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The Collection of CLUTTER...How NOT To Sell A Home!

A CLUTTERED and DISORGANIZED home pretty much sums up...

How NOT To Sell a home!

Americans...we just love collecting stuff. We can't seem to help ourselves when it comes time to buying things that we really don't need. We are bombarded with infomercials and the advertising of products that promise to make us feel better somehow and we feel compelled to purchase them.

People tend to get real excited when their new item arrives in the mail, but slowly with time, the honeymoon is over. Our new exciting items that we so desperately needed, get tucked away in a corner or a closet and are forgotten. Unfortunately we keep collecting things and they just keep piling up, collecting dust and before you know what hit you, the house is cluttered with all sorts of STUFF!

Wikipedia describes clutter as: Clutter: A confusing or disorderly state or collection; or the creation thereof. Excessive, unnecessary or uncontrolled clutter can be a symptom of compulsive hoarding.

The collection of clutter really does put our home in a disorderly state. It makes us feel overwhelmed and cleaning it up seems to be beyond possible. However, when it comes time to put your house on the market, the clutter must GO! A house FULL of CLUTTER, only distracts potential buyers and does not allow for them to see the homes true potential.

A clutter-free home let's potential buyers know that the house has been well maintained.

A professional home stager can help assist you when it comes time to organizing your home. Whether you are selling it or not, preparing a home for sale can be a bit challenging at times. With the advise and assistance of a professional home stager, you can transform that once cluttered house into a well organized clutter-free environment that is sure to please!

Here are some of my favorite links that can help you get started with the process of de-cluttering your home. Whether you are getting ready to sell your home, or you are just tired of living in a cluttered environment, organizing your home can bring you happiness and harmony. Start de-cluttering today!

THE CONTAINER STORE CLOSET WORLD GARAGE ORGANIZATION 1-800-GOT-JUNK

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For home staging and organizational services in the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley, call the experts at Empire Home Staging Solutions!

EMPIRE HOME STAGING SOLUTIONS
Michelle Pimentel,ASP,IAHSP
(909) 694-9981

Michelle Pimentel, ASP, IAHSP

Empire Home Staging Solutions

1042 No. Mountain Ave. B-117

Upland, CA 91786

(909) 694-9981

EMPIRE HOME

Staging Solutions

Preparing So. California Homes For Sale!

Posted by Michelle Pimentel ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging on 02/22/2009 03:19 AM

Comments (25)

Clutter in the ActiveRain Channel

clutter, organization, decluttering, home staging, inland empire, san gabriel valley, chia pet

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25 Comments on The Collection of CLUTTER...How NOT To Sell A Home!

FEB

"A clutter-free home lets potential buyers know that the house has been well maintained" Well said Michelle! I agree that the entire property has a better feel/look when it is not full of clutter - so very important when it comes time to sell. The containter store is one of my favorites too! Thanks for the other two resources I will check them out.

Michelle, great post! When I first started staging I also worked part-time for one of your links, Closet World. One thing that really struck me from that experience was how clients would look at our advertisements and say "I want a closet like that" - with all the bells and whistles - woodgrain, molding, brass fittings, etc... The ads usually displayed these gorgeous closets with 3 shirts, 2 pairs of pants and 1 pair of shoes... And then when it was done and their clothes back in the closet, they couldn't even see the wood grain or fittings... What they didn't realize is what they wanted was an organized storage space, which the closet organizer helped but usually not enough without some purging... Buyers want organized storage, so I teach my clients that getting ready to sell is a great time to purge all the things they don't actually use - reduce, donate, recycle.

Micjhele, let's get you a show on HGTV.

Good points and funny pics

Great post with perfect choice of pictures! I'm happy to report that last summer I saw that singing fish at many yard sales. People may be buying them, but at least some are making the decision to try and get rid of them!

Michelle: Wonderful post to HELP sellers understand how important it is to get rid of STUFF. So, so true about how we love to collect things...dust collectors. Now as far as the Big Mouth Bass being taken down and put away, I'm not sure. Those things always stop me in my tracks when I am previewing a home and give me a BIG MOUTH ChuCkLE! LOL

Homeowners, IF you need the help of a professional stager, MICHELLE is your STAGING EXPERT!

LOVE the information and the pictures Michelle. I tell my clients that if they CAN'T get rid of "IT" then rotate the items but I would hate to think that they would rotate in chia pets and talking fish. Funny, but not really.

