Greenville, SC Organizing Blog

A Cluttered Home Impacts The Price For Which It May Be Sold

5/26/2018

With real estate prices being at a multi-year high around much of the country, it goes without saying that many people are thinking of selling their homes. Before listing your property, it’s important to think of how a cluttered environment will impact your asking price. We’re excited to have Mary Beth Downing, a Dayton, Ohio real estate agent, to offer some thoughts on how the presentation of your home matters - Coach Lauren

The spring and summer are often considered the best times to sell one’s home. With the recent run-up in housing prices, around much of the U.S., you may be thinking of listing your property and cashing in. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize the extent to which first impressions and presentation matter when it comes to what your asking price will be. I’m going to use this article to briefly discuss how paying an organizer, to spruce your house or condo up, might be one of the best investments you can make.

A cluttered home will often lead to a reduced sales price

The saying “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” couldn’t be more true when it comes to real estate. The first impression a potential buyer has when they enter, and walk around your home, will impact the price they are willing to offer or whether they will make an offer at all. Unfortunately, many homes are more crammed with “stuff” than at any point in our history. For the potential buyer, who is seeing your house for the first time, this can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed and/or an inability to visualize how the house could otherwise look. In other words, you’re likely to receive a lower offer if your house is bursting at the seams with “stuff” and is disorganized.

You can likely expect a lowball offer if you show your house in a cluttered state. In his excellent book, Start Small, Profit Big in Real Estate, author and investor Jay DeCima discusses ways in which real estate investors can pick up homes for less than their actual value. In his section on buying “fixer-uppers,” he makes the point that homes can often be purchased, below value, due to their simply needing to be cleaned, decluttered, and for junk to be hauled off. In other words, a messy environment can be good for potential investors, which is bad for the seller (you).

Investing in a professional organizer can help you to get more for your home

An investment pays off when you receive more than what was paid for something. Well, for some homes, paying a professional organizer can potentially increase the final selling price by an amount that is greater than the organizer’s fee. DeCima, the author mentioned above, suggests that a cluttered home may reduce your final sales price by as much as ten percent. This means, for example, that a home that would normally sell for $250,000 may only fetch $225,000, all because of a mess.

An organizer can assist you with more than clearing your residence. A skilled professional will help organize your home in a way that is functional and appealing. This, in turn, can make it look like a place where a potential buyer can see themselves living. As a Dayton area realtor I sometimes see homes which could have a higher list price if they were simply decluttered. Don't’ make the mistake of listing before your house is truly ready for showing.

I would like to say thanks to Coach Lauren for inviting me to write on this topic.

Dayton, Ohio Real Estate Agent Mary Beth Downing

Mary Beth Downing is a licensed real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Heritage in Dayton, Ohio. As frequent blogger and real estate investor, she provides a unique perspective on buying and renting in today's market. Mary Beth is passionate about assisting people in finding their dream home and in dealing with the Midwest real estate market. She prides herself on providing the highest level of service to her clients. This includes her taking the time to gain an understanding of your goals, taking the time to promptly respond to your inquiries, and leaving no stone unturned in making sure that your needs are met.

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How to Sell Your House During “Downtime” on the Market

10/26/2017

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Many people consider late fall and winter to be real estate “downtime” and no time to try to sell a house. That’s fair enough: buyers are less likely to brave the chilly weather for open houses, and curb appeal suffers from gray skies and bare trees. Holiday busyness and post-holiday fatigue take their toll too.

But don't despair. We've teamed up with HomeLight this week to bring your some encouragement (and a few to-don'ts) if your home is destined to don a for sale sign in the upcoming weeks.

Reasons Winter Sales Work

A lot of advice out there on how to sell your house fast seems to assume you have summer on your side. Even so, January may not be a lost cause. In fact, there are three “downtime” factors that can be advantages in selling. The first, believe it or not, is fewer people seeing homes. A slower-paced market allows you to better prepare the house for each showing. It lets buyers take their time and get more personal attention.

