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Swing Open the Closet Door

Door number one What's behind door #1? What's on the bookshelves? In the washing machine? In the fridge?

Inquiring minds certainly want to know.

When viewing potential homes to purchase, buyers want to explore every inch of the home that may become theirs. Some clients will uncertainly, feebly, and politely ask me whether they can open this door or look inside the cabinets. When assisting buyers who want to find the right home in Northern Virginia or D.C., I always encourage my clients to probe, prod, and pry throughout the entire home.

Don't go in the underwear drawer

Okay, so the seller's underwear and socks drawer is off limits -- it does not convey with the house. However any door, cabinet, or major appliance is fair game. If it's attached to the house and/or is personal property that conveys with the home, buyers have a right to check it out (and the home inspector is obligated to examine these things). How can you know the size of the closets, the depth of the cabinets, and the space in the refrigerator without first opening up the doors? Open away.

Important advice for home sellers: if you don't want it seen, stash it away. If it is out in the open, you can be guaranteed that a potential buyer will see it. When preparing your home for sale, please hide away the following items:

firearms, knives, and other dangerous weapons
drugs (legal prescription medications and any illicit items)
personal items of an adult nature (books, magazines, toys)
embarrassing photos or pictures

You might also want to put the mean dog in its cage.

Buyers should feel safe and free to roam about the house. I encourage buyers to try to ignore the furniture, books, photos, etc. and concentrate on the home (the size of rooms, the condition of the floors, the appliances, the layout).

However, human nature is curious.

Don't let the skeleton in the closet ruin your sale

Don't let that revealing item ruin your sale. Take the skeletons out of the closet.

For more tips on preparing your home for sale, contact Brian Block or visit my Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website.

If you are in the market to purchase a home, I'll help you swing open that closet door.

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 02/23/2008 07:11 PM

Comments (74)

northern virginia real estate, dc real estate, staging, preparing home for sale, brian block

74 Comments on Swing Open the Closet Door

FEB

2008

Brian, many buyers are reluctant to open closet doors. The feel it's prying. I say, if your going to buy a house, you should know what the closets look like. But you do give good advice to sellers.

I always try are be ahead of my clients as we walk a property just in case one of those embarrassing items is out in the open. I don't know how many times I have quickly thrown a bath towel over a pile of dirty laundry sitting in the middle of the floor or quickly flipped over a magazine left sitting out. I try to explain to sellers that buyers are judging you and the way you live as a reflection of how the house has been maintained. may not be fair but buyers think if you cant get dishes in the dishwasher you have not taken care of house. Agents call ahead to show it pays of in your favor... sellers get a chance to try and pick you.

Hi Brian,

I offer to open up doors, closets, pantries, etc. for the buyer. I think sometimes they feel more comfortable with me opening things up...

Have a nice weekend.

Michael A. Caruso

It's odd that some sellers preclude buyers from looking in garages, outbuildings. barns etc, Most of the time the buyer would only take a brief look anyway, but v]being told "not to" is a turn-off that could cost a sale.

Brian - As a stager I always recommend staging the closet spaces, sometimes it is followed and sometimes ignored. However, as a seller you are selling every inch of your space and if potential buyers see your items stuffed and crowded in a closet they are going to wonder if they will have room for their things.

Buyers DO look in closets and cupboards. I advise homeowners to stage the actual room first then work on the closets, cupboards, etc. But the extra effort to get the closets cleaned out are well worth it! SEE PHOTO ABOVE POSTED BY SANDRA.

Off the record, I LOVE a clean closet. If there is such a thing as a closet fetish, I have it!

Reminds me of a showing I had once, the REMARKS said, wonderful home, totally updated. I was with a single guy, we hit the front door and right before our eyes was a bra on the staircase rail. It did NOT get better as we toured the home.

Brian... it sometimes amazes me looking at the appraisals of homes that people are selling or those that are refinancing. I can understand about being messy..... but some have been disgustingly dirty. See any skeletons lately?

FEB

2008

Hi Brian,
Buyers should and do look and some times what they see is embarrassing and/or disgusting.

Brian, So So So true. You really gave the consumer and other Realtors some great advice!

Good tips. Closets and storage are a premium most homes in Hawaii and people almost always want to see how big they are.

