Selling and Decluttering – Bathrooms
Posted on January 8, 2010
Filed Under Listing and Selling Your Home, Valerie Zinger
The two most important rooms to feature when selling your home are the kitchen and bathroom. Bathrooms can be the easiest and least expensive update and decluttering job.
If you want to have a visual image, think of a spa bathroom – either calming beige/browns or clean pale blue/greens with white fixtures, baseboards and trim. You want the Buyer to think of the bathroom as a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle.
In almost every bathroom (pre-sale) there are a myriad of personal things scattered around the room. Before the house goes on the market, these have to be removed and replaced with a couple of simple, non-personal decorative items. See the included picture – the focus is on the wall art – no toothbrushes or colourful toiletries to distract.
Here are a few guidelines to help you:
- Clean as though your mother-in-law will be giving you the white glove test. The bathroom is where you will want to clean to the point of sanitization – no muck, no guck. Remember to keep it clean throughout the sale.
- Get rid of toilet tank covers, toilet seat covers and floor mats. You might keep a nice clean white or neutral mat draped over the side of the tub for when you need it after a bath.
- Remove the toothbrush, paste, creams, lotions and personal potions to storage baskets or boxes. Unless these are part of a storage display, put them away.
- Clean fluffy white towels need to replace the heap of old towels that you use on a daily basis. You might want to hide the daily towels in the hamper when there is a showing.
- If you have a shower curtain, buy a crisp white fabric curtain with a plastic liner that sits inside the tub. Every Buyer checks the tub so do not hide your mess behind the curtain.
- Bring as much light into the room as possible. Keep the curtains open during showings and have the window treatment in a nice clean white fabric or shutter. New light fixtures are a wonderful economic treat.
- Don’t stink up your bathroom with room fresheners. Buyers start looking for sewer back-up or mould when they smell an overpowering floral scent. Building codes say you have to have operable fans in bathrooms. Check to make sure yours works.
- Don’t stockpile toilet paper and supplies.
Think Zen and the Art of Making Bathrooms Attractive
Photo credit: Our Bathroom @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparker/2304846284/
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Welcome
My name is Valerie Zinger. I am a Realtor in Ottawa. I look forward to listing your property or helping you find your home.
Phone: 613-723-5300 Click here to contact Valerie by Email at:
vzinger@royallepage.ca-
