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Proof: Clutter Does Matter

By Ray Mikus

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Green Light Real Estate

February 27, 2011 03:53 AM

Ok, we've all heard it before. But it's really time to start listening.

I had two buyers in the last week walk through homes for sale in Montpelier and Barre and comment on all the clutter. And not in a good way. Not in the "Wow, there's a lot of stuff, and I LOVE this property!" kind of way. More in the "Hmmm...didn't anyone tell them to get rid of their things?" kind of way.

As a seller, that's not the reaction you want.

And believe me, I'm not judging. My house is a total disaster. As I'm writing this, there's a (clean) onesie on the table that we have to take back to daycare, three slippers on the living room floor, a copy of One Morning in Maine just waiting for me to glue the spine back together, and three days' worth of mail in the box. But my house isn't for sale. I'm not trying to get people to fall in love with a vision of living here.

Selling a house is hard. One of the things that hardest for a lot of people is changing the way they use their house. It's just got to shine. It's got to stand out. It's got to feel loved.

Next week: Why flossing is so important. Not really. I just wanted you to know that I realize that everyone's heard this before.

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Pat Champion

John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL

Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

You are right clutter does matter when home buyer's are looking at properties sometimes it can make or break a deal. Thanks for sharing.

Feb 27, 2011 03:54 AM

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Ray....sometimes it doesn't really sink in until it's time for the homeowner to be a seller!! then they have to be convinced that clutter matters.

Feb 27, 2011 04:02 AM

Shirley Soforic

F. C.Tucker co. - New Palestine, IN

Sometimes, I take a seller to a competing property. That way they can see the difference. Personally, I cannot even see my home office right now. I would have to move from my house to make it presentable. I live with and love my pack rat husband.

Feb 27, 2011 04:06 AM

Mike Carlier

Lakeville, MN

More opinions than you want to hear about.

Clutter has cost sellers a lot of dollars. I love clutter, and so do my most intelligent buyers. It's worth at least ten bucks a pound when we make an offer, and it will all be gone when the intelligent buyer moves in.

Feb 27, 2011 04:11 AM

Kathy Opatka

RE/MAX CROSSROADS - Ocean City, MD

Serving Ocean City, MD, & The Delaware Beaches

I like that sentence... "it's got to feel loved"! I hadn't thought about it before, but it's the perfect sentence to say to Sellers with STUFF!

Feb 27, 2011 04:14 AM

Ray Mikus

Green Light Real Estate - Montpelier, VT

Green Means Go!

Pat--It really can make or break a deal. Some buyers just don't see through it, or knock the price down so low that a deal is unlikely.

Barbara--I agree. Even with all those TV shows...

Shirley--Good idea. I haven't done that, but I at least show interior pics of the competiton. When you schedule those showings, do you tell the listing agent of the seller the purpose of the showing?

E.J.--$10 a pound. I like it.

Kathy--Thanks, and a pile of laundry in the bedroom is not the kind of "loved" we want to see.

Feb 27, 2011 04:37 AM

Art Hademan

Century 21 Real Estate Center - Mount Vernon, WA

Ray,

All of these comments are right on and your comment that we've all heard it before is correct too.

But our sellers have to hear it over and over before they catch on.

This is a redundant business isn't it!

Feb 27, 2011 04:40 AM

yes I do.

Feb 27, 2011 07:49 AM

Art--You're not kidding. You're not kidding. You're not kidding...

Feb 28, 2011 03:30 AM

Proof: Clutter Does Matter

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