At My listing appointment I bring two unused boxes. After everything is signed I tactfully instruct the owners to fill two boxes a day one to go to good Will and one to go to where ever they are moving. If they start the process now then when the offers come they won't be so overwelmed. Of course, it is part of my method for decluttering and often once they start the two boxes become 5-10 a day which is all the better. It also makes them focus on their goal of selling and positions them firmly in where they want to be not where they are in their heads ....this way, that not often happy conversation about price reduction is easily tackled because the excitement about moving is secure in their minds. It works for me... and closets are the first to tackle... smile

LOL, I think this is very timely. I was just out showing property and I opened a closet door to see "personal under garmets" on the floor. This is really NOT the way to sell your home...

Brian, This is so important, so many people can not look past the clutter & mess, whether its the over-stuffed closet or the spaghetti splattered microwave. The bottom line is the buyer needs to emotionally connect and if they can't imagine themselves in the home because its a mess, it isn't going to happen.

Brian- Like you I encourage the buyers to look in closets and behind doors, I often even open them for them as they can be reluctant. So far the worst surprise was when I opened a door and had roaches fall all over my arm. Yuck!

Brian - Is that a shot of your closet? You make some wonderful points. Thanks.

Great points, some time you take a chance on opening doors.

Good points, Like me I am sure you have seen some crazy things people have left out in there home that was listed.

OH the things have seen "left out" in the open..... Oye!

Organizing the closet and storage space is so important. Especially if you are dealing with a small space such as a condo. If your storage space and closets are bursting with stuff... Potential buyers will think there is not enough space!

(Last week- I saw huge walk-ins with 10 items hanging - that looked a bit silly too!)

Brian - This post made me think back years ago to an agent who was caught rummaging through a womens dresser looking at their underwear. The guy obviously had issues big time. He got the name "prince of preview" because every time a new listing came on the market he would be calling to go look. He was actually caught in the act and fired from his company. He was out of Real Estate real quick.

Brian - great points, and great supporting photos! The first thing I say when I have a new buyer out for the first time is, "Don't be shy about opening closets, cupboards, drawers, etc." They may be a bit timid the first house or two, but as time progresses, they have at it!

Brian - great post - where did you get all those bra and panties???? That was sure an attention getter! Thought it was going to be a Victoria's Secret ad -

Great idea to explain to home sellers that every fixture of the house is fair game for buyers inspection.

Kathy

FEB

2008

BRIAN S.: Thanks for your comments. If you were buying a car, you'd open the trunk and the hood and the glove compartment. Why should buying a home be any different?

ERIC: I've done the same thing as you with trying to hide certain items as we walk through the home. While these things don't have a bearing on the house themselves, certain embarrassing or revealing items can in fact ruin a sale.

MICHAEL: I often do the same and sometimes find myself opening every single door for my clients as we walk through the home. At the beginning of a home search some clients are timid, but as we progress they start flinging open the doors themselves.

RICHARD: I agree. It makes it seem like the sellers are hiding something. Like a dead body.

SANDRA: Thanks for your comments and the pictures. They truly tell a 1000 words.

KRISTINA: A well-organized and tidy closet definitely shows well. I don't think one needs to be overly obsessive compulsive about it, but keeping things neat certainly helps the appeal. I can always tell if the homeowner is in the military by peeking in their closet -- they've got every shirt, shoe, and jacket in the perfect place.

I also encourage buyer clients to look in every space. Unfortunately, we will have to remind the seller to "police" the areas they think no one will look in.

MISSY: What an embarrassing but probably laughable situation. I'm sure you and your client always referred to that house as the "bra on the railing" home.

JEFF: It amazes me that some people put their homes on the market without even cleaning up first. I've walked through some homes that look like a battle zone. In all price ranges.

CYNTHIA: Thanks for your comments. I am sure that we've all had this experience at one time or another.

MATTHEW: Thanks for your comment and compliment.

RANDY: Thanks for your comment. Storage space and closets are important features and buyers are interested in the space.

ANNIE: Thanks for your comments. Sounds like a good plan, bringing those boxes. Moving is always a great time to de-clutter and get rid of things that you don't need. If you are going to be tossing the stuff anyways, you might as well toss it before showing the home, so that it appeals to buyers.

CHARLES: I agree. Not the way to sell a home.

