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Advice for Sellers – They Are Looking Behind Every Door!

By
Real Estate Agent with Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado CRE# 40005863

Advice for Sellers – They Are Looking Behind Every Door!

 

When listing your home to sell, you should take some time to make sure your home will show in its best light.  De-cluttering is the biggest task at hand and is very important to getting your home sold fast and for the right price.

 

As you are organizing the stuff in your home, be sure to take some time to work on the pantry and kitchen cabinets.  Buyers will open those doors for a look inside.  Especially pantries!

 

Think about the shelves at the grocery store.  All of the products are faced with the labels facing out and everything is in its own section.  You won’t find a can of cream of mushroom soup hanging out randomly with the peas. 

 

I have noticed the smiles on buyers’ faces when they open the pantry and find everything organized and nicely arranged by product.  Many times, I have heard comments from buyers about how organized the seller is and how they must have cared nicely for the home. 

 

An organized pantry also sends the message that it is adequate in space.  No one wants to open a pantry door and have a bag of marshmallows fall to their feet.  If your stuff doesn’t fit nicely in the pantry then it is time to purge.

 

Remember, buyers will open every door.  Knock their socks off!

 

Need some tips to organize your pantry?

 

Take everything out of the pantry and throw out expired items. 

Group items by product type before re-loading the pantry.

Insert stackable shelves for smaller items (like soup cans).

Face all labels to the front.

Take items out of bulky boxes and put them in containers. 

Put seldom used items at the top of the pantry.

 

Only buy what you have room for.  

 

 

Comments(15)

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Yes, buyers look behind every door, and I have to tell on my mom... Canned vegetables were on sale this past weekend for a ridiculously low price. I told mom I didn't have room in my pantry to stock up and she said "don't you have room in a spare bedroom in the bottom of a closet". Umm, No, Mom, I don't!!!

Aug 31, 2015 11:05 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Belinda - this is an excellent point since habits are transferred.  An organized kitchen should mean a well maintained home.

Aug 31, 2015 11:17 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Belinda Spillman that's great advice for potential sellers....prior to listing the property, declutter....and that means in closets, pantries and drawers.... everything needs to be in order.....if there's not a place for it, get rid of it....

Aug 31, 2015 11:18 PM
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

I love a completely arranged pantry.  It's the only way to find anything.  Probably just the OCD kicking in.

Aug 31, 2015 11:22 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Belinda ---- yes, buyers do and should look -- a well-organized closet, drawer, cabinet and garage that gives a not-so-subtle hint to a prospective buyer that this home's attractiveness goes beyond the surface --- it reflects an overall feeling of being well-maintained.   

Aug 31, 2015 11:52 PM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

People are NOT shy as they go through a home, Belinda Spillman.  Sellers need to be aware of that .. and prepared.  And so do the agents that show the homes.  For their own protection and that of their client ...

I like the analogy you made about the grocery store.  Definitely gets your point across!

Gene 

Sep 01, 2015 01:57 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Belinda - Great advice for an often overlooked touch that can make a big difference in the way buyers view the home. They will definitely be looking.

Sep 01, 2015 07:12 AM
Will Nesbitt
Nesbitt Realty at Condo Alexandria - Alexandria, VA
Nesbitt Realty is a family-run brokerage.

For CO Real Estate, call (720) 550-9159 for Belinda Spillman, today.

Sep 01, 2015 07:20 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Hi Belinda, So important to edit all of your collections, including those cans.  The cupboards need to look like they can accommodate a family and the closets must be clutter free to make a house feel well taken care of!

Sep 01, 2015 08:30 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Belinda there have been countless times over the years where buyers do look in the pantry and other closets! Buyers are impressed when the home is neat and orderly. It shows that the seller took care of the home and buyers want to know that. It really does help sell a home - big time!

Sep 01, 2015 09:53 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Organizing a pantry is the little thing that gives the seller an edge... 

Sep 01, 2015 10:39 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Belinda. Great job with your post and advice that everyone should pay attention to, when selling or getting ready to sell a home.

Sep 02, 2015 07:14 PM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

An excellent post, Belinda Spillman. I don't know about the marshmallows though. I might want to pick those up and crack open the bag.

Sep 04, 2015 02:15 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Love the post.   I don't have a pantry, but you would be amazed at how organized my cupboards are.....

Sep 07, 2015 05:41 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

When the time comes for me to declutter my garage Belinda Spillman I'm going to have to rent a skid-steer loader.

Sep 07, 2015 06:03 AM