Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid while Buying or Selling a Home

​We all know that feeling of moving into a new home, unpacking and then realizing there were some things we should have paid closer attention to. Here are the Top 3 Mistakes to avoid while buying or selling a home from a Professional Organizer's perspective.  

Mistake Number 1: Underestimating how much storage space you need.

You want to ensure you choose a home with enough storage in the basement and enough closet, pantry, kitchen and garage space for your family's needs. People often get swept away with the size of a home, architectural features or zip code. If the primary bedroom closet is a nightmare or you have nowhere to store your holiday décor or children's sports equipment, your new home will feel cramped. Storage space is essential, so here are some questions to keep in mind:

• Is there a storage room in the basement, and how does the square footage compare to your current storage situation? If less than you currently have, could you realistically purge enough for your belongings to fit in a new, smaller storage room?  
• What is the pantry like, and how does it compare to your current pantry? If you're used to a large walk-in pantry, but this new kitchen only has space in the cabinets to store food, would that realistically work for your family? If there is a walk-in pantry, how does the square footage compare to what you currently have?
• How does the square footage of the kitchen and number of cabinets compare to what you currently have? Are the cabinets well designed? What do the corner cabinets look like? Is there room for a command station in the kitchen where you can have necessary paperwork for school, etc. stored?
• What are the bedroom closets like? Do they have quality closet systems installed, or is that an investment you’ll need to make? If you have a walk-in closet in your primary bedroom, how does the square footage compare to the square footage of the closet in the potential home?
• How much cabinet storage is there in the garage? How many stalls are in the garage? How does that compare to what you currently have? If there isn't a feasible storage system in place, are you willing to invest in having one installed?

Mistake Number 2: Underestimating how much stuff you need to move.

​Now is the time to really get down to the nitty gritty of exactly what you own in your current home. A lot of people, especially those that have lived in their homes for decades, underestimate just how much stuff they have packed into every nook and cranny from basement to attic. Get realistic about it and start going through each room evaluating what you no longer need, use or love and purge those items now. Not the day before the movers come, or the day before you’re supposed to start packing. Not once you move into your new home, but now. This will do a couple of things. It will help you know how much storage space you truly need in your new home, and it will stop you from moving literal trash or donations into your new home. How nice will that be? Go room by room and delve into every drawer, every cabinet, every closet, every dark corner of that basement and attic and unearth your treasures and trash. It is worth doing. It will help you have an honest conversation with yourself about the volume of belongings in your home.  

Mistake Number 3: Skimping on Staging.

​This means listening to your realtor when they suggest decluttering your home and taking down personal items. Hire a professional organizer and a home stager to help you maximize the flow of your home, show off its best features, and above all, help you prepare for the move. Why take the time to declutter and stage your home? It helps to sell your home faster and for more money. The proof is in the numbers, just ask your realtor. Make sure that you remove worn out or unnecessary furniture, and consider renting furniture or decor that suits the space from a professional stager. Make sure each room is well lit so that the house doesn’t feel dark and depressing. Once again, declutter to show off the counters, the floor space and the storage space so that it doesn’t look cramped and overcrowded. You want potential buyers to feel good when they walk in your home, not overwhelmed by clutter. Have you been meaning to paint? Now is the time to get that done too. Fresh paint can brighten a room and cover up any blemishes that may have happened while you were living your life in your home.  

Avoid these 3 mistakes, and buying or selling your home will be a breeze! It’s hard work but so worth it for the long-term benefits. Not sure where to begin? We can help you out with that! We’ve got a starting point figured out and know exactly how to tackle every home, no matter the square footage or volume of belongings. Let us make your home, new or old, Utterly Uncluttered!

Happy buying and selling,

Melissa Fortino