STEVE: Staging guru Barb Schwarz is fond of saying "clutter eats equity." Short and sweet and makes lots of sense. I repeat that phrase to many of my clients.

Great tips. I have seen some sellers who get annoyed when people open closet doors. I agree closets should be staged. Good post.

Another great post Brian! What about PICTURES! If the family has young children - or if everyone is working all the time, I try to have them clean it up and then take up to 16 pictures ( the max for our MLS ) to show what it COULD look like... The closet pictures reminded me that those would also be great motivators for sellers to clean it and organize it - two of the things that give the biggest bang for the buck and are the most necessary to give good impressions to buyers.

Brian, you are really doing some nice posts lately. This one is very creative and cute. I enjoyed it. I should be so creative. I'll have to work on it! Where ever did you get the photo of the underwear! I love it! You inspire us all.

Brian, what a great post! I usually open the closet and pantry doors for my clients until they get used to the idea that it's acceptable. When working with sellers, it's sooooo important to remind them that folks will be looking at these things and to be sure that the clutter they remove doesn't just end up shoved in the closets or cabinets to try to hide it!

PAM: Roaches all over your arm! Gross!

TOM: Not my closet. It would have more skeletons. Just kidding.

VICKI: Yes, you never know what opening a door may reveal.

JOEY: I'm sure that we've all seen some crazy things at one point or another.

JAMES: Very good points. Thanks for your comments.

BILL: Wow! Was that guy in your office? Or just someone you read about in the news?

DEREK: The buyer timidity does indeed disappear after a few homes.

BARBARA: A Victoria's Secret ad on my real estate blog? Nah...

KATHY: Thanks for your comment.

LATONIA: Very true. We let sellers no in advance that buyers will be looking everywhere.

GITA: It's hard to believe that sellers get annoyed. If they don't want it to be seen, hide it away, lock it up, etc.

RICHARD: Pictures can work wonders. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

JEANEAN: Thanks for your glowing praise of this post. I greatly appreciate it.

LISA: Yep, you can't just sweep the clutter under the rug or into the closet. Thanks for your comments and compliments.

I too open up closets and cabinets for my buyers. And pull open the shower curtain as well.

I always hope not to find something to crazy hanging around.I once went to do a cma for a guy who had been left his parents home. We are down the basement and I look up to see hundreds of dried snake skins hanging over the rafters. Gross.. They used to raise snakes and of course they sluff out of there skin as they grow. he would save them and hang them.I was happy to get out of there. You just know there where snakes everywhere in the walls and attic.

I recently visited a home with pink and black lingerie on the bed and in the middle of the floor. The home was listed at 1.8 million. Come on people- at least put it in drawer (but some buyers will look there too!)

Photo of skeleton in the closet is priceless, and spot on for this post. Very Cool.

cheers

Brian...How did you find my skeleton? I thought I had him securely locked in my closet. Now that he's seen the big world he'll never come back home.

It's amazing how little people can tell you about a home they've been in for just a short time and yet are preparing to purchase.

Cheers,

Kathleen

FEB

2008

So important to make the closets feel welcoming too...people just don't understand that if your closet is too crowded for your things buyers will perceive it's too crowded for theirs.

SHARON: The snake thing is creepy. Pulling back the shower curtain reminded me of that famous scene in Psycho.

GINGER: I guess they weren't expecting visitors!

GARY: Thanks for your comment. I appreciate you stopping by and reading.

KATHLEEN: Oh, that's your skeleton? Thanks for your comment.

TERRYLYNN: I agree. A well-organized and spacious closet can be a bonus selling point in any home.

I love this post! You illustrate your point in such a humorous way. Clean it up and put it away, folks!

I showed a house last month where the owner left a sales bag on the dresser in the bedroom. It was black with big lettering:

My buyers got such a chuckle out of it!

He was at a competitors office. He was the butt of many jokes!

KELLY: Thanks for your wonderful compliments. I think seeing that bag would be quite funny.

BILL: Good to know. I can only imagine some of the jokes.

FEB

2008

Brian, that is a very nicely staged undies drawer! Reminds me that mine needs cleaning out!

PAT: Very funny! Thanks for commenting.

Brian - This is very sound advice ! I love the graphics...especially the skeleton in the closet !

FEB

2008

MELISSA: Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you reading and commenting on the post.

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