Well here's another hit over the head Sellers on decluttering your home and removing the #1 eyesore source of clutter - the refrigerator stuff! Yes, it's cute your kids did that dinosaur freehand in charcoal but you don't need it when selling your home! Uncle Bob with that photoshopped fish he caught in Minnesota can also be put away.
As this post from stager Jennifer Grant in South Carolina points out, buyers look everywhere and expect everything to be clean especially in the kithen! Words like 'Sparkle and Shine' should be the norm not the exception!
Here's another post I did on the same subject 'It better Shine'.
Please take the magnets, pictures and drawings OFF the refrigerator!
As a Mom of 5, I totally understand all the love and special things that are proudly displayed on the refrigerator.
As a home stager, I cringe when people expect to show a property with ALL these things displayed to the potential home buyer. Remove all items from the exterior of the refrigerator. Rather than have a buyer remember all your lovely kids, dogs, great Aunt Sally and cousin Lou along with what sporting events your kids will be at the next month, let the refrigerator blend into the room as part of the space, not an island unto itself. DEPERSONALIZE! You want the potential home buyer to "imagine' themselves in the house and that can't be achieved with your wonderful pictures of the family plastered all the refrigerator. It can also be distracting....after all you want them looking at your gorgeous, clean kitchen, not the photos of your family!
Don't forget home buyers look EVERYWHERE! The refrigerator seems to be the location that attracts some of the ugliest of grime. Yet, it is one of the most important places to keep clean. Make sure you clean and organize your refrigerator disposing of any foul odor foods, wiping down all the ketchup stained bottles and a thorough cleaning, especially if you are including appliances in the sale of your home. Don't forget to wipe down the outside of the refrigerator before showing the home for sale. Your motto should be sparkle and shine!
Replacing appliances in the kitchen will be one of the biggest returns on investment. If the refrigerator is beyond help please suggest to your clients they replace it and any other kitchen appliance that is beyond repair or reconditioning. They should be able to easily recoup the cost or take it with them when the home sales.
Thanks for visiting my site! Please visit often for upcoming homestaging tips and creative ideas!
Jennifer Grant
843-457-2167
Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Low Country Home Staging & Interior Design
Website:http://www.lowcountryhomestaging.com
Email:jennifer@lowcountryhomestaging.com
We just did that at my house and it feels strange. the refrigerator looks naked.
Lyn: There is a challenge expecting people to change the way they live. People are who they are … some people live every day in a home that looks staged … not many … there are a few. I know when I go on a listing appointment if this will be an area of challenge … thanks for sharing. All we can do is advise and recommend.
This is so right that buyers do look everywhere.
Things must be spotless too
your friend in Charlottesville Virginia!
Charles: Sellers don't realize that the buyer feels 'compelled' to look at their stuff on the frig instead of looking at the possibilities of the kitchen! It's the same with personal family photos all over the house, the buyers eyes are just magically drawn there instead of the room. Human nature.
Kathleen: Well, I can't agree with you there. I think that for too long agents have let sellers off the hook even though they know otherwise. Afraid to speak up? Some agents don't want to offend. I would prefer to be proactive and tell the sellers what the buyers always do and remove the clutter so the room shows its potential. IMO
Clean and neat is so important, but, be careful not to make the place sterile! Many people can not see or imagine what place may look like with thier stuff. I get many comments that "This house feels like a home", when I see pictures around. Over loaded so you can't find the fridge is no good. I have had more people turned off by what they saw when they opened the refridgerator door!
Bill: Just to clarify - sterile is for the INSIDE of the refrigerator.