You're Moving Anyway Right?
My respected colleague John in his question below, has triggered a great memory for me. When I was selling my last own personal 4 bedroom home in Richton Park, Illinois, I made the effort to de-clutter.
This meant I seriously thought about what I could do to make my 2500 square-foot home look even more spacious and appealing. I had to force myself to throw away or give away possessions I was not using, or were not a treasure to me.
Next, I began boxing up everything I planned to move to the 5100 square-foot dream home I was building in Frankfort, Illinois. I began to store the boxes neatly in my garage. 
Previous moving experience taught me this was a strategic way to reduce the time charged by Movers. This organization technique permitted me to label every box and coordinate how the Movers could more efficiently get every box from my garage directly to their truck in my driveway, and from their truck to every room once we began moving into our new custom built 5 bedroom home. 
The Movers appreciated I spared them some additional stair climbing associated with a Quad-level sytle home.
Boxes were lined up according to the floor plan of the destination home to make the process easier on the Movers. I found Buyers did not mind discovering the boxes in my garage as they toured my home. In fact, it was an extra motivation for them to make me offer.
They could see I was seriously motivated about moving. They saw I was very detailed in my efforts, which reflected on how well I maintained my home. This simple technique help me to get the price I needed, and for my home to sell within the time I needed. 
More importantly, because I rid myself of all the excess, when I unpacked I did not have to throw away anything I should have thrown away when I first started packing. I saved my back and myself from any additional stress. I am grateful for the experience because it has helped me to educate my valued Sellers on how to effectively plan their move. 
You're Moving Anyway Right?...so box it up and store it.
Whenever meeting with a seller during a listing appointment one of the many discussions is what the seller can do to better prepare the home for sale. At times the home is very well staged and organized and will present itself perfectly with nothing additional needed.More often a homeowner has filled the home’s space with furniture, collectables and a plethora of personal items. This is normal for most of us but it doesn't always help in selling your home.
My suggestion is simple..thin out furnishings, de-personalize and think as a minimalist. I mean you're moving anyway right, so why not box it up now and store those items in the garage or off site storage. I have at times had a seller say this is still my home and until it sells my stuff stays just how it is. While that is certainly true, the attitude and approach may cost you a lengthy time on market or potentially less net funds. I have had to pass on listing a home where the seller was unwilling to heed this simple and sound advice.
Sellers have expressed a buyer may not be able to see much of the garage, while that too is true most home buyers are much more interested in the living accomodations than the garage space. I am not discounting the garage at all just prioritizing it. As your Realtor, I would much rather see boxes of stored items neatly stacked in the garage than your stuff filling every nook and cranny of your home, I know the buyer would agree. I hear the buyers comments I know!I am a homeowner as well with plenty of personal items around but before my home goes on market it will be largely void of those items in order to show ample space and light. Hey you're moving anyway right? So box it up and store it.
Albuquerque Homes and Lifestyle Blog
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John McCormack Owner/Managing Broker, e-PRO
505-980-4576 / John@AlbuquerqueHomes.com
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