Happy New Year! The start of the year brings many New Year’s resolutions.
Most resolutions are broken within the first few months or just never get off the ground, but if you are thinking of selling your home in the next few months, a popular New Year’s resolution could help in more ways than one.
Getting Organized
Getting organized is one of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions. If you are planning on selling your home, it is also one of the best ways of getting your home ready to list. Buyers want as much space as they can afford, whether it’s living space or storage space. Decluttering opens up your home, and will make it look and feel more spacious. A well-organized home lets the buyer see the space it has to offer without trying to look past all the clutter.
Go through your home room by room, and try to see it for the first time through the buyer’s eyes. It might be a good idea to take a photo on your cell phone before you start. Look at the picture, and see what stands out to you. Is it the features in the room, such as the bay window or the stone fireplace? Is it all the pictures on the wall, or the photos on the table?
Does the room feel open and spacious? Instead, is it cluttered with knick knacks and cramped with all the furniture? Taking a large chair out of a small room can change the entire feel of the room and open it up. Taking all the knick knacks off the mantel will draw the buyer’s eye to the decorative stonework around the fireplace rather than to the clutter on top.
Remove most of your photos. I am not a believer that all photos need to be removed. You want it to look clean and tidy, but not sterile. Having some family photos shows it is a family home with happy memories. If you have a wall with a bunch of pictures on it, take down all but a couple of them, and don’t forget to patch up the holes left behind.
The kitchen—This is the best room to declutter, as this is one of the top rooms that makes the buying decision. You want to show off how much workspace there is and how much storage it has, with all the cabinets. Put away any small appliances, such as coffee makers, toaster ovens, blenders, etc. Pack away any saucepans or serving dishes you haven’t used in the past six months and probably won’t use in the next few months.
Arrange what you have in your cabinets and drawers so it all looks neat and organized with plenty of room. Go through your pantry and pack away any non-perishable goods you won’t use in the next few months. Neatly stack what is left, and turn all the labels facing out. Trust me, buyers will open cupboard doors and drawers to see inside, especially in the kitchen.
Closets—You want your closet to look like there is plenty of room for all the buyer’s clothes. Pack away any clothes and shoes you don’t need, leaving some open space on the shelves and on the rails. Organize your closets so everything is neatly folded, hung or stacked. Purchase some wicker baskets or plastic tubs to keep everything neat and tidy.
Remember, you are selling your home and moving. So, going through your home and packing items before you list not only helps you sell your home, but also gives you a leg up on packing. Don’t forget to mark all the boxes with a detailed list of what is inside. Stack the boxes neatly in your garage or shed to keep them out of the home while the weather is cooler. Don’t forget if you are doing this coming into the warmer months, make sure you leave boxes with delicate items that cannot withstand our Arizona heat stacked neatly in the home, or rent an air-conditioned storage unit.
There are staging companies to help you stage your home and I also offer free staging for all my clients. Please contact me if you would like to set up an appointment for free staging advice.
Lorraine Ryall is a multi-million dollar producer and recipient of the Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle Award. For more information, call (602) 571-6799, or visit her website at www.Homes2SellAZ.com.