Hamilton Real Estate Today!

Special to "Hamilton Real Estate Today" by contributing Blogstress, Professional Stager and fellow Realtor

" Rachel Vanderveen"

Now that we have cleaned your home to utter sparkling perfection, let’s talk about what we should to do to make that property stand out. What is it that makes a certain home irresistible? What is that makes buyers of Hamilton Real Estate write a great offer? Well there are quite a few things, but I’m going to be withholding and only tell you one for this week, because, believe me, it’s a big one!

This week we’re going to talk about de-cluttering. It’s big; it’s ugly, and it’s hard. I’m going to make you part with every princess figurine, Elvis commemorative plate, and your child’s hammock filled with stuffies. I know, I’m a major downer, but don’t worry you can have it all back, because as I tell you to adios it, I’m also going to tell you what you can do with it! Don’t worry, the answer to what to “what you can do with it” won’t always be chuck it in the garbage---except for the Elvis  commemorative plate: it’s been 34 years people; it’s time to move on.

So what can you keep, and what needs to get packed up? All-in-all, the answer to that question is really: as much as you can stand. I’ve advised homeowners to pare down their dishes to one dish for each family member, ie: one cup, one spoon, one plate, one fork, one knife etc. You get the picture. The reason I made these outlandish recommendations is because it would keep them from the temptation of letting dishes pile up when a last-minute showing could be booked at any hour. Seasonal clothes and shoes can easily be packed up, and let’s be honest, so can nearly fifty percent of the contents of your home at this moment, if not much more. If you’re not going to use it in the next 3 months, chuck it in the box. 

When it comes to closets and pantries, the simplest and easiest to understand recommendation I can give is, “When you clean this out, it should look like someone with OCD lives here.” Meaning you can throw out your Atkins bars (you know you’re not going to try that diet again), chuck the beef stock that has hardened and crusted in the can, and think seriously about donating anything else to the people of Japan. (Shameless Plug: Donate to Japan right here!)

My biggest concern with closets and pantries is that the floor area is clear. If the floor area is totally clear of storage, junk,    or debris, it will make the whole space appear to be bigger. We want our closet spaces to look bigger, just ask any woman with warm blood pumping through her veins how important closet space is to her. 

So what do you do with all of your knick knacks, kids’ soccer trophies, and frayed towels which were received as a wedding gift in 1988? Well it’s pretty simple; there’s not special trick to this one. Just pack it up. “But, Rachel, what do I do with it once I’ve packed it up?” Well, in keeping with being the facetious little critter that I am, I will answer your question by telling you what not to do.

·       Do not pack up all your stuff and put it in the garage

·       Do not pack up all your stuff and put it in the basement

·       Do not pack up all your stuff and put it in the closets.

Yes, I’m afraid that leaves you with very few options. What I tell my staging clients is that they have two options, as I see them, in deciding what to do with all their extra stuff. Find a loving friend or family member with a garage or basement that you can use for a couple months, or use PODS or the like. I’m a fan of PODS because they’re so easy to use, but there are other companies out there that will store your stuff.

If you must, must, must store your extras in your home, you can store them in the basement. But you must line and stack them (safely) against the walls so that your potential Hamilton Real Estate Buyers can get a sense of the floor space down there. The same goes for the garage, if needed. 

So this week, pack it up, pack it in, and minimize. More next week on making your home stand out!

Until Next Time…

Blessings

Rachel Vanderveen is a Calgary Real Estate agent specializing in Calgary condos, home staging and Calgary investment real estate.  But more importantly she is a mother to four adorable children, and an avid Real Estate Blogger. For more information on buying a Home in Calgary, or searching Calgary MLS Listings, visit her website here.