5 Ways to De-Clutter your home and bring serenity to your life

1.Remember…  one drawer at a time.  You can’t eat an elephant in one bite and you can’t rid yourself of years of accumulated stuff in one sitting.  Pick a drawer, any drawer and start tossing or donating what is no longer  needed or wanted.

2.Your mantra:  Do I love it?  Do I need it? Must I have it?  Ask yourself these 3 questions with every object you pick up.

3. Make 4 piles:  a donate pile, a toss pile, a keep pile, and a to be determined pile..a word of caution about the TBD ile.  You’ll need to repeat your mantra again.  The TBD pile needs close scrutiny.

4. Have the kids do the same with toys.  Toys have a way of reproducing on their own…isn’t that amazing?

5.  Have a garage sale or rent a table at a flea market.  Someone will love your stuff and might be willing to pay for it.

Revel in the joy of less stuff.  Just think…less cleaning and dusting. You’ll find more room to move around in to enjoy your space.  You won’t spend hours looking for things.  You’ll have more time to enjoy your freedom. Stuff eats time and when selling your home…stuff eats equity.  Serenity now!

5 ways to get yourself psyched for a de-cluttering marathon

De-cluttering and organizing a home for sale is a daunting task. My home selling clients stare at me in horror when I suggest that the collections, the personal objets d’art and the excess furniture have to go in order for the house to sell.  “Clutter eats equity.”

Here are 5 tips for starting the de-cluttering process:

1.  Psych yourself up for the move.  Think of it as packing up for the day you are on to your next place.  When you get to the other end, there will be so much less to unpack.

2.  Take pictures of your house.  Remember,  this is how buyers will see your home.  The open toilet seats, the piles of dirty laundry, the toys, the mess …all of it.  You had no idea it looked like that, did you?  Kind of like when you gained a little weight and someone took your picture. When you saw it you were horrified but it was just what you needed to start a new eating plan, right?  Post a few photos of the trouble spots  on your fridge to remind everyone that mess is something that will need to go while the house is on the market.

3.  Pick a closet, a cupboard, a drawer just to flex your unused de-cluttering muscles.    Try getting rid of a few things…you might like it!  Donating is a wonderful thing.  It feels good and it’s good for you.

4.  Do you love it?   As you start your de-cluttering plan, ask yourself that question over and over about every item that you don’t truly need.

5.  Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Start slow and gather momentum.

I like to think of de-cluttering as a crash diet and exercise plan for you and your home.  Fortunately, unlike a crash diet, this one is healthy. Unfortunately, you don’t have months to get ready for bathing suit season and to run a marathon.  It must be done quickly.  But it can be done, one step at a time.

Declare your independence from clutter

Of the 15 properties I showed last week, two received offers.  8 of the properties were a cluttered mess.  Can you guess which ones now have buyers?   That’s right, the ones that were clean and bright with a minimal amount of STUFF.  The founder of Staged Homes, Barb Swarz has a saying…

“Clutter eats equity.”

In other words, the more clutter in the house that you’re trying to sell, the less value in the eyes of the buyer.  Think about it…if you can’t see a house, why would you buy it?   Buyers aren’t purchasing your furnishings, your collections, your personal photos…they’re buying a house. When you go to a clothing store to purchase something, you”ll  look at it and if you like it you,you’ll usually try it on to see if it fits.  In a cluttered house with rooms crammed full of furniture, the buyer can’t try it on.  They don’t know if it will fit or if it looks good on them.  And guess what?  A house can’t be returned, like an item of clothing.  So they leave the store, without buying.

Of all the staging dilemmas I deal with, clutter is the #1 enemy.  Homes languish on the market for months when buyers can’t see if the house fits their lifestyle.  Next week we’ll talk about how to de-clutter and simplify.  True, there will be some pain and it won’t be easy, but I promise there will be lots and lots of gain…

Not one, not two, but THREE offers after staging!

