SELLING YOUR HOME: GET STUFF OUT OF THE HOUSE.

Ok, we know you have lived there for years.  The longer you live somewhere, the more stuff you get accumulated.  So now is the time to clean up and present a different image.  This too is very difficult, but remember it is only temporary. It is time to have the interior look clean and not cluttered.  Yes, all those nick knacks, it is time to put them away, for now.  One of the best methods to do this is to rent one of the portable storage bins, which can be picked up and moved by a firm, then held in storage until you are ready.  This too, is a tough one, but must be done.  Your real estate consultant should be able to provide you with a list of names and place with pricing to both to move and store the items.  You need to get stuff out of the house, in order for it to look bigger and not cluttered. The other things this needs to include are those personal items that do make it your home. 

Pictures of family nick knack’s you love.  All this needs to be moved out temporarily.  The reason for this is to allow the new owner, the opportunity to imagine where their items will go.  That they can see better, the house is somewhat empty or clear of clutter, and they can imagine, their items in the house. This is also difficult to do, but understand, if you have done step one, this is easy.  It is TEMPORARY! It is not permanent.  So relax, clear your mind and get rid of items.  The goal is to have the home appear as a show home.  Not a house lived in, but a show home ready for the new owner. This is also the time to really clean up.  Let’s face it, we all collect things, to a degree.  Some of us are pack rats; others are not.  But ultimately, you live somewhere for years; you have collected “stuff.”  This stuff now needs to be looked at, and decisions made as to whether or not to trash, give away to charity, or keep it.

So you will have step two accomplished and there will be no clutter, or many personal effects left in the home.  Even furniture that will open up the space to appear bigger can be put in storage.  Think how it will look to others, and again; your real estate consultant will assist and advise you of this process.