The word “clutter” keeps cropping up whenever a Realtor is asked for advice about selling Forsyth County homes.
The clutter factor might not seem to be so overpoweringly important. After all, a housekeeping crew can scour and shine most homes in a day or two–and that would seem to outrank the clutter component by a mile. So why all the fuss about clutter?
I believe the reasons are many. Of course, selling any Forsyth County home requires it to be at least freshly cleaned (best if immaculately so)—but everyone accepts that without a second thought. Clutter is another matter. It goes to how we each define the term.
After a home has been prepared in every other way, de-cluttering means ruthlessly removing just about everything that tends to attract attention, fill the space, or otherwise distract the eye of the buyer from the selling features your home has to offer.
In the living room, that means gathering up all the books and newspapers and removing them from the scene. It means doing away with the ashtrays, paperweights, and coasters. It means losing the magazine rack by the fireplace and pruning the number of throw pillows that usually populate the big sofa. It means dispensing with unnecessary throw rugs and any hallway wall hangings that make a narrow hallway more claustrophobic. More importantly, it means removing all the photos and memorabilia that make your house a home—because they make it your home when you want the buyer to see it as their home.
The same goes for the kitchen, where it means gathering up all the paraphernalia that’s needed to fix a breakfast or throw lunch together. Salt and pepper shakers, spice rack on the stove, egg timer and spoon rest included. Does this make the kitchen appear less of a functioning kitchen? Yes! And that’s why the de-cluttering needs to be emphasized: the kitchen will be more appealing to most cooks if it looks open, clean and nearly unused—in other words, awaiting their arrival to make it their own!
Now, once you’ve gutted the place you may well return an object or two to the living room or kitchen just to offset a totally “deserted” feeling—professional stagers often do add one or two modest objects where needed. But check out the best upscale listing photos, and you will see expanses of unoccupied space and barren walls and surfaces. These tricks help make any Forsyth County home invitingly empty—awaiting their ultimate owner.
Check out these other posts that you might also find interesting:
Secrets to a Quick Sale
Organizing Your Home – Getting Started
Organizing Your Home – Linen Closet
Organizing Your Home – Kitchen Cabinets
Organizing Your Home – Kitchen Drawers
Organizing Your Home – Pantry
Selling your Forsyth County home at its best price takes strategy and skill—and it’s always good to be able to call on a seasoned professional to bring experience to the effort. I hope you’ll give me that call!
This Cumming GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HomeServices Georgia Properties.
I specialize in Real Estate sales in the following Forsyth County and North Fulton County cities: Cumming, Suwanee, Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek. Other north metro-Atlanta suburbs are serviced by request, so please call.
Gayle Barton Forsyth County Real Estate | Cumming GA Real Estate | Mountain Crest Homes For Sale
Gayle Barton Cumming GA Real Estate | Forsyth County Real Estate