Why Can’t I Sell My House

I don’t know if I mentioned this or not but we have sold our house.  It was not really on the market but someone in our neighborhood asked us is we have ever considered selling it.  I told her that we were thinking about down sizing.  I have four children and they are all grown and gone.  I told her I would asked my husband and of course he said, “Everything is for sale, for the right price.”  So that is how it innocently started.

This is the third house we have sold.  Each one has been different.  They have all had different qualities, been in different neighborhoods and started at different price points.   We have never had them on the market for very long.  This house we did not have on the market at all.  I believe it was just divine intervention because I did say one time that God would have to send someone to my door before I would sell this house.

Now we are in the process of looking at houses again to buy and I just wanted to mention a few things about buying and selling houses.  If  you are selling a house I want to give you a few ideas about how to sell your house.

Declutter

I know  you may think you have already done this but do it again.  Even if you have to box some things up that you really want to keep.  Take them out of your house.  One of the most crucial areas you have to do this is your closets.  When someone comes in your house to look around they are going to open all of your closet doors.  That includes  your bedroom closet, your broom closet and your linen closet.

Bedroom Closet

• When they open your bedroom closet and see your clothes so jam-packed in there that nothing else will fit, red flags will go off.  As a matter of fact when I look in a closet jam-packed I get nervous.  I think “my clothes will never fit it here.” People need to see the back of your closet somewhere when they look in there.  Seeing the wall behind the rod shows that there is space in the closet and it is not so crowded looking.
• Your shoes should be lined up nice and neatly.  If you are crazy about shoes and have 100 pair then each pair needs to have it’s own home.  If each pair does not have a home then take some out.  If you can’t part with a single pair then store them somewhere until you sell your house.
• Belts, hats and pocketbooks also need their very own space.  They should not be laying on the floor or haphazardly laying around.  They need to be in containers or on hooks.  If you have too many for the space in your closet then take some away or give half of them to charity.

Linen Closet

• The linen closet requires the same amount of attention.  It must look spacious as well.  You should be able to see the back of the closet.
• Take all the linens out.  Fold the towels neatly and set them on the shelf.
• Take all the sheets out.  Fold them and put them back on the shelf.
• Take all quilts, comforters and beach towels out.  Fold them and put them back on the shelf.
• If you have more that 1 set of sheets for your beds and more that 5 towels, get rid of them.
• If you use your linen closet to store toothpaste,shampoo or toilet paper, don’t neglect these things either.  Go to Amazon or the Container Store and buy some boxes to put these things in, like these,  Closet Organizers.
• Make your linen closet look spacious.  Take anything not being used out and get rid of it.
• The floor of your linen closet should be bare.  I mean bare, don’t leave anything on it.

Broom Closet

• Your broom closet should have nothing more than brooms, garbage bags and maybe extra paper towels in it.
• This is not to time to keep storing department store grocery bags.  Get rid of them.  Make this closet look neat and bare.

I hope you get the point.  We have looked at so many houses and I always look in the closets.  The closets tell me a lot about the house and the people that live there.  If you really can not part with all of the things in yours then like I mentioned earlier, store the stuff somewhere temporarily.  You have to make your closets appear spacious and clean.  It may seem like something that is not very important but it really is.  You must give the people a good view when it comes to what is behind those closed doors.  Take the time to straighten them up and get organized.  You will not regret it.

If you would like to send me your questions about selling your house I would love to talk to you about it.  You can even send me your pictures and we can talk.  Just email me.  I am going to talk tomorrow about some other things you can do to sell your house but feel free to email me.  Honestly, Janet