Self Storage: An Essential Home Staging Solution

Whether you are a real estate agent or a private home seller, the process of selling a home can be overwhelming. Days on the market and final selling price are key concerns for homeowners and agents alike.  

Getting a home ready for sale is key to starting off on the right foot. While landscaping, painting rooms and updating appliances are common improvements made by homeowners, decluttering is the most important step a seller can take. Organized areas can make a home appear larger, and allow the buyer to focus on the home’s selling points, instead of how much stuff is crammed into each space.  

According to a 2009 Home Sale Maximizer survey from HomeGain, which tapped into home improvement recommendations from nearly 1,000 Realtors, cleaning and decluttering ranked as the top recommendation for those selling a home. In fact, by investing as little as $200 into cleaning and de-cluttering, sellers can expect to gain anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 in selling price. Ultimately, this means more money for both the seller and the agent.

So, what can homeowners do with all of their clutter and unnecessary items?

Using Self Storage to Declutter

Self storage is the ideal place to temporarily keep unneeded items while a house is on the market. With a variety of unit sizes available, and both conventional and climate-controlled units offered, sellers and agents can turn to self storage as a solution for eliminating clutter and getting organized.

Before putting a home on the market, homeowners should evaluate all their belongings to determine what should be thrown out, what can be kept in the house, and what should be kept in a self-storage unit. Sellers should look at the appearance of the following areas:

• The layout of individual rooms
• Closets
• Shelving
• Cabinets and drawers
• Hallways
• Garages
• Outdoor areas

The idea is to allow potential buyers to envision themselves living in the seller’s home. This means removing items that are unorganized and take up unnecessary space, which can give the appearance that rooms and storage areas are smaller than they actually are. In addition, excessive personal items can be distracting to buyers.

Sold!

It is likely that any seller will find himself with an extensive collection of items that need to be temporarily moved out and kept in storage to better position the home for sale. And, once the house is sold, self storage can help to transition between homes.

Real estate agents guiding sellers through the process can help identify the areas that need decluttered, and items that might deter potential buyers from taking action. Often times, partnerships with self storage companies can be developed that allow real estate agents to pass along preferred pricing to their clients.

Self storage should be a primary consideration in the selling strategy for both agents consulting their clients, and homeowners tackling the process on their own. Regardless of the situation, using self storage to help declutter a home can help to reduce the number of days the home is on the market, and increase the chances of a higher selling price.

Related Blog Posts:

• Moving Storage Solutions
• 10 Tips for Packing and Storage
• How to Store Furniture

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Photo Credit: Diana Parkhouse

Sources:

• Realty Times: Transform Your Home With Home Staging
• Open Space Feng Shui: 10 Real-Estate Secrets for Good Feng Shui
• Realty Times: Clutter-Free Helps Sell Homes