Second, people who are looking will probably be motivated buyers; otherwise, they’d wait until spring. Being ready to buy, they may be more willing to overlook the house’s imperfections. And you only need one to make a good offer. Third, it’s “downtime” for realtors, too. If yours has less going on, he or she will be eager to get your house sold, dedicating more time and energy to you and your home.

Ways to Defeat “Downtime”

These tips will help you help your realtor make that winter sale happen:

Do the best you can when it comes to curb appeal. Keep outdoor living spaces, such as patios, porches, and decks clutter-free, bright, and welcoming. Keep the lawn raked and mowed, and keep gardens neat. Pot some pansies or other colorful plants and flowers that grow well in winter. Simple seasonal decorations, such as pumpkins or white Christmas lights, add color and charm. Do not overdo: intense light displays and huge Halloween cobwebs are bad choices.

Stage the house to be welcoming and cozy. Arrange pretty throw pillows and crocheted blankets on furniture. Have the fireplace going, and vanilla candles in strategic spots. Bake something that smells wonderful, and give buyers a taste along with hot drinks while they look around. Some holiday decoration is fine, but keep it minimal and refrain from adding religious touches so that everyone feels welcome. Creative wreaths, pine, garlands, a simple tree, or even just some red and white flowers will do nicely (if a large Christmas tree will show off your cathedral ceiling, then yes, do it). Remember to prepack anything you aren't using to help potential buyers envision themselves in your home.
Have your insulation and heat in tip-top condition. Insulating the attic brings return on investment, and buyers will appreciate it. The furnace should be serviced and cleaned so they will feel its warm efficiency.
Maximize light in every way. Wash the windows, and do not let blinds or drapes block natural light. Change bulbs and shades to create brighter, warmer light, and/or add more lamps. Install outdoor lighting to combat the early darkness. Small, solar-powered lights along walkways, motion-sensitive lights for security, and landscape spotlights can all replace some of the curb appeal winter took away.

Consult with your realtor about not listing the house in the usual way, on the MLS (multiple listing service). Because a house can take longer to sell in winter, it may be best not to have a listing sit there long-term, which looks suspicious to some buyers. A better approach might be by word-of-mouth among agents.
Many companies relocate employees in the fall, so consider contacting their relocation specialists as a source of potential buyers.
Exterior listing photos should be shot in warmer weather, in full leaf and bloom, to make sure buyers see the home’s best “face.”

Experienced top realtors near you know how to overcome seasonal challenges to selling in your market. When choosing your agent, ask about success in winter sales. The advice and efforts of a great realtor can turn “downtime” around to get your house sold fast.

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9 Hacks to Make Moving a Snap

3/28/2016

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Moving doesn't have to be hard! Check out these 9 tricks for simplifying your move BEFORE and AFTER the big day. #upstatecluttercoach #moving

A good deal of our clients at Upstate Clutter Coach are clients because of a move. Regardless of how recent (or long ago) the move was, they’ve decided to finish their move once and for all. If you find yourself in a similar situation, or you want to avoid the dread of unpacking, check out these time-saving steps to ensure a positive moving experience.

Help Moving to Greenville - Packing and Unpacking. Professional Organizer and Clutter Coach Lauren Flinte simplifies the relocation process with these 9 easy moving hacks.

BEFORE YOU MOVE

Buy The Right Boxes. Stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and Staples carry several sizes. Although it’s tempting to get a ton of giant boxes, reserve those for pillows and comforters only. All of your other things will simply weigh too much and make moving the box through your home too awkward if you choose boxes that are too big. Bankers Boxes up to 18x16” are my favorites. Wardrobe boxes are nice if you’re traveling long-distance; but wrapping your clothes in a trash bag hangers and all is much easier. Go MEDIUM, or go home.

