De-cluttering should be the first step in getting the interior of your house “show-ready.”
Your aim will be to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that has been de-personalized, so that other people can visualize it as their own. In addition, you want to create the impression that you have more than enough space.

Start by looking at your furniture and the traffic patterns throughout the house. If there are bottle-necks or if any room feels crowded or cramped, put some furniture in storage. When you have a little “empty space” your home will instantly look larger.

Next, remove all the extra “stuff” you have sitting around. Clean the kitchen counter-tops, leaving only the appliances you use daily – perhaps the toaster and a coffee pot. Take all the magnets and kid’s drawings off the refrigerator and pack them up, ready to take to your next home.

If you have trophies, collections, or masses of photographs, pack them.

Buyers will look inside cabinets and closets – so clear them out. Give away, throw away, or pack anything you don’t use regularly. If you have seasonal items, put them in storage. Again, the idea is to create a feeling of “more space than you need.”

In the bathroom, make room to store all your personal grooming items once the house is on the market and being shown. The only thing that should be on your vanity top is a dish of decorative soaps or perhaps some potpourri or a vase of flowers.

Remember the garage –for some buyers, the garage has almost as much importance as the kitchen and bath, so make sure it’s clutter-free!

I know this is difficult – but remember: You don’t sell a house the same way you live in a house. And the bonus to this exercise is that you’ll have far less to pack when the house is sold and you’re getting ready to move.

If you’re ready for some in-person suggestions, or you’d like a market analysis of your home’s value in today’s market, give me a call or drop me an email. I’ll be happy to talk with you.