Special offer

Decluttering Your Lindenhurst Home Before You Sell It

By
Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY

Decluttering Your Lindenhurst Home Before You Sell It

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times. Declutter before you put your home on the market!

Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. Would you want to buy a home if you can't figure out if your stuff will fit inside it?
No. And neither will the buyers. Cramped closets will make them seem much smaller than they are. Same goes for walls that have too many pictures on it. It gives the room a smaller appearance. That buyer will go down the street and pay more for the other home because that home is not cluttered with stuff.

Since you want to sell your home, get rid of everything you do not use and wear.
Give it to friends, family, charity, and if you have the time, ebay it! There are also plenty of clothing drop boxes all over Long Island and I'm sure there is one near you!

One thing that many homeowners forget, declutter the outside of the refrigerator.
Yes, that means removing the tons of pictures you have on it. You would be surprised how much neater your kitchen will look!

Paint, paint, paint! Paint the interior of each room with neutral-colored paint.
That also gives the room a larger appearance. I know what you are thinking, you don't have the time right? Wrong! Invite friends over and bribe them with pizza and soda. No alcohol allowed until the job is done or else it either won't get done or it will be sloppy. Ever see someone try to paint after they had a few? Not a pretty sight.

Need more examples? Go to a few model homes to see how they have been staged.
I'm not saying to go out and spend thousands on new furniture. It will give you a better idea about how to arrange your furniture better and the use of wall colors. A little help goes a long way.

Keep in mind
that you want the buyers to feel welcomed. You want them to be able to feel they could imagine themselves living there. Once that happens, you will fell that it was all worth your efforts! And believe me, you will feel that way.

Comments(5)

Paula Raymond
Texas Heritage Real Estate - Killeen, TX
REALTOR

If we could ONLY get our potential sellers to understand how important this is. Anymore, I just won't take a listing with a seller who won't agree to get the house in selling condition-and in writing too....I have less listings- but the ones I have- sell, sell high and sell fast! (Work smarter- not harder -right?)

Apr 28, 2010 10:07 AM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Hi Paula, that depends. It's rare to find a homeowner that won't declutter if their home is a mess. Sometimes it's the elderly that can't do it or even afford to do it. I wouldn't sell yourself short if a home just needs some decluttering. How about offering to help them? I'm sure that will work! :)

Apr 28, 2010 10:15 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Great advice for home sellers. Thanks for sharing!

 Spring is blooming.

Apr 28, 2010 10:30 AM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Hi Roy, you are welcome and love your flower photo.....again! :)

Apr 28, 2010 12:01 PM
Toula Rosebrock
Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ - Lacey Township, NJ
Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township,

Hi Jackie:

Each point is great advice!

And when you think about it, it all makes for a cleaner look.

Apr 28, 2010 03:13 PM