Edit Before You Box. It’s easy to fall into the trap of great music, fellowship of friends, and packing ALL THE THINGS. I get it, you’re actually trying to make packing FUN, but if you want to make it EASY, you have to focus. As you look at each category, ask yourself, “What am I using 80% of the time?” Thanks to the 80:20 Rule, you’re probably only going to identify 20% of the items in that category. It’s okay to hold on to a FEW of the 80% you aren’t using, but make an effort to let it go. If you’ve been thinking about buying new glassware or dishes, now is the time to do it. Donate all the old items and buy your new set when you get to your new home. For the in-between time, use disposable plates or as few “old” ones as you can so that you can easily say goodbye when you shut the door for good.

Pack By Category. Most clients want to pack by area from their old home without considering their new home. Instead of packing up all the cabinets on the right side of the kitchen sink into two boxes (area), pack up the cabinets by the type of contents they hold (category). Unless you’re moving into an identical home, packing by area just won’t work. Seriously, quit trying to tell me it will work. It won’t. Your move in will go much smoother when your belongings are grouped by category because you’ll have the freedom to decide what goes where instead of having to unpack ALL THE BOXES first.

Label Well. This is the top mistake folks make when packing for their move. In their rush to prepack before listing or toward the end of packing when exhaustion sets in, boxes become covered in the four letter word I dread: Misc. Misc might make sense to you as you’re tossing the kitchen junk drawer into a box, but it won’t make a lick of sense when you get to your new home. I’d prefer you to save yourself the hassle and just dump the junk drawer in the trash; however, if you feel like it must make the move, box it up and label it “Kitchen – Junk Drawer.” If you want your unpacking to go smoothly, always write the room the items belong in and a description of what the items actually are. Avoid Misc at all costs.

AFTER YOU MOVE

Take Boxes To Their Rooms. Hopefully you did this the day the movers were there to help unload. If not, do it now. Station these boxes to one side of the room so that you’ve got some space to work. There is nothing worse than being surrounded by mountains of boxes and not being to unpack because you lack elbow room.

Categorize As You Unpack. Hopefully you had the chance to pack by type BEFORE the move. If not, don’t neglect this step. You need to know how many pots and pans you have before finding their permanent home.

Unpack in Entirety. There is nothing worse than half-opened boxes littering a space. Instead, open one box and unpack the entire thing! Don’t allow yourself to get distracted. If you’re finding that you need more space for the different categories you’re unboxing, then just move some of the packed boxes out of the way.

Break Down Boxes. If room allows, I just stack my empty boxes to the side. However, if I’m pressed for space, I break down each box as I finish it to give me more working room. As you break down the boxes, set them aside in a “box pile.” Do the same with packing materials. Most moves create more trash than your waste removal service will pick-up. You can save yourself the hassle, and possibly earn a few bucks, if you offer up the used packing materials on Facebook or Craigslist.

Find Permanent Homes. I said permanent, not temporary, not “it kinda fits, so let’s just stick it here.” This is your new home and you’ve dreamed of all of the fun you’ll have here. Make those dreams come true by giving your storage solutions the utmost consideration. Any professional organizer would tell you that the best way to organize a home is to organize first in zones, and then by frequency of use. Let’s consider the kitchen. Every kitchen has at least these three zones: food storage, food prep, and cleaning. You can identify these zones by the fixtures in your kitchen. Food storage includes the refrigerator and the surrounding cabinets. Food prep includes the stove, oven, microwave, counter tops, and surrounding cabinets. Cleaning includes your sink, dishwasher, and surrounding cabinets. You’ll keep almost everything that goes through the dishwasher in the cleaning zone (plates, utensils, glassware, etc.). Don’t make the mistake of sticking your serving platters on a shelf that really should be holding the bread. Use your “not as convenient” cabinets for your “often not used” stuff, and protect the prime real estate of cabinets within easy reach. Your home will work more efficiently for you and you’ll be less stressed following your move if you make tough decisions now.