Now that Spring has arrived it is time for some spring cleaning. Especially if you are thinking of selling your house, now is the time to declutter!! Buyers do not want to buy a house that is being overtaken by “stuff.”
By clutter, I don’t mean newspapers and magazines that are laying around, although paper is a chief culprit—I’m talking about all that stuff that you bought, stored, stacked, thought you would use, thought you would regift, don’t know why you bought it, etc. It’s all the stuff that is stashed in piles in closets, the attic, and in kitchen drawers.
Houses sell faster when they are pared down and orderly so buyers can envision their belongings in the house—not yours. Even if you are not ready to list right away, start packing the little things-the stuff you can live without. As a rule, if it’s smaller than a basketball, pack it up! If you have kids, don’t leave toys lying around in every room. Select a few favorites and keep them in one location such as their rooms, and pack up the rest. Pack up photographs and the kids’ artwork that covers the kitchen cabinets and refrigerators. Too much of this can distract buyers during their tour of your home.
Remember, we all know the market is a little crazy right now, so if you want to get your home sold quickly and for as close to your asking price as possible, take the steps necessary now to get your house ready to go on the market. It will pay off for you in the end.
