Feb. 15, 2019.
Home sellers know how hard it is to get a handle on decluttering before it’s time to list their house. But clearing out personal items and decor makes space for buyers to picture themselves living there.
Anyone getting ready to sell can start feeling lucky. Marie Kondo, the new Netflix star and Japanese organizing consultant behind the KonMari Method of Tidying Up, is taking over the Internet — and sellers’ houses. Her handy sorting and releasing tips make it easier to get rid of years of belongings we probably don’t need to take from one home to the next.
How to ‘Marie Kondo’ your home before you sell it
Organizing is on trend, but Kondo’s the one who started it. She explains how her method works:
The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go.
Objectively looking at all of your possessions helps you sort through what you want to keep for sentimental value and what you can get rid of. The KonMari Method not only frees up more space to keep or add the items to your new home that bring you joy, but it also greatly simplifies packing and moving.
It could even increase profit. In the largest home staging study, conducted by the Home Staging Resource (HSR) in 2018, 85 percent of staged homes sold for 6 to 25 percent more than homes that were unstaged. Hiring a professional is helpful for those who can afford it, but many sellers are using Kondo’s resources to take on their own home prep.
Learn more ways to tidy up your home — and your mortgage — when you follow us on Facebook.
Kondo’s six basic rules of tidying up are simple:
1. Commit yourself to tidying up.
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
3. Finish discarding first.
4. Tidy by category, not by location.
5. Follow the right order.
6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy.
During a showing, first impressions are everything. Set aside some time to look through your house with fresh eyes (or Marie Kondo’s eyes) before you or your realtor bring in a photographer to take listing photos. In each room, look for any item, decor style, or piece of furniture that sticks out and that a buyer would notice.
Sentimental items don’t necessarily have to go, but consider packing and storing them away from the public eye. Keeping special items safe will give you peace of mind during open houses and showings. And, it’ll minimize how much you have to pack when your house sells, and you’re ready to move.
Simplify your move and save your sanity
Here’s another way to zap the stress of selling and moving: Reach out to your loan officer whenever you need help or advice. Local loan officers are always available to answer questions about your loan paperwork and keep you up-to-date on the next steps in your mortgage. And once you sell, you could get into a new home in 10 days.
For educational purposes only. Please contact your qualified professional for specific guidance.
Sources are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Image credit: mariekondo/Instagram