☝How Clutter can ruin your home sale with lower offers

 How to deal with House Clutter

Dealing with Clutter

Selling a house can be a daunting and stressful task, especially when dealing with clutter. It is one of the most significant impediments to selling a property as it can make the house look disorganized, cramped, and unattractive to potential buyers. In this blog post, we will discuss how clutter hinders the sale of a house and provide suggestions on how to declutter your home to make it more appealing to potential buyers.

Clutter can give the illusion of a smaller house. A cluttered room makes it difficult for buyers to appreciate the true size and potential of the space. It can also hinder their ability to imagine themselves living in the home, which could discourage them from making an offer. To address this problem, remove unnecessary items from each room, and rearrange furniture to create more space. This will give buyers a better idea of how the space can be utilized and make the room look larger. Renting a storage space to store items that you don't need at the moment could be helpful. There are several storage facilities in Westchester with great deals currently available.

Clutter can create a perception of an unkempt and dirty house. A cluttered home is usually associated with poor housekeeping, which may cause buyers to assume that the house has not been well-maintained. This could lead to lower offers or no offers at all. To avoid this, ensure that the house is always tidy and clean by frequently dusting, vacuuming, and wiping down surfaces. Store away items that are not in use, and ensure that all trash is properly disposed of. I have contacts for several cleaning services that can be of help.

Clutter can divert buyers' attention from the house's features. When buyers are distracted by clutter, they may miss important features such as a fireplace, crown molding, or hardwood floors. To ensure that buyers notice the positive aspects of the home, it is important to remove all unnecessary items from each room. This will help to draw attention to the unique features of the home and make it more appealing to potential buyers.

Personal items can make it difficult for buyers to picture themselves living in the home. When a house is filled with personal items such as family photos, trophies, or collections, buyers may struggle to envision themselves in the space. To create a blank slate that allows buyers to imagine their belongings in the house, depersonalize the space. Remove all personal items, and consider painting the walls in a neutral color. This will make the space more attractive to a wider range of buyers.

Clutter can make it difficult for buyers to navigate the home. When a house is cluttered, it can be challenging for buyers to move through the space and understand the layout. This could make the home feel uninviting and cramped. To combat this problem, remove all unnecessary items from each room and create clear paths for buyers to walk through. This will make the house feel more open and spacious.

Finally, clutter can make it challenging for buyers to visualize the potential of the space. When a house is cluttered, buyers may struggle to imagine how they could utilize the space to meet their needs. To help buyers envision the potential of the house, it is important to stage each room in a way that showcases its unique features. Use furniture and accessories to create a functional and welcoming space that buyers can imagine themselves living in.

Clutter can be a significant obstacle when it comes to selling a house. It can make the house appear smaller, less inviting, and less appealing to potential buyers. To declutter your home, keep it clean and tidy, remove unnecessary items from each room, and create a neutral and welcoming space that allows buyers to envision themselves living in the home. By following these tips, you can increase the appeal of your house and sell it faster.

Concerned about frozen pipes in your home- You should be concerned

 

The Dangers of Frozen Plumbing

As a Realtor, I have witnessed the aftermath of a few homes, especially vacant ones, suffering from frozen pipes. The damage caused by thawing pipes can be extensive and costly to repair. To prevent this from happening in a vacant home, there are steps you should take. If you are in a home and the power goes out and there is no heat, it is important to know how to turn off the main water valve to prevent a potential disaster. This past weekend, our own home lost power, and with outside temperatures dropping to -2 degrees Fahrenheit, I was worried about our pipes freezing. Within a few hours, the temperature inside our home dropped to 48 degrees and the temperature kept falling. Fortunately, I was able to prevent any damage by closing the water system and draining it before the pipes could freeze

Many years ago, I was scheduled to show a vacant estate. When we arrived at the house, we were met with the devastating sight of a flooded house in the middle of winter, a true disaster.

Here are the steps to take to prevent a frozen pipe

Homeowners in the Northeast face a significant risk of frozen pipes, which can result in costly water damage and insurance claims. In fact, water damage and freezing claims were the second-most common type of claims in the US between 2016 and 2020, with the average loss amounting to $11,650. To protect your home, it's important to understand which pipes are most vulnerable and take steps to prevent them from freezing.

Four types of pipes are particularly susceptible to freezing: uninsulated pipes, pipes located on the exterior of the home, pipes in unheated areas such as basements, garages, attics, and crawl spaces, and copper or galvanized steel pipes. Other areas in the home, such as washing machine hoses and sink pipes, are also at risk. Outdoors, spigots, sprinkler systems, and swimming pool lines may also freeze if not properly insulated.

To prepare your pipes for colder weather, there are several steps you can take: drain and store outdoor hoses, open outdoor hose spigots and close the indoor valves, insulate pipes in unheated areas, maintain a consistent indoor temperature, and let water trickle through pipes during cold nights. You can also invest in tools and products such as a Wi-Fi Leak & Freeze Detector, heating cables, insulated tape, and outdoor faucet covers.

In the event that pipes do freeze, follow these steps to prevent disaster: shut off the main water valve, call a plumber if the frozen pipe is inaccessible, use warm air to thaw the pipe, and slowly turn the water back on while watching for leaks. If a pipe bursts, shut off the water immediately and contact a plumber.

By taking these preventative steps, you can protect your home against the damaging effects of frozen pipes.

The Current Real Estate Market in Westchester County

 

This photo shows the dip in Westchester County home sales - this is most likely due to the lack of inventory in the market.  This may indicate that we have many potential pent up home sellers

The photo below shows that prices for modest single-family homes are still going up - showing that there is still a lot of demand from buyers.
 

Beautiful Kitchens that channel your inner Gordon Ramsey

Here are some pictures of various kitchens in Westchester.  For all those buyers who want to channel their inner Chief - These homes may be for you.  Polished granite countertops, brushed stainless steel, fresh herbs, open light, drinks all the great stuff for amazing weekend get-togethers and festive holiday celebrations.