When buying a home, do you look past the owner's clutter?

Question

My husband and I are debating...we have (sort of on a whim) decided to put our home on the market. He says "The house isn't 'ready.'" We are bulging at the seams (hense the reason for the move) but it's nothing that makes the house look bad. He wants to do things like take all our boxes out of the basement and put them in storage, etc.

I say, if someone loves the home, they look past the "clutter." We've been buyers before and I always looked past the owner junk to imagine my own 'junk.'

What do you think?

My definition of clutter: I'm not talking dirt and piles and piles of nastiness all over the house. I'm talking about plant shelves with picture frames or closets that could use some straightening. Nothing that would cause concern that we are concealing bigger problems.

Answer 1

Sorry to break this to you, but your husband's right on the money. The problem is that for most homebuyers, the first impression is very, very hard to overcome. You're absolutely correct that a buyer 'should' look past the seller's stuff and try to imagine their own stuff in the house...but it's been proven time and again that the more you 'help' a buyer envision the home without your stuff in it, the faster your home will sell and the higher the sales price will be.

Consider that many real estate agents will encourage you to let them 'stage' the home. They'll actually want you to move almost all your stuff into storage, and replace some of your furniture with 3/4 sized 'model' furniture. They'll strategically empty the rooms of all but one or two visually attractive elements, very intentionally placed.

The idea is to make the buyer's first visual impression that each room, and the whole house, is large, open, welcoming and just ready for the buyer to move their stuff in - not struggle mentally to first picture your stuff being moved out.

Hope this helps. Great question, best to you.

And good luck selling the house!

Answer 2

Clutter can be a definite turn off to a potential buyer. It just makes the house look smaller. Also, a buyer may be concerned that the clutter is hiding other problems with the housse. Some kinds of clutter can cause bug or rodent problems that a potential buyer may be concerned about. Clean up the house-inside and out-before putting it on the market. Good luck.

Answer 3

I agree with your husband! I have sold several homes without the aid of a real estate broker - and saved bundles.
It is my opinion that every hour that you spend weeding out, decluttering and sprucing up will return double to you in profit. The storage costs will seem very minimal when you figure the extra profit you can get from the sale.
Also, depersonalizing the house - putting away family treasures temporarily - will help potential buyers visualize their things in the house.
Good luck1

Answer 4

as a rule, I don't think most people can look past clutter. it gives the house a dirty uncared-for look that would make people wonder if regular maintenance on the home was as haphazard as the cleaning.
if you watch HGTV or other channels with shows about how to sell your house, they always suggest getting clutter out of the way.
that said, I believe I could look past the clutter and check if the house has good "bones" and potential for remodeling or decorating so I could make a profit on my investment. But there are just so many people out there who want a house "move-in ready" and can't visualize the possibilities.

Answer 5

First impressions are critical in selling a home.

Remove the clutter.

Also remove any personal items, like photos, trophies, vacation souveniers. You want to impress a potential buyer at the subconscious level, making the buyer believe that this could be his or her dream home.

Cleanliness in the house and manicured lawn/gardens are also critical.

Answer 6

The buyer wants to imagine their things in your space, which is easier if you have less stuff in the way. It also helps quash the idea that you could be hiding something under the carpet or other damage. You want the buyer to want to take a second look.

Answer 7

As a Realtor I have to tell you that we WISH buyers could look past the "stuff" and see the house but most can't....No matter what we tell them, no matter where we point their eye....They still look at the "stuff".....Even when we say "Try to imagine what your furniture will look like." or "Keep in mind we are not buying their stuff....we are buying the house.".....They still look at the "stuff" and a buyer will buy a tidy, clean, neutral house first!...I promise you....Have you ever watched Sell this House or shows like that.....First thing they do is slap on a fresh coat of paint, clean or remove/replace crappy carpet and remove "stuff".....It simply sells better, faster and for more money....ss

Answer 8

Clutter makes me think there isn't adequate storage space in the home. I vote for renting a storage space and moving out everything and anything you 'absolutely' don't need. making the home look less cluttered makes it look roomier and larger and is an advantage when selling.