Time to clean it up
While the cool temperatures have been hanging on longer than most of us would like, even providing for a late season snow squall. The weather the last couple of days reminds us, that yes Virginia, there will actually be a season called spring this year. With the seasonal change comes the inevitable wardrobe switcheroo and required but much dreaded spring cleaning. Part of our responsibility as real estate agents is to advise a seller about the best way to present their home to the buying public before they put it on the market and this usually entails a “spring cleaning”. There are varying degrees for which this process needs to take place. Some homes require a few minor tweaks others require a full scale clean out crew, either way the results are well worth the efforts.
Having just completed this exercise for our new listing below at 408 Essex Ave in Bloomfield here are some lessons learned.
Ask for help
It easy to say that we have to declutter and depersonalize the home. In theory that is all well and good but if halfway through organizing the first box of stuff you find yourself thinking you may need that rotato peeler someday, it is definitely time for some neutral third party intervention. A professional organizer is a good place to start if your spouse/partner is not that person. Personally I know that I don’t REALLY need to keep that “Limited Edition Pink Floyd Marching Hammers” poster lithograph that I got as a gift with purchase (+$50) sometime back in ‘94/’95 which has never left the tube it came in and has no chance in hell of being displayed, but the suggestion to get rid of it from my significant other seems an afront to my days as a bachelor. A professional organizer will keep you on point and is well worth the money. We are happy to provide you some names.
Don’t make it personal
The goal is to create a space that will appeal to the largest percentage of the buyer pool. Neutral color, etc. should rule the day. Be open to all suggestions and understand that just because you may be an avid collector of something not everyone is. Having once escorted a client through a home that had over 65 clocks(yes they counted them) and a dining room full of Hummels be aware that potential buyers don’t/won’t look past that. When you decide to sell you must absolutely think of your home as nothing more than a house, a commodity to be sold, nothing more. You will always have the memories that were created there but remember the ultimate goal in today’s market is to sell.
All the worlds a stage
A buyers market is a stagers market. Whether is just rearranging some furniture and purchasing some wall art or a full scale lifestyle redesign of a space it is imperative in preparing your home. Once all the stuff is packed away, hopefully offsite, you need to showcase the space. Not everyone is a designer so hiring one to consult with on the project is the logical choice. For out project we engaged Jonathan Wiesmeth from JDW Designs and we can’t thank him enough for helping pull the space together. If you would like to see the space in person there you can visit out open house on Sunday April 19th from 2pm -4pm.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Chris Moran