Page 69 - Selling secrets 5 18 2023

your home a clean, welcoming, blank canvas upon which
any buyer can visually paint their own dreams. It will not feel
like your home while you show the home, but once you sell
and move into your next place, you can decorate that home
any way you like. Remember to stash personal papers—
especially financial documents—safely out of sight.

DE-CLUTTER AND DISCARD

It is understandably inconvenient to live in your home
without your “stuff” It’s like living in a hotel. However, it’s a
necessary component of getting top dollar for your house.

Extra furniture and items such as books, magazines, CD
collections, and hobby supplies add weight and visual
distraction in a room. Your salt and pepper shaker
collection is going to look like clutter, even if the buyer
collects salt and pepper shakers. The more spacious your
home appears, the more appealing it will be. Minimize as
much as possible. You want the home shopper to see what
your home has to offer, not to guess about the potential or
possibilities.

Store what you need to keep, but consider discarding the
expired coupons, week-old newspapers, political fliers, and
other meaningless papers that seem to accumulate on every
desk and counter top. You’ll be tempted to throw unwanted
items in the trash receptacles but empty your inside and
outside waste baskets and garbage containers daily and
keep them pristine and smelling sweet.

59