THE 3 “D”s OF SELLING YOUR RICHMOND VA HOME

Declutter, Depersonalize, Disassociate

You’ve made up your mind. After weeks of discussion and analyzing the market, you’re ready to list your home and get it sold!  Now what?

First, find a reputable real estate agent. Your agent will walk you through each and every step of the process and make sure everything is done perfectly and just how you want it. Part of their task is to help walk you through the three “D’s” – Declutter – Depersonalize – Disassociate. These are very important in making your home appeal to buyers. To show them this is a house they can make their home.

DECLUTTER – definition: To remove unnecessary items from (an untidy or overcrowded place); to simplify or get rid of mess.

DEPERSONALIZE – definition: To render impersonal; to deprive of the sense of personal identity; to ​remove from a person, organization, object, etc. the qualities or features that make them particular or special.  ​

DISASSOCIATE –  to end your relationship with or connection to someone or something; to separate yourself from someone or something; to separate, detach, disconnect, sever, or cut off.

In a nut shell, this means you have to clean up all the mess and clutter, remove unnecessary decorations, pack away anything that makes your home uniquely yours, minimize and neutralize the entire house. It might seem daunting, but will be totally worth it in making your home sell quickly and at the price you want to sell it for.

But before you start, the most important, and the hardest “D” must be faced, Disassociation.  Yes, this is your home and you have many memories here, you have made it uniquely yours. But now it is time to move on and make another house uniquely yours. After all, that’s why you have decided to sell. It’s now time to make your current residence a place someone else can see themselves living in. They need to see a blank canvas they can paint their picture on and you need to do the best you can to stop thinking of this as being your home.

Start in one room at a time. This is the perfect time to access everything you have accumulated over the years. Start with the items you no longer need and don’t want to move to your new home. Seriously look at the item. If you haven’t used it in a year, if it just sits there and catches dust, if you’ve never really liked it or just didn’t want to throw it out because it was still useful, give it away! There are many charitable organizations that will pick up your donations right from your front door. And it’s a tax write off!

If you don’t want to throw it out or give it away, then pack it away. Put those photos of your kids, your grand kids and Aunt Sue, in boxes. Take your knick-knacks off the mantle, coffee table and end tables; remove all magazines, newspapers and books that may be lying around.  Take down Grandma’s welcome wreath on the living room wall, the grapevine leaves encircling the bakers rack in the kitchen, your plate collection covering the dining room walls, and hubby’s stuffed fish in the den. Pack up anything you want to keep, but is not necessary for day to day living and will make the room look open and clean.

If you don’t have room in the basement, attic, or garage, to store the boxes, rent a storage unit and take them off site. Think of it as getting a huge jump start on your packing for the big move!

If the color of paint on your walls and woodwork may not appeal to the majority of buyers, consider painting. They won’t be able to envision their furniture in a room that is a unique color. Change out the drapes if they are another “uniquely yours” style. White or beige, are always good choices and work to neutralize a room.

Once all the decluttering, depersonalizing and disassociating has been taken care of, your agent can give you steps on staging your furniture to maximize space and make this house a show case! Before you know it, your house will have sold and you’ll be moving into another home you can enjoy making your very own!

If you are thinking of selling your Richmond, Virginia home, agents like those at the Murray Morris Group know just how to make your home shine. Contact them on their website, www.themurraymorrisgroup.com. They’ll be happy to give you a free consultation.