When I entered the screened entry door of the golf course home, I could feel a tired, slightly neglected vibe.  Yellowing newspapers had piled up along the front door along with dead leaves and debris from the unusually hard winter.  A rolled up notice from the homeowner’s association was stuffed inside the door handle. Unlocking the door, the echo of tile floors and a sea of white walls greeted me.  Although the house seemed very clean, the vibe continued.  As I opened closet doors, hangers remained from the previous owners.  A half full cruet of wine vinegar sat on the kitchen counter, along with a soap dispenser and some well-used sponges.  A Santa tissue box on the master bath sink stared back at me, even though it was late January.   Lovingly stenciled fish on the master bath walls gave me the impression that the previous owners had a sense of humor.  Dead plants on the patio showed that the former owners liked to garden a little.   Baseball magnets were an attempt at patching the holes in the screen left by errant golf balls.  A left behind barbecue grill showed that the owners liked to cook outside.  Why isn’t this home selling, the real estate agent wondered?  It’s priced great, the neighborhood is outstanding, the golf course view can’t be beat!  It’s clean, it’s in move-in condition…why is it still on the market?  And so, she called me.

In my opinion, prospective buyers couldn’t see themselves living there. If I felt the vibe, buyers did, too. After clearing out the evidence of the former owners and furnishing the home with clean, bright neutral furnishings and accessories, the home (which was neither a short sale nor a foreclosure) received MULTIPLE OFFERS.  That’s almost unheard of in today’s difficult FL real estate market.

Here is what was said by the realtors:

” I actually had showed that property twice before and staging it really helped. I thought I was in a different house when I walked in”, wrote Kelley, an agent who wrote one of the three offers to purchase.

THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS, THE PROPERTY HAS A CONTRACT WITH 3 OFFERS SINCE YOUR STAGING!!! wrote Linda, the listing agent.

This is why I’m a professional home stager.  I love my job!

It’s all in the details Part 3 Window Treatments

Back in the 50′s and 60′s many people hid their windows behind heavy, ornate draperies.  It must have been a remnant from our cave-dwelling ancestors.  I can still remember my mother’s burnt orange pleated drapes in our living room.  We never knew if it was day or night in there.  The curtains went well with the plastic slipcovers on the furniture (but that’s a subject for another blog).  My mother decided to that it was more important to protect the furniture and rugs from fading than it was to have a happy, light-filled house.

I have yet to meet a buyer who says they WANT to buy a dark house.  In fact, a house with light is usually tops on the “must have” list.  Yet, time and time again, I see homes that have all of their windows covered up with outdated, fussy draperies in all sorts of hideous florals or ghastly colors.  Then there are vertical blinds…yes, I get it.  They don’t collect dust.  I sure do wish someone would invent something new, though.  Vertical blinds are just not attractive.  They can be necessary sometimes, especially if a homeowner has large sliding glass doors.  But, they make no sense whatsoever for smaller windows.  When the verticals are open you feel like you’re looking through prison bars.

I am not anti-curtain.  Modern window treatments can add polish and draw attention to beautiful windows and views.  But if the window treatments detract from the home, for pete’s sake, take them down!  Sheers, roman shades and simple panels in neutral colors are so inexpensive.  You can buy sheers at Big Lots for $5.00 a pair…no kidding!  When showing your home, have your real estate agent open all of the curtains.  Dark houses are difficult to sell.  You can bet that the lower the light, the lower the offering price.

Below are examples are what not to wear for windows.  The sad part is that one of these homes has a beautiful golf course view with a glorious screened porch.  The other has a fantastic deck and gazebo with lots of colorful flowers and an outdoor seating area.  Only one of the photos below is a winner.  Can you guess which one?

It’s all in the details part 2…the key to a sale might be the front door

Who cares about doors? How about buyers?

While the realtor is fumbling with the lock to show your home, buyers have plenty of time to stare at the front door.  That means a good look at amateur paint jobs, rust, decayed weatherstripping,and tacky door decor.     The front door may not be a true predictor of what lies beyond, but it sure does set the tone.  The first front door has chewed up weather stripping from possibly an unruly puppy.  There is lots of rust,  and lumps and bumps from a quickie (and ugly) paint job.  The leftover hooks from door decor will not come off.  Right from the get-go, potential buyers know they will need to replace the front door.   That’s just within the first 5 seconds of seeing the home.  Now what does the buyer think?  Hmmm…let’s see, how about $20,000 off the asking price?

The next front door isn’t so bad, but the faded floral wreath indicates that the home has been vacant for a long time.  The door is dirty, scarred and just plain unwelcoming.

Moving on to the bedrooms we see more closet doors off the track.  Another door is practically in splinters from kitties, doggies or other unknown animals (or maybe even kids). There’s a bedroom door that has a leftover  DO NOT ENTER UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH poster…very inviting.  The mirrored closet door in the master is tarnished with gold brass trim…Am I painting a picture?

