Say any word fifteen times in a row, and it will momentarily lose all meaning.

But the word “clutter” is very common in real estate, and it’s a word you don’t want to hear about your listing.

The appearance and condition of a house or condo goes a long way towards selling it…..or not.

Not every house or condo sale is an absolute slam dunk, no matter how hot the market, the area, or the street itself are.

People routinely spend thousands and thousands of dollars “staging” their houses, and have been known to go as far as moving every single piece of their own furniture out, while paying a company to bring “show pieces” in.

But looking at things on a smaller scale can help put the importance of “clutter” into perspective.  Obviously spending $15,000 on staging is going to help improve the marketability of your property, but what about the little stuff?

Two weeks ago, I took on a listing in a building near my office which is notorious for quick sales.

This unit is the exact same unit as the one two floors above it, which sold six weeks ago.

We priced our unit at the exact same price, and we were off to the races.

But after two weeks, we have yet to receive an offer.

Why?

Those that know me or read my blog often enough will know that this is a rhetorical question. 

The answer……clutter.

The unit is a 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom of just under 600 square feet with an exclusive use locker and a parking space.  The upgrades are numerous from the hardwood floors to the granite counters in the kitchen, and the 9-foot ceilings give the room an even larger feel.

But the owner refuses to de-clutter his condo, as he is 70-years-old, and it doesn’t show well at all.

The unit two floors up that sold six weeks ago was an identical layout, but it was lacking the upgraded kitchen and flooring.  However, this unit was clean, de-cluttered, and it showed beautifully.

Those that can see the forest through the trees would know that the units are identical, and that the one I’ve listed is actually more valuable due to the upgrades.  But the clutter and the odd taste in furniture, artwork, and figurines might obscure people’s vision.

Take this photo for example:

Is this the ugliest chair you have ever seen in your life?

What if there were three of these ugly chairs, all different colors, scattered throughout the living room?

What could you do to remedy this situation?

No, that’s not the answer…

I was thinking more along the lines of getting rid of the furniture altogether!  This man only sits in ONE chair, since it’s clearly pointed directly across from his TV, so why not remove 3-4 of these God-awful eye-sores and put them in the storage locker for a few weeks while the unit is for sale?

Yeah, these chairs really have to go as well.  Even that lamp, as pretty as it might be….or have been…..in 1934…

And what is with the creepy Eskimo doll on the chair?  Can we get rid of that too please?  Maybe just put it next to this stuffed bird to look after:

And if the bird is unavailable, maybe we can just ask the owl in the hall closet:

So maybe I’m using humor to make my point, but I think the point is getting across by now….no?

Okay, one more example:

There are close to thirty of these “chotchka’s” scattered throughout this small, 1-bedroom condominium, and they combine with the artwork, the furniture, and the general decor to take away from what is an otherwise beautiful condominium.

I personally believe that the decision to not de-clutter this unit could cost the owner anywhere from $5,000 – $10,000.

If I were showing a unit to my buyer-client and that unit were in less-than-stellar condition, I’d say, “Excellent, this works well for us!”  Because I would know that many other buyers out there are turned off by the decor and condition of the unit, and that we could get the unit for less than market value.

If this unit completely vacant, it would show a heckuva-lot better than it currently does.  And there are buyers out there with absolutely zero imagination who are unable to see the proverbial forest through the trees.  They want perfection from the onset, and they look past the layout, the upgrades, and the building right to the statues of two 18th century debutantes having tea or the horrific yellow chair.

Many sellers don’t want the selling process to disturb their lifestyle, but for $5,000, isn’t that a sacrifice you have to make?

People often say “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” but when it comes to clutter in a house or condo that is about to go on the market, it’s the small stuff that can make a big impact…