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Laundry room lesson - clean, clear & clutter contained

When selling a house it's important to look at every room of your house through a buyer's eyes as they would see it upon previewing.

Want a simple way to see it from their perspective? Take a photo of it and see for yourself. It isn't always what you expect.

This is a small laundry room below but obviously functional.

While living in a home we all know how our laundry rooms can get, especially if the chores get backed up. When selling however, we need to make a big effort to keep every room of the house as neat as possible for showing, including the laundry room. Basically no one wants to be reminded of chores associated with owning and living in a house while home shopping. Especially they don't want to see YOUR dirty laundry or smell it for that matter.

Simple changes and corrections can go a long way. No money was spent here, just a little "sweat equity".

In less time than it took to wash and dry a load of laundry, this room went from cluttered to clean and the room on the right gives buyers the fresh clean look they want to see in the laundry room they intend on buying.

Keep the laundry room:

clean
clear of laundry (dirty or clean)
clutter contained to cabinets or decorative containers and baskets.
Simple changes make a big difference in the eyes of the buyer.

You can almost play a game of "what's the difference with these two pictures"?

Which photo would you rather have on your online presentation?

laundry room before laundry room after

Home staging does not have to be expensive, but the small changes you make can yield big rewards.

Get the "buyer's eye" perspective from a professional home stager.

A cost effective consultation can give you all the information you need to do the job yourself and know which changes pay the biggest profits.

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Posted by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager on 04/14/2008 01:22 PM

Comments (34)

laundry room, home, staging, collin county, consultation, cleaning

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34 Comments on Laundry room lesson - clean, clear & clutter contained

Great post! Many times the laundry room is overlooked. It is nice to see an example of the RIGHT way to show that room!

Kristina, KFM Staging & Design - Minnesota Home Staging

04/14/2008 01:37 PM

by Kristina, KFM Staging & Design - A Minnesota Home Staging Company (KFM Staging & Design)

I agree with you very much so.

Stage laundry rooms with:

White Fluffy Towels (tri folded or rolled)

Fresh Powder Laundry detergent (Helps maintain a fresh smell in the room) I like to remove it from the store box it came in. Shop at Bed, Bath & Beyond or a store like that for a porcelain bin or box.

I like to use humorous photography. Check out my post from a while back

http://activerain.com/blogsview/451967/A-photo-for-you

04/14/2008 02:55 PM

by Michael Greenslade (Prudential California Realty)

Thanks for reading Kristina and Michael!

You're right Kristina, the laundry room is often overlooked.

I will go check your post too Michael.

04/14/2008 03:08 PM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

Karen, I so agree with you! I have seen clients use the laundry room as a storage closet and dog kennel. Can you say...love that smell??

04/14/2008 08:30 PM

by Patty Hill, BS, ASP, IAHSP www.stageitnow.net (www.StageItNow.net www.TheStagingMart.com)

So easy to see how a little time and attention can really go a long way when presenting a home for sale.

04/14/2008 10:05 PM

by Tori Lynn Ross - Omaha's Premier Home Stager (Ross Designs, LLC)

I know at home, I have my laundry room decorated, so to speak, so It will be a more inviting room to do the laundry, HA!. I even have a lamp on the counter, people are always suprised to find lamps in rooms like that.

04/14/2008 11:31 PM

by Cindy Bryant~Houston's Home Staging & Home Stagers By Redesign Etc.~RESA~ASHSR (Redesign Etc., Inc.-Texas)

Karen, good point, sometimes it's the little things. People spend so much time doing the big things and they make a BIG difference, but the little things (like frosting on the cake) make it desireable. Thanks for the reminder.

04/15/2008 12:10 AM

by Terrylynn Fisher StagersLIST.com Buy Stage Sell (Diablo Realty)

Karen ~ Useful tips here for all of us to remember ... usually this room gets overlooked, but it shouldn't when the home is occupied. Thanks for a helpful post!

04/15/2008 01:09 AM

by Maureen Bray ~ Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR (Room Solutions ~ Staging that Sells Homes!)

Thank you all - Patty, Tori Lynn, Cindy (love the lamp idea), Terrylynn (yes frosting!) and Maureen - for reading and commenting to the post

04/15/2008 06:56 AM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

I like the touch of the added door to contain the clutter (or visual static). Great tips too!

04/15/2008 08:28 AM

by Gabriele Campbell, ASP, CID (D F Campbell Ventures Group Inc.)

Great post. When buyingr a home, nobody wants to be reminded of dirty laundry!

04/15/2008 10:14 AM

by Amy Prouty, Prouty Home Staging, Brush Prairie, WA (Prouty Home Staging)

Here's what I did to my laundry room......

Black walls, track lighting, and a new glass door with "laundry" decal......! Wasn't really sure about the black walls until I did it, now I really like it. The other nice thing about doing the 'laundry' decal was that I can tell my guests that the powder room is right across from the laundry. I always hate opening pantry doors, closet doors, etc...when all I want is the powder room......<G>!

04/15/2008 03:50 PM

by Tom Scanlon ASP/RESA HOUSTON HOME STAGING & KATY HOME STAGING (HOUSTON HOME STAGING)

Wonderful before and after photos...nice job and women ( and some men also ) always look closely at the laundry room. Nice job.

