Clearing the "cabinet cholesterol" & why it's good for selling your home

I spent my Memorial Day at home this year.  What some may call a "staycation".  However my idea of lounging by the pool and enjoying the weather went out the window when I realized I'd be hosting family in a couple of weeks for my eldest's graduation from high school. I am very happy they'll be here and there's nothing like hosting company to get your cleaning juices flowing.

For some reason I decided I needed to clean out the cabinets in my kitchen knowing my sister and mother-in-law would most certainly be using said cabinets while they're here.  With kids helping unload the dishwasher, stocking the pantry and the occasional several weeks that go by with things shoved willy nilly into the pantry, things in a well-lived-in kitchen can get out of hand.  As long as I know where things are I'm OK with it not always being perfect and thank goodness, I am NOT selling my home.   

But that brings me to the point of this blog.  When selling a home you have to treat everyday as if company were coming and yes, that company will look in your cabinets! And with that in mind...

Does your storage space suffer from "cabinet cholesterol" ? You know the kind....

• Things falling out when you open the doors
• Pots stacked in pots stacked in Tupperware bowls as old as my mom and lids you have no idea what they fit anymore? 
• A pantry full of stuff but most you won't eat or started to eat and never finished?
• Potatoes that have started a family of their own
• Canned foods that have exceeded their shelf life and stuffed behind 3 bottles of marinade that sounded good at the time but now make you queasy to look at?

The list goes on. 

Cabinet cholesterol can be hazardous in more ways than if a pot falls on your head. Insects may take residence. Spills happen often overlooked in a crowded pantry or fridge. Foodstuffs that may have exceeded their shelf life could be potentially eaten by others who may not be as careful to look at expiration dates. My own sister is guilty of that one and she's not 13. Not to mention it's frustrating and stressful when you can't find something you know you have...somewhere...

So for 2 days - give or take several hours in between doing other things, I spent cleaning out my kitchen cabinets.  From the junk drawer to the pantry, I went to town.

Saddled with a large garbage can by my side as I stood in front of the pantry I finally got rid of that almost finished bag of croutons that "I could always reheat in the oven and make fresh again" NOT!, picked up the stray birdseed that found it's way on the floor more times than I'd like to mention and disinfected the empty shelves for the first time in probably more than a year.

And boy did I feel good! 

Even though the rest of the house wasn't my focus, I actually felt like my whole house was cleaner after the cabinets were cleared of their clutter and thoroughly cleaned.  It was not only a physical cleansing but a psychological one too.  It felt wonderful, freeing and good to know that my cabinets  were organized and easy to access for the company that would be using them.  I wanted to give them the experience of ease of use while they are guests in my home. like a hotel, and that's the same experience we should give our potential buyers when they preview our home. 

I also gave myself that gift too, now only if I can keep it that way...

Deep down we may want to live like that everyday, and in a perfect world we might. However the reality is we have lives outside our homes and clearing the cabinet cholesterol is not high on the priority list for most people.  But when selling it's important to capture that "ease of use" feeling and clean, clear and clutter free living for our buyers. Just like I'd like my company to feel while they're guests in my home.

Clearing the cholesterol in your cabinets is not only good for your own mental well being but the health of your home and the reaction your buyers will give when they get that same good feeling about living in the home you've prepared for your "invited guests". 

This is after all what buyers are essentially, invited guests you'd like to purchase your home.

North Texas home sellers do you still need an objective eye to help get your home "invited guest ready" ? Need the 'eyes of the buyer' who can constructively move you toward your goal  - the successful and profitable sale of your house?  Look no further Home Star Staging  can provide you with tips to sell your home and give you the feedback you need. Home Star Staging is here for you North Texas!

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 Copyright 2009 Karen Otto