Converting from Living Condition to Selling Condition: Clutter

Walk into almost any home and you will find a pile of bills, magazines or newspapers in a stack and magnets and papers on the refrigerator.  This is how most people live, however when a homeowner is getting ready to sell their home this clutter needs to be removed.  Items cluttering a home contribute to rooms looking smaller and ultimately distracting potential buyers from seeing themselves living in the home.  Removing the clutter is the best bet to a quick sale.

     The kitchen is a good place to start.  A few small appliances on the countertop are okay, but put all the extra items on the countertop away out of sight.  Even if you use an item on a regular basis put it away in a drawer or cabinet.  Try to remove everything you can from sight.  Remove all the magnets and papers from the refrigerator.  You may enjoy your children’s artwork and pictures, but potential buyers will find it distracting.  Remove the pile of recyclables.  Take them to the recycling center regularly.  Between trips to the recycling center keep recyclables in the garage.

     While removing things from countertops go ahead and go to the bathroom.  Remove items from the vanity top.  Put everything away that you can.  You want as little left out as possible.  Also remove throw rugs.  They tend to make the room look smaller and more cluttered.

     Stacks of magazines and books should be kept out of sight.  They may be what the seller is currently reading, but it is best to not have them lying around.  Newspapers should also be put away where they can’t be seen.  If you are a person who likes craft projects they should be put away while the house is on the market.

Sellers don’t always have a lot of notice before their house is going to be shown.  For this reason it is important to keep the clutter put away at all times.  As a seller you don’t want to be caught off guard and have your house not looking its absolute best at a moments notice.  Sellers want to have potential buyers notice all the positive qualities of their house, not distracted by clutter.  This will lead to getting the most and best offers in the quickest time.


Shannon White, allied member ASID of Shannon White Interior Design, St. Louis, MO, 314-315-0768, swhiteid@yahoo.com.