Set the Stage to Sell: A Real Estate Expert and a Professional Organizer Get Your Home Ready to Sell This Spring

Real Estate Expert Rebecca Wedmid and Pro Organizer Trish Johnson are teaming up to give you their top tips to get your home decluttered and ready to sell fast in the spring market. Their combined expertise in real estate and home organization gives sellers the tools to list their homes successfully in a competitive market.

Preparing your home for sale can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be! The great news is that if you start early with some simple steps, it will be less overwhelming in the end. Think of listing your home as a fresh start all around. Preparing for a home sale is a great way to scale back on things you no longer use as you think about packing your belongings when the time comes to move.

Save your future self time, money, and sanity by editing down now - you spend money and time packing your things and then storing or moving them. With some preparation now you save your sanity later because you won't be moving and unpacking things unnecessarily.

Declutter & Freshen Up

Uniform hangers and bins reduce visual clutter

When you list your home you want it to feel as spacious, fresh, and clean as possible. Start by going room by room and deciding if you want to keep, donate, or discard items that are filling up your spaces. Many times we collect things that are important to us, but may feel crowded to a buyer (looking at you overstuffed china cabinets and linen closets!)

As you declutter your home, remember that everything you own will need to be packed and stored or moved and then unpacked again. If something isn't worth that time, money, or effort consider letting it go.

Scale back on personal items such as family photos & knickknacks- remember we want the buyer to feel like this is their house and the best way to do this is to de-clutter and de-personalize so they can picture living in the home.

Pro Tip: To make closets appear bigger and instantly update the appearance of organization, ditch dry cleaner hangers and purchase uniform hangers. Use bins to organize stacks of clothing and cut down on visual clutter in the closet.

Complete Home Repairs

Pre-listing is also a great time to tackle those home repairs that may have accumulated over

time. What many homeowners do not realize is that they can actually hire a home inspector to do a “pre-sale” inspection. By doing so, they will get ahead of any problems that may hinder the home inspection period and will be more confident going into the sale.

A fresh coat of neutral paint and window cleaning go a LONG way. It immediately makes your home appear brighter and more polished- two things that leave a great first impression. Other services to consider are carpet and upholstery cleaning, exterior power washing, and a professional deep clean.

Crisp linens and tidy drawers showcase your home's potential

Freshen Up Linens

When the time comes to list, consider swapping out tired bedding and towels with fresh, white fluffy linens. Not only do they photograph well, it creates a clean canvas for when buyers walk through your home.

Pro Tip: Hide visual clutter by using opaque bins or baskets. Keep countertops clean and clear of unnecessary items.

Update Curb Appeal

Now is a great time to focus on the curb appeal of your home. Simple updates like manicuring the landscape around your door and pathway, painting the front door, or even something as small as a new welcome mat go a long way. Remember, this is the first impression buyers get as they walk up to tour your property, so make it a great one.

Keep decor simple and as neutral as possible so buyers can picture themselves in the home.

Set the Stage

Consider hiring a stager when listing your home for sale. It’s great to have an unbiased third party come in and go room by room giving you tips, updates, and offering suggestions on pieces and accessories that they can bring in. Staged homes tend to sell quicker and for more money. Most buyers in today’s market go online to take a first look at photos. Staging sets the scene for each room, gives buyers an idea how they would live in the space, and can truly elevate any home.

A clean, well-organized home translates in photos and in person and is the perfect first step towards selling!

XO,

Trish & Rebecca

Trish Johnson is a professional organizer and systems expert. She is a wife, mom of 3 kids, and a former elementary school teacher. Trish understands the stresses of daily life in a busy family and she truly enjoys helping people get set up with effective, organized systems that are functional as well as beautiful. Her company, This Organized Chaos, is located in New Jersey and services the surrounding areas organizing homes and small businesses.

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Born and raised in Cranford, NJ, Rebecca Wedmid is a licensed realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty in Westfield. For over a decade she has been helping buyers and sellers navigate the process of moving and all the excitement that comes with it! Rebecca is known for her attention to detail, being highly communicative, and her unwavering support for her clients.

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