How would Marie Kondo, the celebrity decluttering expert famous for the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying-Up, prep her home for sale? Easy. She would transform it into a monochromatic palace, a minimal monastery in which the only objects left are those that, in her eyes, “spark joy.” Minimalism is full of maximalist advice: get rid of things you bought to impress people; see if you can wear just thirty-three items of clothing for three months; purge items in favor of organizing them.
Decluttering your home doesn’t have to be that extreme. Rumor has it the glass walls in Apple’s headquarters are marked with post-it notes to prevent employees from walking into them. The last thing you want is a jewel-box-style house so polished and transparent that potential homebuyers crash into the walls, like birds.
What you do want is a decluttered home that shows off the best attributes of every room and surface. Buyers look for space and capacity in Berkshire homes for sale. Whether buyers are looking for Berkshire estate homes for sale or waterfront homes for sale in the Berkshires, you can’t go wrong by following these clutter-busting tips for Berkshire home sellers.
Need a decluttering accountability buddy? Your Stone House Properties agent can advise you on just what to do to declutter and prep your Berkshire home for sale.
Getting ready to list your home? Browse our home selling guide for tips on to prepare your home for the market.
1. Make a Clean Sweep of Surfaces
Less is more when it comes to showing off spaces . . . more money, that is, at least according to research by HomeLight, which says that decluttering can add over $2,500 to a home value resale. Create open space by removing everyday appliances like toasters, coffee makers, and knife blocks from the countertops. Say goodbye to table accessories and store anything that distracts from the size of your rooms.
2. Edit Your Walls
Don’t take it personally—homebuyers don’t want to see your wedding or vacation photos, nor do they have any interest in your sports memorabilia or framed diplomas. What they do want to see, however, is the potential for their own family photos and memorabilia.
According to professional home stager Trisha Roe of Designing Impressions, “Buyers only know what they see, and if they only see your stuff, they’re not seeing the house.” Remove wall art that’s personal in favor of a few carefully chosen pieces that add color without detracting attention from the structure and size of your rooms.
3. Purge and Organize Closets
Closet quality is one of the most important elements that a homebuyer looks for. A fresh coat of paint, color coordination, and simple decorative touches go a long way in making a good impression. Remove clothing to make closets look more spacious, rather than filled to bursting. Remove the plastic dry cleaning bags and consider putting some of your nicest items on display.
4. Remove Extraneous Furnishings
To best illustrate space, focus on having one sofa, two chairs, and an accent table in the living room. Minimize furniture from overcrowded rooms and empty out anything unnecessary. The same holds true for outdoor living spaces like decks, porches, or patios.
5. Depersonalize the Bathrooms
A beautiful bathroom makes all the difference to a motivated house hunter. Depersonalize the space by removing toothbrushes, make-up, and bottles of lotion and shampoo, and empty the medicine cabinet. Consider purchasing plastic storage containers for each family member to store their bathroom and hygiene belongings until after the showing.
6. Declutter Entryways, Mudrooms, and Foyers
One of the biggest reasons for moving house is a lack of space, so the last thing a potential buyer wants to see when they enter your home is a cluttered entryway, mudroom, or foyer. Like the notorious junk drawer in the kitchen, these areas tend to be a magnet for shoes, coats, recreation and sporting gear, racks of all shapes and sizes, and all sorts of other miscellaneous domestic belongings. Get the mud out the mudroom and make a welcoming impression.
To find out more about second homes or year-round vacations homes in Berkshire county, please contact us today. We are Berkshire real estate experts in Berkshire County, MA, and Columbia County, NY. We know the real estate landscape and whether you’re in the market to buy or sell a home, our agents can assist you!
