REDUCE THE CLUTTER!

OK, here's the question.  I plan to reduce the clutter in my home by putting everything in the closet.  Do I need to worry about what buyers will think of my overstuffed closets?

Answer.  In a word: YES!  De-cluttering the house by stuffing the closets is like throwing money away.  An overstuffed closet can truly kill a sale.

Closets should be considered among the most important rooms in a home....storage is a big concern with buyers.  Buyers want to know that they can live comfortably and that all their belongings can fit.  Even if the closets are large, clutter makes them look smaller and gives the illusuon of less space than is really available.

People often stuff their closets with things they don't need anyway.  I've seen closets of 40 and 50 year olds filled with t-shirts from high school.  Cleaning them out is worth the effort because the more organized you look, the more your buyer will view the home as well taken care of.

Professional organizers agree...if you're planning on moving, now is the perfect opportunity to revisit everything you own.  Why would you want to pay movers to move stuff you never use from one place to another especially when there's a good chance it will become a storage problem at your new home.

Too many people are overly nostalgic and have a tendency just to drag along everything they've ever owned.   So, here's a simple solution to consider... things you don't really need can be sold on eBay or through consignment shops, donated to charity or thrown away.

That's my 2 cents!

PAINT IT BLACK

Paint it black!  Yep, that's what I said.  A coat of satiny black paint can revive tired furnishings and lend a chic, dramatic flair to just about any space.  Painting a old piece black immediately updates it.....I use black in my property stagings all the time.  It's a great punctuation.  It has a graphic quality, provides contrast, and makes a real impact.

Black also works well with many different colors, it also makes surrounding colors POP and melds with any decor from vintage to modern.  The key, as always, is MODERATION.  Use black as an accent in picture frames, lampshades, accessories and small pieces of furniture.....however, the big black leather couch of the 80's is gone for good.

That's My 2 Cents!

STAGING AND SELLING IN THE WINTER

Staging a house can become challenging in the winter when the landscape around the country does not look that great.....dead grass, spindly trees with no leaves, two-tone colors with snow and dirt.  In fact, I believe winter time is the toughest time of the year to sell when dealing with curb appeal.

Depending on what part of the country you live in, you may have lots of green and warmth this time of the year --- or you may be dealing with the barren landscape.  When there is snow on the ground, it does look pretty (for a while), but as the snow melts, you are often left with patches of dirt, icy or muddy streets and little color in the yard with deciduous trees that have no leaves.

So how do you add that curb appeal necessary for selling when Mother Nature seems to have another plan?

Here are some tips:

*  Invest in some annuals or perennials that like cold weather....put them in colorful pots or line the walkway with them.  Some of the best annuals for color are pansies, primroses, kale (cabbage) and emerald greens (arborvitaes).  Think not just about adding green bushes, but add color with the annuals that will survive in your climate.  If you are not sure, consult with your local landscape supplier.

*  Add colorful outdoor cushions to your outdoor chairs for drama and appeal.  You can add a fireplace to your deck or patio---conveying a cozy fire outside.

Lastly, when the outside is lacking in color, make sure you have plenty of color elements INSIDE your house to balance out the bleak.  Use accessories and layers of color to help create that buyer appeal and transition from the outside to inside.  If a house is bleak on the outside and the inside has white walls, tan furniture and beige carpet ---its blah and boring.
Use artwork, fabrics, throws, pillows and accent decor that can help create an inviting look for buyers.


Thats my two cents!