Julie Dolan Explains The Perils of a Cluttered Home

By: Julie Dolan
 
CONCORD, Mass. - July 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Okay, what is it about the show Hoarders?  Is it the fascination that people can actually amass, and live surrounded by, mounds and mounds and mounds of clutter, leaving more room for their “stuff” than their own living space?

Of course, this is an extreme example, but for many of us, who have lived in our homes for a number of years, we have now ended up with more belongings than we need or want.  And although to a lesser extent, we too have accumulated too much and need to pair down.

If you are planning to sell your home in the near future, the very first step is to purge that clutter - “clean and clear.”  Your goal is simple:  When potential buyers walk though your home, you want them to see a blank canvas and to be able to envision their own belongings in your space.

Cluttered houses are hard to sell because they tell too much of a story about the current occupants and their history in the home rather than allowing prospective buyers to imagine what the house will look like once they move in with their own furniture, artwork, knickknacks, and family photos.

Here are a few reasons a cluttered home makes a difficult sale:

Poor Accessibility

If a home is hard to move around in, it’s not going to be very appealing is it? Buyers can feel overwhelmed by rooms overflowing with furniture, bulky area rugs, heavy draperies and the like. Get rid of all but the most essential.

Too Much “Personality”

It’s hard to imagine your belongings in a space that is filled with someone else’s personal memorabilia such as family photos (rule of thumb here “nothing with eyes,”) trophies and awards, and collections of bric-a-brac. Stow these important family items away until after the sale – if necessary, rent a storage unit or keep beloved personal items at the home of a friend or family member.  Also, Buyers will never baulk at personal effects organized in bins in the garage either.

And don’t forget day-to-day personal clutter “to do lists,” bills, your calendar, homework, household projects etc.  Rather than shoving it all in a closet, organize these items in baskets so you can easily move them in and out of your house and car to accommodate showings.

Visual Interference

Even if your belongings are neat and orderly, when too much is visually “going on” in a room, a buyer can be distracted from the bones of your house. An overflow of throw pillows, cushion covers, placemats, and even stuffed animals on a bed can pull attention away from the attributes of a room. Put away countertop appliances so that kitchen counters are clean and sleek and don’t forget to stow your toiletries in the bathroom. Putting them neatly in cupboards or closets keeps them handy for your use but won’t overwhelm counters and shelves.

If you’re the kind of person who struggles to differentiate between necessities and extras, it might be wise to talk to your real estate agent for ideas about streamlining your home before a sale. Agents sell homes all the time, and they know what works in terms of how each room should look to present well.

By selling, tossing, donating, and storing superfluous clutter and even some of your treasured possessions, you’ll be on your way to a much faster sale. Your agent can also point you in the direction to companies who you can hire to assist you with all aspects of de-cluttering.

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Source:Julie Dolan
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Tags:Clutter
Industry:Real Estate
Location:Concord - Massachusetts - United States
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