Prospective buyers will form an opinion within seconds and it may be difficult or impossible to change their minds. Buyers want a house that is spacious and in good condition and where they can see their family living.
Clutter Can Create the Impression That You Didn’t Take Care of the House
Piles of magazines, children’s toys, knick knacks and overflowing closets can make a house seem messy, disorganized and even chaotic. Potential buyers may assume, rightly or wrongly, that if you didn’t keep your house clean, you probably didn’t do a good job of handling maintenance, either. They may assume that behind all the clutter, there are serious defects that they can’t see.
Too Much Furniture Can Make Rooms Seem Small
Lots of furniture, or pieces that are so large that they overwhelm a space, can make rooms feel much smaller than they really are. If you have lots of chairs, ottomans, or large pieces of furniture or exercise equipment, put some of them in storage while your house is on the market. Creating more free space will instantly make the house seem larger.
Personal Items Can Make It Hard for Buyers to Think of the House as Their Own
When people view a house they’re thinking about purchasing, they want to see if they can envision themselves living there. It can be difficult to do that if they’re surrounded by photos, children’s toys and other items that belong to another family. Depersonalizing your home and putting those types of items in storage can help potential buyers imagine their own family living there.
Decluttering Will Make It Easier to Prepare Your Home to Sell
If you get rid of clutter, you may discover problems that you were unaware of before. That will give you an opportunity to make repairs before you list the house, rather than find a potential buyer, have problems be discovered during the home inspection,and have the sale get delayed or fall through.
Decluttering can help you get your house ready to show. Having less furniture and other items around will simplify the process of cleaning, painting and staging.
Getting Rid of Clutter Can Help You Sell Your Home for a Good Price
When potential buyers view a house, they will be guided by their first impression. By removing unnecessary belongings and depersonalizing your house, you can make it seem larger and more spacious and help potential buyers see it as their next home. Removing clutter can also create the impression that the house is clean and well maintained. That may help you get an offer equal to the list price, or it may lead to a bidding war and allow you to sell the house for more than your asking price.
