Declutter, Sell Faster
The real estate market continues to be tricky. While inventory is beginning to rise in some areas of the country, it remains low in others. Mortgage rates, according to current thinking, remain high. Those of us who remember double-digit rates approaching 20% may look on the current terms as pretty good. But, that was long ago and far away. Everything is different today. Compared to rates of recent memory in the 2, 3 and 4% range, anything higher is deemed not worth making a move.
Still, there are times when moving is necessary and certain steps must be taken to get you from here to there, current home to new home. The house needs to be sold, and before that, it needs to be prepared for sale. Even in fluctuating market conditions, popular advice remains consistent. Declutter first.
Together with removing personal items from the public’s view, decluttering is often the first recommendation a home seller may receive from a real estate professional (or well-meaning friend or family member). According to the National Association of Realtors, a decluttered home does indeed sell faster and for a higher price than one not decluttered. A recent survey by Home Light, a technology platform for real estate professionals, reveals a conservative value increase of over $10k or 3-5% for a cleaned and decluttered home. And how fast is fast? Real estate pros put it at over 50% faster. Who would want to give up the chance for more money in their pocket in less time?
Benefits of Decluttering for Home Sellers
Just thinking about decluttering can be enough to produce a whopper of a headache. It’s common not to know where to begin but begin you must. The benefits are too impactful to consider not taking this initial important step to prepare your home for sale. That does not mean, however, that you need to go it alone. Enlist the help of family and friends as needed. A seasoned Move Manager is an expert in all things decluttering, downsizing and moving, and can easily guide you through the process as well.
A decluttered home presents well giving potential buyers a good first impression which can take as little as seven seconds.
Decluttering opens up spaces, often making a room or area appear larger.
A decluttered home lets prospective buyers envision themselves living there and assures them there’s enough space for their belongings.
A clutter-free home allows for possibilities beyond a room’s current use. It’s an invitation to reinvent a space for additional functionality.
A decluttered home gives potential buyers confidence that the house has been well maintained.
A house relieved of its clutter lends itself to better photography and marketing during the selling process.
Decluttering can help pave the way for detaching emotions from the house.
Less clutter means less packing and less spending to transport stuff.
Early decluttering means there’s less stuff to manage, keeping the home ready for viewing. It also helps to meet timeline goals and eliminates last minute stress.
Decluttering before a move is the best way to give a new home a fresh start with only those items you truly need, want and love.
Let the Decluttering Begin
While reducing the amount of visible clutter on countertops, table tops and dressers is important, it is equally important to apply the same process to areas behind closed doors like closets and cabinets. Prospective buyers will no doubt peek into these spaces to ensure there is enough room for their own stuff. Decluttering doesn’t end there, though. Don’t forget about other spaces like a shed, patio or other areas whose primary purpose is storage.
Depending on the quantity of belongings and given an appropriate amount of time, decluttering your home can be a low cost task that yields big results. DIYers can deliver unwanted belongings directly to a donation center or support an organization of choice. It feels good when completed and there may even be a tax deduction available.
Rest assured that decluttering your home prior to selling certainly does not mean ridding your home of all your precious belongings. It is an opportunity, however, to review possessions and make decisions about what is most important and meaningful to you. It shows you which items rise to the top and earn their rightful place in your new home.
Decluttering and purging your home of unwanted items paves the way towards a smooth and successful real estate sale. More money, less time. Yes, please.
Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boxes-on-the-floor-8580732/