Testing My Real Estate Theory - Moving Things Out

Once the house got the gold star from Dennis, we moved to our next phase - MOVE THINGS OUT.  We all live life with lot of stuff, but it is so important to clear out furniture and personal items from your home prior to putting on the market.  We had my brother-in-law, Greg, in town for the weekend and got some extra furniture out and into a storage facility.  It is crucial to have a storage space other than your attic, basement and garage. 

After your items are moved, it will probably be in your best interest to touch up the paint if any area got a bit banged up.  We had to do all of our painting after the kids went to bed.  First of all, we didn't want their cute little hands to be covered in paint and secondly, they don't need to breath in fresh paint.  (Our next house will definately be painted with low or no VOC.)  Next was to attack our closets and cupboards...

This may sound very trivial, but neat closets and cupboards are essential.  They can make closets look bigger and give the sense that the buyers' clothes or pots and pans could fit perfectly.  Clean, orderly closets also give buyers the sense that people took care of the home.  "If the sellers are meticulous with the closets, they probably were meticulous with their Boston home as well."  When towels are folded and put away, the single fold needs to be facing outward, shoes need to be lined up well and dresses and long coats should always stay to the ends and not the middle.  If you have a coat closet, take out as many coats as you can.  Space them well and keep all umbrellas, mittens and hats in a basket or neatly put away.

People, especially buyers, love to see order.  The overall outcome would be for a buyer to open a closet/cupboard and say what a great closet, storage space it is as opposed to "What chaos!  I wish this house had more/larger closets."  This may all sound petty, but it pays off!

Heather Plate, your source for Boston North West real estate

Read my other posts in the "Testing My Real Estate Theory" series:



Testing My Real Estate Theory - Home Inspection