Will your hoarding habits harm your sale?

When it comes to selling a property, there is a fine line between ‘homely’ and ‘hoarding’. A quick scan of the internet reveals numerous surveys showing what buyers find off putting when searching for a new home. Something that crops up time and time again is clutter, with junk knocking anywhere between 10% and 20% off a home’s value.

Despite potentially losing sellers thousands of pounds, we have been revealed to be a nation of stockpilers. A One Poll for Dr Beckmann questioned 2,000 people about their hoarding habits and found 40% of Brits hang on to useless or unwanted items. Of those, there were 10 mentioned more frequently:

A box of cables/chargers 40%

Old magazines 23%

Packaging from an expensive purchase 21%

Unmatched socks 18%

Childhood toys 17%

Expired spices 17%

Ticket from an event 16%

Takeaway menus 14%

A broken remote 14%

Expired cleaning products 12%

3 ways clutter can harm a property sale:

1. A negative first impression: potential buyers make snap judgements based on what they see, whether that’s the photos contained in a listing or what’s in front of them during a viewing. Piles of old magazines, an excess of cleaning products and a tangle of cables can give them the impression there isn’t enough storage or the home is a little unloved. 

2. Obscuring true potential: when clutter builds up, it can make it hard for prospective purchasers to see the true potential of the property, with room layouts and proportions misrepresented. Clutter can also make it hard for someone to visualise themselves living there, as they may feel overwhelmed by the seller’s possessions.

3. Inviting low offers: even if all the clutter will be removed when the incumbent owners moves out, initial perceptions really count. Several studies have shown that buyers will make a low offer when the property is bursting at the seams with unwanted stuff. 

All is not lost as the Dr Beckmann survey found there is growing support for the ‘lessting’ trend. ‘Lessting’ is when people learn to live with less stuff, letting go of anything that’s broken or unnecessary

It’s a trend we are happy to see reported as sellers should always try and streamline their home before they appoint an estate agent. Of those questioned, it was Generation X (those aged between 45-60 years old) who were keen to declutter, with 55% on board with the idea of ‘lessting’

Millennials were also shown to have strong ‘lessting’ instincts, keen to raise some cash by selling unwanted items and striving for a greater sense of happiness with fewer material possessions. 

If you would like to try ‘lessting’ before selling your home, we suggest the following:

• Give yourself plenty of time: decluttering is a physical activity that can’t be underestimated – it will take longer than you think.

• Buy a book: if you don’t know where to start, buying a decluttering guide can help. Marie Kondo’s are excellent when it comes to letting go of personal possessions. 

• Work on a small area at a time: tackle one room at a time or focus on hotspots, such as an under-stairs cupboard.

• Be prepared for it to be emotional: you may come across sentimental or triggering items, so be kind to yourself.

• Arm yourself with the right equipment: you’ll need refuse bags, recycling boxes and perhaps a shredder for disposing of sensitive documents.

Once you have kicked the hoarding habit, or if you already have a simplified, sleek home, contact us for a free, no-obligation valuation.