Oops Don't Open That!

When getting your home ready for the Real Estate market, organization is an important ingredient. 

When I walk through a home with a client I ask them if they mind if I take a look in their cabinets and closets. 

As a Home Stager (http://arrangedtosell.com/staging.html) it is my job to look at the home with objective eyes.  I think of myself as a buyer and what would be important to me when looking for a house to buy.

As a buyer I’m making a “To Do” list as I tour the property. What needs to be fixed, painted, replaced or sometimes even gutted.  Only 10% of home buyer's can see what potential a home has. 

Organization is a main key element to please a buyer. Why do closets, pantries or cabinets need to be organized?  When a buyer enters a home it usually is in a foyer and the first thing they would do would check out the coat closet.  What is the first impression when looking in that closet?  Is it stuffed with coats, wrapping paper, bags, snow pants, gloves, tennis rackets and many other items? The impression given is that it appears this house does not have much storage space.

• Tips for organizing all closets; remove 50% of the items. This gives it a feeling of spaciousness. Purge the items you don’t use or pack them away. Add decorative baskets for the top shelf to hide away any clutter.

So the buyer moves down the hall to see the desirable area that is the kitchen.  A buyer wants to see if they can see themselves cooking in this kitchen and of course they open the cabinets. Do things fall out at the buyer when they open up the cabinets? Are the counters lined with cooking gadgets?

•  Some tips for organizing kitchens are to purge items! Think of it this way, your intention is to move so let the packing begin now. 

•  A pantry is a great feature in a home. Play it up by making it look nice and neat!  Organize like items together and purge outdated ones, use canisters and baskets to hide the little things. If the pantry has an upper shelf that is usually a great place for a mixer or other large items you do not use often.  

• If you have cabinets with glass doors it is great to display nice plates, glasses or bowls in it.  

When a buyer enters a bathroom what is the first thing most look for?   Besides the whirlpool tub they look for storage as in a linen closet. When they take a peek in is it stuffed with towels, sheets, heating pads, dirty laundry among other things? 

• Tips for the bathroom; make sure the linen closet is not stuffed with items.  Remove 50% to insure that it looks spacious.

•  Fold the towels neatly with the nice side facing out. Freshen up the closet and space with fresh new towels. 

•   Baskets are great for wash cloths and to hide little items.

•   Fold the sheets neatly with the folds facing out.

•  Go through the cabinets and purge. Using baskets under the sink helps to keep items organized and looking neat. 

Here is an example of what an organized linen closet looks like from www.houzz.com.

Traditional Closet design by New York Closets And Organization transFORM | The Art of Custom Storage

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/1398304/Reach-in-Linen-Closet-traditional-closet-new-york]

Also throwing in a picture of my dream closet hmmmm.

Traditional Closet design by New York Closets And Organization Andrea Gary/Queen of Kerfuffle™

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/1623786/Bravo-TV---Bethenny-Ever-After---Bethenny--Dream-Closet-traditional-closet-new-york]

Remember when you are selling your home view it as a product you are selling.  How are you packaging the product? If you were shopping would you buy something that was not packaged well?? Think about it…

Have fun and keep staging!