De-cluttering for a successful sale For many of us, the prospect of decluttering before putting your house on the market, or at least before the first open house, feels like a huge undertaking. You have cupboards full of family paraphernalia, you have shelves stuffed full of kids artwork and books from decades of reading. You might even still have boxes in the shed that didn’t get unpacked in the last move. Decluttering doesn’t mean throwing everything away or giving it to charity. There are benefits to decluttering that go beyond getting rid of items you no longer need, use or want.
Do I have to change my furniture? The way you live and the way you style your house are not the same thing. Styling for sale is going to pay off. Your end goal is to present your home to be as appealing to potential buyers as possible. Personal taste and possessions can detract from the potential of your home when they are on every surface and take away from the sense of space and possibility of a home clear of clutter.
Decluttering is a huge job Decluttering can start with a draw or a cupboard. And if it’s too overwhelming, asking a professional organiser is actually value for money as they have no judgement and will work faster than friends and family. Also, a professional is often part of the team, and they know what works in your market as they are in touch with your agent. According to the Australian Institute study ‘Stuff Happens’, 43% of Australians say, “I wish I could deal with clutter in my home but haven't been able to.” So maybe it is time for a professional.
Benefits of a decluttering before sale Removing all personal photos and clutter makes a prospective buyer feel less intrusive and they can imagine themselves living in the space. Styling for sale is going to pay off and you can’t style a property for sale without decluttering first.
You’ll have less to move, meaning faster and cheaper removalists. And what you do take, you know you want in the new home. It’s an opportunity to get rid of the old and replace with new. Living in your decluttered home during the sales process will reduce your stress.
Some Helpful Hints Memories you can’t part with? No problem, just pack them in a separate box, or better still, get them out and display them at the new place so you can enjoy those memories every day. This is often the one that takes loads of time and sends you down memory lane. Before you know it, you have been looking for hours and only been through one draw. Allocate more time to this and pack items away until after the sale.
Wedding gifts If you still have wedding gifts in boxes from two decades ago, it’s okay to admit to yourself you won’t use them and send them on their way to the op shop for someone else to enjoy.
Things belonging to other people Moving is the perfect time to get people to come and get things from your home that you have been storing for them. If it’s bits and pieces, big and small, that belong to your kids, then try to set a date for them to come and go through their things. Give them plenty of notice. Try to organise it a bit so each person’s things are in one place. Even sending them a photo and asking ‘do you still want this?” might spur them into action. You are just sending things back where they belong, to make room for perspective buyers to see the potential of your space.
Where Do I Start? As they say in the classics, kitchens sell houses. So much of our time is spent in them, feeding our families, entertaining, chatting over the kitchen bench with a cuppa. It’s also often the place where everything without a home ends up living. On the bench, in the drawers and cupboards, and on the fridge. So, start here. Then move onto other rooms. Every space can enjoy a bit of attention. Here’s a few tips for how to go about it:
Kitchen • • •
Clear all the clutter off your fridge - doors and top. Clear all the horizontal spaces, you’d be amazed how much bigger the kitchen can look with clear benches. Make sure those appliances and splashback are sparkling.
Living Rooms • • •
Removing all the clutter from bookshelves, TV units and walls will give a sense of space. Leave enough to show the potential of the room. Move extra furniture out (the side tables might not need to be there, the extra armchair etc. The aim is spacious potential).
Bedrooms • • •
Make all the beds. Clear all the toys and clutter into tubs, or remove all together. People will open wardrobes, so maybe clear some shelves to show how much storage you have.
Bathrooms Apart from clean, make sure those mirrors are sparkling and there is no clutter in the cupboards, as people check for storage space.
Outdoors Do a quick sweep to get any balls, toys, bats and empty flower pots out into hard rubbish. Highlight the outdoor living space by setting the table and creating an inviting space for people to be together. People will check the shed and garage for storage space, so make it as clear as you can .
Over to you Think like a buyer – when you look at your home through fresh eyes you’ll realise how much you can remove to show off the potential of your property. It will pay off!
