Let it Go! Helping Your Clients Clear Clutter Before Staging
The first and most important step of preparing any home for sale is to go through the entire house and remove clutter. The place must be free of clutter before we can come in and stage it for listing and sell it for top dollar! You know that it will make the home look better, but here are some reasons for clearing the clutter that you might not be aware of.
Benefits of Clearing the Clutter from the Home Before Sale
Clearing the clutter will help make the home look larger. With too much furniture, art, and décor, the space will look cramped and much smaller than its actual size. Clients might be sensitive to your requests but remind them that this scaling back will make their home look even more open and warm than it already is. Suggest that they store their treasures off-site until you sell their home for a substantially higher price.
Buyers will be distracted by too many things to look at while viewing the home. We want them to notice the actual structure and the areas we choose to highlight through the staging process. It’s tough for buyers to imagine the home as theirs when so many personal artifacts belonging to your client are in the space. De-cluttering will present the house as a neutral space, ready to be claimed!
If the home is cluttered, it gives the appearance that it hasn’t been properly maintained. We all understand the difference between a clean house and a cluttered house. Still, it’s not so obvious to make the distinction when you’re considering purchasing the home. A well-maintained home has a higher perceived value and sells for a higher price. When you’re trying to get great offers and contracts for your buyers, help them declutter… they’ll be glad you did!
The Secret to Success – Start Early
As soon as your client announces to you that they are ready to sell their home, that’s a good time to have “The Talk.” Let your clients know that you appreciate their confidence in you and that you’ll do your best to sell their house quickly and for the best price. It won’t be decluttered in a day… It will most likely take at least a month or two to get the average house clutter-free, staged, and ready to list. Going through the process without being in a last-minute rush will yield better results and allow your client time to consider what to keep and take with them, what to donate, and what to throw away.
It’s Time to Be Discerning
At first glance, your client may feel that they want to keep everything… just pack it all up and take it with them. It helps for them to consider things such as:
Where will the item go in their new home?
Have they used the item in the last year?
Is it something they genuinely love?
How often do they actually use that item?
These questions are essential, and any decision that is not made on this end of the move will have to be made on the other end at their new place. So, encourage them to think carefully about the things they want to have in their new home.
Need Help?
If you need help with staging your client's home for sale in the Chicago area, please contact us at Interior Drama Home Staging. We work with our clients to help your clients get the best results!