Working as a professional home stager for the last seven years, I have seen many strange, beautiful, and sometimes even scary sights. Having the unique opportunity to enter the homes of complete strangers and see how they live, is both enlightening and sometimes frightening!
For most of my clients, the number one problem they face when preparing to stage their homes for sale is “clutter”. Everyone has clutter, but to varying degrees. Most people I meet have a normal amount of personal clutter, probably similar to what you have in your own home…toys on the floor, mail piled on the kitchen table, dirty dishes in the sink, or a messy bathroom.
Normal clutter is, well…normal. What’s not normal is a year’s worth of newspapers stuffed into the oven, bath towels shoved into the fireplace, a pile of clothes on the floor so deep and wide that it hides a large built-in desk which lines three walls! I’m talking about closets full of musty old clothes belonging to long-dead relatives, large trash bags filled with old bones hidden in the guest room, and drawers filled with used shoe inserts (the outline of the wearer’s feet clearly visible) eewww.
If you’re planning on selling your home, clear your personal clutter. Be strict with yourself. Clear the magnets and your kid’s artwork from the refrigerator door, clear off your counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms. Clear most clutter off your table tops, dressers, and desks (be especially careful in your home office. Don't leave out personal papers showing bank account numbers, social security numbers, etc.) Pack away personal collections like coffee mugs, ceramic roosters, and lighthouses. You’ll have to pack it all up eventually, when you sell, so get a head start and pack away the clutter now. This will keep a potential buyer from getting distracted by all your “stuff”, and allow them to see the lovely features of your home.
Clearing clutter is the number one assignment I give my clients. It's the easiest problem to fix and it costs you nothing. Too much clutter may be a deal breaker, so clean it up!
If you need help deciding what to keep out and what to pack away, any home stager would be happy to help or contact a professional organizer for help and advice.
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