INSPECTION DAY DO’S & DON’TS It’s inspection day! You’ve decluttered and prepared the house . Here’s a quick list of what to do and what not to do on inspection day.
DO’s •
DO clean the house so it is sparkling and spotless.
•
DO remove all signs of daily life from the Kitchen, Bathroom and Laundry, this includes the dishrack, dirty tea towels, shampoos & conditioner, toothbrushes etc. From the Laundry remove dirty clothes and laundry cleaning products.
•
DO remove all signs of the pets including bowls and bedding
•
DO tidy up the kids toys .
•
DO make all the beds and turn on bedside lamps.
•
DO open the windows to let in some fresh air.
•
DO sweep the paths.
DON’T •
DON’T Light candles, apart from being dangerous and at risk of being knocked over, many people are sensitive to smells and many wonder what the smell is hiding.
•
DON’T keep the blinds lowered or closed, open up the blinds to let as much natural light in.
•
DON’T leave the cars parked in the driveway.
•
DON’T leave the bins out the front
•
DON’T leave mail in the letter box
BEFORE & AFTER
“Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how we went with the house. It sold after the first open! We had multiple offers and everyone commented on how beautifully it was presented. It went above what we expected and that was definitely because of the emotional connection people had with the house due to your excellent styling. It I was to quantify it—I would definitely say it added $20- $25k to the sale price” Cecilia
ROOM BY ROOM TIPS ENTRY
DINING ROOM
If you consider there will be a flow of
Less is more in Dining Rooms, a
people moving in and out of the
great piece of art and simple table
entry it’s best to remove any excess
decorations are enough. Again,
furniture. Limit the furniture to a
remove any large pieces of furniture
console table with a nice piece of
that will make the room feel too
art. Less is more when it comes to
small.
decorative items so a nice bunch of fresh flowers will be a nice way to
KITCHEN
greet potential buyers.
De-clutter the benchtops and pack away all signs of daily life. Remove
LIVING ROOM
items off the window sills and
In formal living rooms arrange the
magnets off the fridge. Tidy
seating in a conversational format
pantries and under the sink as
and consider using luxurious fabrics
potential buyers will be looking
in cushions. The casual living room is
inside cupboards to determine the
normally a ‘family zone’ so brighter
space. Bright colours make a
colours and artwork work well. A rug
kitchen ‘pop’ so place coloured
in living rooms help to zone the
accessories like Coffee Machines,
space and use lamps for ambience.
Kettles or cookbooks on the bench-
Ensure the traffic flow moves freely
top. A big bowl of citrus fruit makes
around the furniture so remove any
a great impact.
excess furniture pieces.
BATHROOM The bathroom must have a clean and hygienic feel so clean off mould and soap stains, remove curtains. Pack away floor mats; scales; bins; toilet brushes and toilet roll holders. De-clutter the cupboards and remove all signs of daily life! White fluffy towels are great to give a hotel feel to the bathroom. A small plant and a nice soap dispenser is a simple touch. TIP: keep a basket in the vanity to place all the shampoos and toothbrushes on the morning of opens. ALFRESCO Pack away excess items like plants; kids toys; dog beds and kennels. Pressure clean the pavers and clean the outdoor setting. Some bright cushions and a tray of drinks on the table will inspire buyers so create a fun entertaining outdoor space. BEDROOM When you walk in the bedroom the first thing you see should be a beautiful bed so rotate your furniture and place the bed into the centre of the wall with two matching bedside tables and lamps. A piece of art will introduce
colour, place some cushions and a lovely throw on the bed to complement the colours. Remove excess furniture so the bedrooms feel large.
The way you live & the way you style your home for sale are very different
MEET THE MYPAD STYLING TEAM
L-R: Chelsea Walshaw, Wendie Graves, Monika Tasonyi, Sash Hinton
With over 10 years experience styling in the competitive Sydney
market our team recognise that each property is unique. We offer a tailored approach and we strive to work with you in achieving a successful result. To book a consultation with our Interior Stylist please call us on (02) 8001 6405 or visit www.mypadpropertystyling.com.au