Clutter comes in all different forms, and here are some examples

When I go to list a house, I always mention to the seller to declutter their house if I see it is needed.  Every now and then, I see some great homes without clutter at all!!  Everything in its own place and there is a place for everything, such wonderful home owners like that.

But occassionally, there are some home owners need some reminders from us to clean their house, put things away, keep decorations and personal pictures to a minimum.  That's okay, not all of us are great housekeepers, we have to work all day long, we are tired, we don't have too much energy left to do what we supposed to do to get the house cleaned.  I truly understand it, I really do.  And that's why it is important to get things done to a minimum, so you don't have to dust and keep things tidy all the time.

Once you decided to sell your house, your mind set should be in moving mode.  There are things you can do to get yourself motivated to sell your house, how to make it pleasant for buyers to tour your house.  You want them to see the good side of the house, don't you?  Let me tell you what I have seen in the past and if you so happen fall in one of these criterias, do something about it.  DECLUTTER it.

1. Too many of the same objects in your house.  For example, too many personal pictures on the wall, and they cover at least 3-4 walls.  Tons of toys that your kids own, from inside the house to all the way to a full display in the backyard.  You are not running a daycare, are you?  Too many big floral arrangements on every wall, every room, every counter space you have.
2. You may not think people will open your linen closets and see what's inside, the truth is they will.  They want to know how big is the closet, they want to know how much room for storage.  If you have too many things in it, clear some out.  An over stacked closet makes the buyer thinks the closet is too small, but acutally it is you who put too much things in it.  It is a good time to get rid of some things that are old and you don't use them anymore.
3. Many oversize furnitures in a tiny room.  Or is it just too many big furnitures in one room, and the room is not tiny actually.  Why do you need 2 sofas, 3 recliners, 1 love seat and side tables all in between the furnitures?  Buyers can't see how big the room actually is, all the furnitures are in the way.  Maybe it is time to get a storage unit?  Maybe some of your family members can use those extra furnitures.
4. The kitchen and the laundry room.  These 2 rooms are very easily overlooked.  You really don't need 2 baker's racks, some more other oversize furnitures in the eat in kitchen.  Especially if there is no formal dining room in your house, you need to showcase that eat in kitchen can actually be good enough to sit down and eat.  If you can barely open the laundry room door, it is time to see what is in the way, clean it out, too.
5. The most common mistake I see is home owners love to put oversize furnitures in their house, and they make their house seem much smaller than it actually is. 

Show off the space in your house, a good flow in a house is much better than a 3,000 square feet home with tons of unused furnitures, and things all over the place.  It is not going to do any justice to your house at all.

If you are thinking about selling your house, and want a complimentary CMA and a no obligation appointment with me, please feel free to call me at 901-488-9590, I will be glad to talk to you.

photo courtesy : flckr.com by romana klee