Sell your home for more with a little de-cluttering

Spring is a very popular and ideal time to put your house on the market.

Unfortunately many home owners are often unaware that their “treasures” are cluttering up the house, making it harder for the potential buyer to envision the home as their own. A room’s decor that might be considered quaint or chic by one person may be old-fashioned or even unattractive to someone else. When a prospective buyer enters a home for the very first time it needs to be inviting, free of clutter and have an open flow; so clean, simple lines are always a good rule of thumb.

To get a more objective opinion consider asking a friend, a realtor or even a home stager to walk through your home with you and try to look at every room from a buyers’ point of view. Have a notebook handy and room by room list what needs to be done to get the space ready (i.e. de-cluttering, painting, cleaning, etc).

De-cluttering is usually the first step in order to make the painting and cleaning process easier. Keep in mind that closets, cupboards and pantries should feel spacious and neat, so be sure to take out all that is not necessary. Schedule small chunks of time to work on each space to keep from feeling overwhelmed and arm yourself with boxes and garbage bags for donation and trash. As you begin this process think about each item and ask yourself if you still need it, use it, love it, and most importantly, if you will have use for it in your new home.

Remember that purging through your belongings before you move will not only make your home sell more quickly, but will also save you in time and mone, since you won’t have to move or unpack any unwanted belongings. Items that you are planning to keep in storage at the new home should be placed into labeled totes, packed and ready to move. This will make it easier for you in the new home, since no unpacking or purging will be necessary. While showing your home you may want to store these totes neatly stacked in the basement or similar storage space.

For further tips and inspiration you may want to browse the web , or if the thought of de-cluttering your home seems too overwhelming you may want to consider hiring a professional organizer to help with the process. Visit www.napo.net to find an organizer in your area. It is a small investment that will earn you a bigger return on the sale of your home and as an added bonus, peace of mind.

I always welcome thoughts or questions, so please feel free to leave a comment below.