleared" in a matter of hours instead of weeks? Maybe not.
Can we? Yes! Because we love our jobs and we're good at what we do. We Empower You!
