Apparently we’re supposed to be able to have our homes looking immaculate, clean and clear at all times, so that when potential buyers want to come round at a moments notice, they’re wowed by how much light, space and storage there is, so impressed that they immediately fall in love with the property and put in an offer at the full asking price.
Great theory, but in practice…. Let’s face it, unless we moved the majority of our belongings out of the home and into storage for the duration of the time the property’s on the market, there’s going to be some chaos and clutter. Life goes on and the viewings have to fit in around your daily routine.
Decluttering Services
Clutter and the Real World
For the majority of us the real world, where life is busy, time is short, it’s hard to focus on just one thing at a time and clearing the clutter in a given room or space is a permanent item on the ‘to-do list’. Clutter clearing never quite reaches the high priority status equal to that of going to work, food shopping, paying the bills and all the other household chores, as well as entertaining the kids or seeing friends and family.
Then we decide to sell our home and suddenly clearing that clutter seems to become a priority. The Estate Agent has made polite hints that it might help if people could fully open the bedroom door when trying to view a home, and even supplied a list of companies who might be able to help us clear the clutter, we all know that controlling and minimising the clutter is a good idea when you’re trying to sell.
The majority of us feel more comfortable in our homes when the clutter is under control, a clutter free environement is more relaxing and spacious. This is exactly the type of environment that you want your buyers to see when they view your property. This relaxing clutter free lifestyle is exactly the one that will help them to mentally move in and imagine living in this new space. It’s the concept that you’re not selling your home, you’re selling a lifestyle that can be bought for ‘as little as’ the asking price. The trick is to create a desirable lifestyle. I have yet to meet anyone who wants to buy a lifestyle of clutter, chaos and no storage space.
Anyone who has children, pets, hobbies, friends or jobs is going to have some clutter somewhere in their home. This only becomes a problem when it gets out of control and hinders or prevents you from getting on with enjoying your life.
In the case of selling your property, clutter can become either a huge hindrance for you, or a major bargaining tool for the buyer. And what we’re all trying to do when we put our homes on the market is ensure that there is nothing that the potential buyer can negotiate over.
I know what it’s like. I’m trying to sell my home at this very moment. I’ve had the cracks in the garage wall fixed, the buckled garage door replaced (I suspect they’d have noticed the ‘wave’ effect where the door has been kicked, pushed and rammed open). I’ve put a lick of paint over the whole home to ‘neutralise’ it – I even bought new sofa covers in neutral ‘beige’ just in case someone didn’t like my dark blue suite. I’ve since found that the cat hairs don’t stand out as badly on a beige sofa, which is a bonus.
And it’s working a treat. Within a week on the market I’d had two offers which I proudly turned down – well, £15,000 below the asking price was a little silly in my opinion. I know my home isn’t cluttered. I know there’s no area of ‘bargaining’, and certainly nothing that can justify £15,000 below the asking price. I don’t fear a potential vendor opening cupboards and finding all the clutter stuffed inside or worse, falling out as they open it. I don’t have to ask the Estate Agent to make an announcement like an air stewardess, suggesting that you take care opening the overhead lockers in case something has moved during the flight.
In a nutshell, clutter doesn’t help sell homes. Clutter creates a bargaining tool for the buyer. What many people don’t realise is that it only takes a short time to clear the clutter and keep it under control, helping you get as near to the asking price as possible. So the question becomes – is it worth spending a little time and money on clearing your clutter if it enables you to get a higher offer and quicker sale?
Decluttering Services
Top tips for clearing and controlling the clutter
when your home is on the market.
Remember you’re trying to sell your home because, you’ve decided to move. This means that the potential buyers opinion about the state of your home is the priority not your own sensitivities. You may think that 101 coats and shoes cluttering the hallway is a ‘natural part of a family home’ – but what will your potential buyer think when they open the door? It’s their first impression!
Did you know that people subconsciously judge the size of a room by how much floor and wall space they can see and how much light is in a room? Therefore, the more clutter in a room the less floor and wall space and light, and the smaller that room appears to the buyer. People will pay more for extra space.
Have a sort out and de-clutter BEFORE you start having viewings. People rarely feed back to the Estate Agent honestly about clutter because it can be considered ‘rude’, so just because no one has said the clutter was an issue doesn’t mean it’s not. If you think your clutter MIGHT be an issue, then it IS an issue that you need to deal with.
Storage space is worth a lot to potential buyers especially with homes getting smaller and smaller. So show your potential buyer how to use the storage space you have by clearing and sorting the contents of your cupboards and rooms. For example, if you have a garage and it’s full of clutter, people may have difficulty imagining their car fitting into the garage. Garages add value to a home but only when people believe they’re getting a garage and not a store room (even though they’ll probably use it as a store room themselves). Make sure your garage looks like a garage.
Clearly define the rooms and spaces in your home, as you clear your clutter return items to wherever they belong in your home. If you have a ‘junk room’, don’t expect or assume that a potential buyer will be able to imagine it as another bedroom or study. It you have a family computer in the dining room, could it not live in the small bedroom turned into a clearly defined office?
The golden rule when clearing your clutter is to remember that:
Space + light + storage = a sale near or at your asking price
Clutter + darkness + no spare storage = lots of viewings + no offers
The Clutter Clearing Consultancy run one day workshops specifically on how to clear and control your clutter to get ready for a home sale. It’s for people who are considering putting their home on the market and wonder whether clearing and reducing the amount of clutter might help, but they don’t know where to start. We’ll help them get started, and see the value of clearing the clutter for that all important sale. For more information on these visit www.clutterclearing.net/oneday .
We also have our workbooks that people can use to help them get started and motivated .
For those who would like to act as a clutter consultant, either Estate Agents themselves or working with Estate Agents who want to offer their clients relevant help to clear their clutter, we offer clutter consultant training for people who want to specialise as property clutter consultants. www.clutterclearing.net/training
Clare Draper
Specialist Decluttering Services Consultant
thepropertycoach home staging & affordable interior design
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