04/15/2008 06:58 PM

by MARY LOU TEAGUE HOME STYLE AND STAGING KNOXVILLE, TN (HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC )

ooops gotta run and clean up my laundry room -just home long enough to get it dirty.

04/15/2008 09:39 PM

by Kathleen Lordbock (Re$ale Design) ~Minnesota Home Stager~ (Re$ale Design & Home Staging)

Gabriele you can see the door was indeed added when there was none before - one of the "I spy" things! I like that term "visual static".

I don't even want to be reminded of laundry if I'm not selling Amy ;-)

Very cool laundry room Tom and very clever to mark that clear door! I think I'd have cracked my head a few times if I had that in my house - I'm always in too much of a hurry. Thanks for sharing.

You're right Mary Lou it is an area people do look at and have feelings about (good or bad) best not to make it memorable in a negative way.

;-) Kathleen

04/16/2008 07:32 AM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

Very nice Karen, I actually love doing laundry rooms and often in the houses we do for our upper end clients there is just so much space we can do a pet center as well. Kym

04/16/2008 10:11 AM

by Kym Hough, Staging Consultant , Staged to Sell, SF Bay Area, CSP (Staged to Sell & StagersLIST.com)

I'd love to see a "pet center" Kym - that's something I haven't done before but sounds great. I just did a blog on pets recently too. I love animals and know that selling can be stressful for them as well and we need to consider them in the process too.

04/16/2008 02:22 PM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

I guess you can tell I don't have kids..........hehehe! Actually, we installed the glass doors so I would walk by and remember that I'm actually doing laundry( I leave the lights on as a reminder! I'm at a point where I walk into rooms for one reason, and end up doing something else entirely, so laundry had a habit of staying damp a little too long. Now, I have laundry that's been damp for three days, and a really hot light bulb, because I just plain forgot my new method!

<G>

04/16/2008 11:50 PM

That last comment was from me.......I forgot that I was using AOL, and thusly was not automatically signed on!

Gotta go........the laundry is done!

Happy Staging Y'all!

04/17/2008 12:11 AM

by Tom Scanlon ASP/RESA HOUSTON HOME STAGING & KATY HOME STAGING (HOUSTON HOME STAGING)

I agree with TerryLynn . . . Hmmm, seems I do that alot! By all means don't forget the icing on the cake!

04/17/2008 04:54 AM

by Karen Dembsky, Atlanta Home Staging (Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA)

Great Post Karen. Yes, Every area inside and outside of a home must be examined thru "buyer's eyes".

04/17/2008 07:40 AM

by Asheville Stagers- Leslie Godbold (Asheville Stagers - "We do more than make pretty places!")

Hi Karen,

I have to say most homeowners look at me with disbelief when I make suggestions to stage and tidy up the laundry room. However when the changes are made, they get it!

Love the clip art of Ben!

04/17/2008 07:56 AM

by Cynthia Bartch - Redesigned Spaces - Georgia (Redesigned Spaces )

Tom I do the same thing, I go to one room for one purpose and end up doing something else (is it attention deficit or creativity at work?)

Icing is my favorite part (if it's good - if you have one in your area, you've GOT to try Sprinkles cupcakes icing - I think I like it better than the cupcakes) Karen D

You know I love that term Leslie

It makes you kinda want to do laundry when the room is clean - you want it to stay that way - it's amazing how much better we feel when we're organized Cynthia - and yes "Ben" will be folded nicely in the pocket when the house sells ;-)

04/17/2008 08:04 AM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

Karen,

Thanks for fixing up my laundry room; you're the best! LOL

Mike in Tucson

04/26/2008 10:08 PM

by Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC)

anytime Mike! ;-)

04/27/2008 07:36 PM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

Karen: I use to take photos of my kids rooms (clean) so they know what I expect from them when I say "Clean Your Room". I forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder.

04/30/2008 03:39 PM

by Tara Colquitt, Consumer Credit Advocate (The Credit Depot)

That's a great idea Tara!

05/01/2008 08:59 PM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

Karen, that goes for the garage also...if the guy can't see the back wall, he may be turned off.

05/01/2008 09:08 PM

by William Feela Whispering Pines Realty (Whispering Pines Realty)

Thanks for reading and commenting William - yes garages are a biggie too. I'm seeing so many trends towards the "garage as another extension of living space" - there's so many great ways to update that area too - and it doesn't have to cost a fortune either. Clean and neat go a long way!

05/01/2008 10:12 PM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

Karen- I think hgtv has changed everyones view when it comes to buying and selling.

05/04/2008 07:17 PM

by Sharon Hampton (Re/Max Around The Mountains)

Yes- the laundry room can so easily be forgotten (on purpose). This makes me want to get into my own laundry room and fix it up!~ Rob's wife- Kristen

05/04/2008 07:21 PM

by Rob Muller - ABR, ASP, RCC, CNHS, LREA Cherokee County Real Estate (ReMax Town & Country)

You may be on to something Sharon.

:-) Kristen

05/04/2008 07:53 PM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

Karen: Another one of your great posts that seems to have gotten by me. Keep the info coming, Chica. Your helping all of us.

06/03/2008 08:53 PM

by Michelle Minch Home Staging Pasadena & Los Angeles, CA (Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA)

We've all been busy my Michelle - a good thing!

06/03/2008 09:20 PM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

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