This is a typical unfinished basement before staging by Debra Gould of Six Elements. See the transformation below!

Clutter is one of the biggest distractions for potential real estate buyers and will literally eat up the equity you have in your home. When a room is cluttered instead of staged, here’s what happens:

• the first impression is a crowded disorganized one, it’s hard to change that, or for potential buyers to see past the clutter and see the home’s potential
• buyers can’t take in the room itself because their eyes jump around to all the little bits and pieces
• rooms look more crowded than they need to, a problem with buyers who are craving more space than they have now
• home buyers worry that if they buy your home they’ll end up living like you are there
• home buyers assume there isn’t enough storage space and put that in their mental negative column as they tour your home
• home buyers feel overwhelmed by your junk and how you live which does not put them in a buying mood
• home buyers don’t aspire to live there or live like you, so they won’t make an offer

This house gained an extra room in the mind of the buyer when Six Elements moved the clutter to off-site storage and arranged the exercise equipment that was already hiding under the piles of junk. Now this unfinished basement becomes a laundry room/work out room in a buyer's mind.

So as much as you may be accustomed to living with your own clutter, realize that it must go before you put your home on the real estate market.

Your clutter is costing your money because your house will take longer to sell and it won’t sell for as much money.

Why? Because potential buyers won’t be as excited as they should be about the possibility of living there. If there’s no buyer excitement, there’s no offer! Or there’s only a very low-ball offer.

Home staging will make all the difference in how long your house takes to sell and for how much. Learn more about how we can help decorate your house to sell on the real estate market, whether you are in Toronto or anywhere else!

Debra Gould, President Six Elements Inc.

Home staging expert Debra Gould has staged millions of dollars worth of real estate. Most homes are cluttered when she gets there, but by the time the house is staged, excess items have disappeared to off-site storage. Contact us to learn more about how Debra can help you.

Tagged as: clutter, clutter problems, Debra Gould, home equity, home seller, Six Elements