Community Corner
Clutter Eats Equity!
It distracts buyers and makes rooms look smaller which mean it will take longer to sell and that means a lower price.
If you are thinking it might be time to put your house on the market then it is time to learn that plastic bags can be your best buddies.
Most people live with some clutter and most of the time the clutter has an emotional side to it. Your grandmother’s glasses, your son’s first truck, your high school year books -- are the things that make us feel good and bless us with our beautiful memories.
While these things may be treasures to you, they will take up space and make rooms feel smaller than they are. Your treasures are cluttering someone else's mind when they are trying to make a very important buying decision.
Here are a few tips for decluttering and making your home perfect for the market. Just remember, you do not live like you sell. In other words, you must remove your emotions and think of your home as a product to sell.
Start with closets:
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Tidy shelves and put things in matching baskets. You can pick up storage baskets at the dollar store. Make sure they all match. Place items neatly in baskets and place on your closet shelves. The uniform look will make your closet look bigger and neater.
Make sure all your hangers are the same style and color. Hang clothes so there is space between each garment. Pack up, box up or throw away items that are taking up floor space in your closet. The more floor space you see the larger the closet looks. Shoe racks are fine but do not crowd shoes into the rack. Place them neatly on the rack. Pay special attention to master and coat closets.
Look at shelves:
Pack up personal photos. Put away collections. Give people a chance to see your home, not your passions. Most shelves only need about 3 items on each one.
Counter Tops:
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In bathrooms they should be free and clear of most items. Do not have makeup baskets out. Have a basket you can throw everything in and put it away when your home is being shown. Unplug electrical items and put them in a basket as well.
In the kitchen counter tops should have only the necessities. If your kitchen has a small amount of counter space then put away everything after you use it. Have counter tops clear and free so your kitchen feels larger. Make sure your china cabinet is clean and free of trinkets. Any glassware on display should always sparkle.
Remember -- when in doubt, throw it out. For years I saved tissue paper. Bags and bags of tissue paper, but every holiday I had to buy new tissue paper because the bags full would be faded or wrinkled and it was not a good look for my packages. I am on a mission to throw away tissue paper.
You can start now and it will not be so overwhelming when time comes to move. Every time you walk around a room check to see what is not serving a purpose and if it serves no purpose, throw it out or box it up. If you do not need it over the next 3 years then maybe have a garage sale or call Goodwill.
New on the market this week is 4100 Blue Iris Hollow in the Amberfield subdivision, 5615 Covena Court in Peachtree Station and 5465 Fontenoy Court in the Wyntree subdivision all soon to be in the City of Peachtree Corners.
Open Houses this Sunday Feb. 26 from 2 - 4 p.m. include:
Go to Peachtree Corners Open Houses for additional details and directions.
Editor's note: Nancy Minor is a Realtor with . Her office is located in Peachtree Corners.