Michelle ~ You are so right! What's funny is that instead of throwing this stuff out we put it in the attic or basement where it's usually forgotten about for years. (I know because I've done it!). Although, I must say the bowflex does come in handy when I'm preparing for a job; the bench part is great for putting the breakables on and the pull down bar holds linens on hangers very well!

Kidding aside though, one year we got so fed up with all "the stuff" we had, we rented a dumpster and went through everything. Whatever wasn't donated or given away was tossed. It was a good feeling afterward to know we lightened things up a bit.

Michelle - great post. I love that you gave some sites to visit to help homeowners out. We often tell them what to do, but not necessarily give them additional resources. Thanks!

Wonderful post and great links! The Container Store my favorite store!!

Michele- The Container Store is a great resource for all types of storage and make organizing your home so much easier!

Joanne- Thanks! I also noticed that the Closet World ads are always showing the closets with one pair of shoes and maybe a sweater or shirt hanging, very funny! I like the three important words you've chosen for your clients... REDUCE, DONATE, RECYCLE! Very well said.

Bo-A show on HGTV...I don't see why not! You got connections? ;) I hope you noticed I added the picture of the BO-Flex in your honor!

Sharon-At least people are selling their singing fishes at garage sales, but the ones who are buying them are starting the whole vicious cycle all over again! ;)

Kat- Thanks for your kind words! I guess in the mountain communities BIG MOUTH is just a little bit more acceptable and can add a bit of whimsy to a game room or den. However, when it comes to selling a home, I don't think you would want him getting triggered off while a potential buyer walks by and have him singing his rendition of "Don't Worry Be Happy"! Even our mountain homes need to be clutter-free and ready for the potential buyer to visually move right in.

Ginger-Rotating is a great idea for clients that just can't part with their possessions! However, I'm with you that if your rotating out Chia pets and fish, it really is time for a major overhaul! ;)

Kathy- I can just picture you using the Bo-Flex as your staging station! Too Funny! Cleaning out the clutter really can give you a feeling of accomplishments.

Great post! What people put in their homes or even hold on to is amazing sometimes :-)

Great post! Things we all need to know, not just for staging, but for living as well!

FEB

Sheila-Glad you like the links! Thanks for checking it out!

Cathy Lee- The Container Store is the BEST resource for organizing a home. I'm sure your home is the most organized home in town!

FEB

Karie- We do see some amazingly cluttered homes out there, and when people are trying to sell, clutter eats equity! Thanks for stopping by!

Cheryl-When we live in a clutter free environment , our stress level diminishes and there is always more time to enjoy the great things in life!

MAR

ToulaRosebrock.com - DianeTurton.net Hi Michelle:

You are so right!

It's the first thing I tell my listings.

Declutter, it's basic and very important. Nice post.

MAR

I can't believe you found my Big Mouth Billy Bass. I'm so happy. Please ship it collect to Russel Ray, 7000-31 Saranac Street, La Mesa CA 91941-3315. NOT!

Toula- Sounds like you know the importance of de-cluttering when it comes to your listings, thanks for visiting!

Russel- I'll send Big Mouth Billy Bass to you, only if you promise to throw him out as soon as he arrives! ;0) I think Zoey even knows better than that!

MAR

Great article and post. The worst placement of exercise equiptment that I have ever seen was a treadmill and exercise bike crammed into the Master Bathroom...it killed the showing.

MAR

Christine & Jennifer- Thanks for visiting! We all love a GREAT exercise room, but I agree that the Master Bedroom is definitely NOT the place for a treadmill or exercise bike! When selling a home it's always best to pack up the exercise equipment while on the market, unless the home offers an extra room specifically designed for an exercise room!

MAR

Michelle, I love the chia pet photos!!! Great post, as usual!

MAR

Thanks Annie! The Chia pets sure are cute, but when trying to SELL a house the Chia's need to take a hike! ;)

JUN

Michelle, the bigger the house, the more junk! Here in CA, garages are stuffed full of useless junk. In other states, it's the attic & basement. My favorite clutter is when you see an exercise machine, which is now being "re-purposed" -- used as a clothes hanger for tons of clothing!

Regina- Thanks for dropping in. You mean the treadmill isn't a multi-purpose machine? (clothes rack,dust collector,space hogger)...makes you wonder why people can't part with them, I think they have every good intention of getting on it eventually! ;o)

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