Then there are the sliding doors…they either won’t open or they stick. You have to be Hercules to open them.  How in the world are you supposed to get outside to enjoy that beautiful patio or pool?  And the dirt and grime on those doors?  Do you have eyesight problems or is it just filth?
Make no mistake..doors say a lot about your house.  Fixing doors is easy and relatively inexpensive. Your neighborhood Home Depot and Lowe’s carry a mind boggling assortment of doors and they will even install them!  Yes, I know, I know…but why should you fix doors when you’re not going to be living there anymore?  You might be living there a lot longer than you’d like if  buyers aren’t interested.  Or you might be shocked at the low offers you receive because you didn’t attend to the details.  A small investment in the details pays off with less time on the market and more attractive offers. Let’s get those doors in shape when selling your house

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It’s all in the details…new light fixtures are an inexpensive fix

Nothing dates a house like outdated light fixtures.  Tarnished “brass” dining chandeliers with smoked glass scream 1980′s.  Brady Bunch era swag lamps tell buyers that you haven’t done any updates since you bought the house 30 years ago.  That foyer chandelier is the first thing buyers see.  Outdated lighting causes buyers to wonder what else is “original.”   Maybe the roof?  Maybe the air conditioning system?

Home improvement stores sell great low cost fixtures that are easy to install.  Even I can do it.  And when I say low cost…I mean low cost.  I just staged a house and I replaced one of the above mentioned chandeliers for $49.00.  What a difference!  It created a whole different feel in the dining room.  So live it up and spend a few bucks on updated brushed nickel or bronze fixtures when selling your home.  The devil is in the details.

High quality photos sell homes…

Preparing your home for the camera is no different than getting ready for a family portrait.  You wouldn’t put on your dirtiest tank top..the one you wash the car in, would you?  The kids aren’t going to be wearing their flood level pants they wear to play in the mud, right?  You’d all be wearing a nice, clean outfit.  Your hair would be combed.  Ladies, you’d probably wear a little make-up.  You’d smile for the camera and you’d  proudly display the finished portrait .

The same applies to homes on the market.  On camera, every flaw shows.  Why would you want potential buyers, to see your toilet seats up, your piles of dirty laundry, overflowing garbage cans, or cluttered kitchen counters?  A house with clashing wall colors  is exaggerated by the camera, too.  You name it, the camera sees it and so does the buyer house-hunting on the internet.

Staging your home for internet photos should be #1 on your  list of things to do.  Setting the scene for a portrait of your home will attract potential buyers and enthusiastic real estate agents who can’t wait to show your home.  A professional stager can draw the eye to the most attractive parts of your house for photographs.  The more buyers you attract, the more quickly your home will sell.

A staged bedroom ready to be photographed for internet photos

Would you buy this home for full asking price?

Can you believe that someone would actually put their home on the market looking like this?  It’s like going out on a first date without shaving, showering or putting on nice clothes.  Some sellers actually think that potential buyers can see past this and will make an attractive offer.  WRONG!

I see these kinds of homes all the time on the internet and live and up close.  Let me just say that not one of them has received an offer that was anywhere close to the asking price.  And worse still…we’re talking months on the market and several price reductions.

As a professional stager I try to help sellers get real about what it’s going to take to get their home sold.  It’s always better to get the home looking its best before putting it on the market.  Otherwise you’re asking for lowball offers.

Hot pink walls…do they work when selling your home?

These are actual photos from a home on the market.  The sellers had a really hard time understanding why I kept requesting that they paint the rooms a neutral color. This wasn’t even a little girl’s room.  This was the guest room and attached bath.

Strong colors are not a benefit when selling a home. If you love bold and sassy…save it for your next home where you can really express your bold taste and sassy personality.  Homes on the market must have broad appeal.  Boring vanilla is better than bittersweet dark chocolate when a house is for sale.  Hard to believe, isn’t it?  But when a potential home buyer sees three coats of primer and 4 coats of eggshell paint in their future, they just might walk. Painting is a the most inexpensive fix there is.  So, boring is better when you’re selling.  Trust me…be a bore when it comes to color when your house is for sale.

Barb at the beach

Home Sweet Home Stagers, Inc.