September 2010

Getting Organized for Fall Selling Season

The kids are off to school, and the apartment needs to go on the market… it may seem overwhelming to sift through years of build up to prepare your home to be “showing-ready”. Here are a few tips to help with the burden:

1. Storage! Many people resist the urge to store in order to avoid keeping unwanted items rather than just ditching them. But if you find it difficult to cut down on the clutter, when it comes to selling your home, it is imperative to get that “stuff” out of your space. Storage can cost as little as $29/month and can make a world of a difference. Rule of thumb – remove at least 2/3 of the items from bookshelves and tabletops.

2. Use Baskets! Have a lot of cds and dvds near the tv? Daily mail that you have yet to go through? Get a few decorative boxes or baskets with lids for a stylish way to hide the necessities.

3. You don’t have to be neat, Just look neat! Buyers WILL look in your closets, but they won’t open drawers or peek under your bed. If you are not a neat person by nature, just remember to keep the “line of sight” neat and tidy, putting the rest of the stuff out of the buyer’s way.

4. Give Yourself an Organizational Deadline! You can organize for weeks only to find yourself in a space that looks and feels the same as it did when you started. Make a goal and stick to it – you will appreciate your home more, and so will a buyer.

Good luck with the Fall Selling Season!