Using Self Storage to Sell Your Home Faster
How to create a good first impression
Most estate agents will tell you that if you want your home to sell quickly, you need to present it in its best light. It needs to appear clean, inviting and spacious: clutter-free and depersonalised as much as possible. Potential buyers need to be able to see the space available and imagine how they'll use it, which means minimal furniture and furnishings on display, and personal items stashed out of sight.
Decluttering to that extent can pose practical difficulties, especially if you're going to be living in the house until it sells. If you're not planning to sell, donate or otherwise get rid of your furniture and belongings, temporary use of a self storage unit can be a very practical solution. Here's how to use it to improve your chances of a quick sale.
Making a great first impression
Your listing photos will be competing with countless others online. Buyers want to see space, functionality and light, not knick-knacks, the worn patch on your sofa, or the wires connecting your TV to your children's various games consoles.
Decluttering is a good idea before moving house anyway, because it will make moving day easier (and potentially cheaper). To get your home ready for listing photos and viewings, think about removing the following:
Living room
- Photos and personal ornaments
- Books and magazines
- Unnecessary electronics
- Extra furniture you don't use every day
Then add some fresh flowers, a couple of neatly folded throws and a few cushions to give the room a polished, welcoming feel.
Kitchen
- Knife block
- Bread bin
- Dish rack
- Anything stuck to the fridge door
- Mop and broom
Leave only your toaster, kettle, and any neat, attractive equipment that fits your counters without making them look busy. A coffee machine or bread maker can actually add to the effect if they're tidy.
Home office
- Paperwork and stationery
- Visible cables and wires
Tuck your chair in, and if your files don't sit neatly on the shelves, consider moving as many as possible into storage, along with any surplus shelving units, to make the room feel larger.
Bedroom
- Excess bedding
- Out-of-season clothes (to free up wardrobe space)
- Bedside clutter
Make the bed up freshly with plumped pillows and clean sheets. It makes more difference than almost anything else in a bedroom photo.
Outside
Clear out your garage or shed so it looks like there's plenty of room for a car, garden tools, or outdoor furniture. Buyers always look, and a packed garage raises questions.
Making that first impression last
Your listing photos will look great once you've created this decluttered, show-home feel. But if your excess belongings are simply stuffed into cupboards, drawers, the garage or the loft, viewers coming to see the house will soon see through it.
Viewers will open drawers and cupboards, and look in the garage and loft. They want to know where they could put their own things, and if every corner is packed, it will put them off. So what do you do with the items you still need, but can't leave on display?
Use self storage to depersonalise without disrupting your life
Decluttering to stage your home for sale is quite different from a general clear-out, as it will affect belongings you fully intend to keep and take with you to your next home. A self storage unit means you won't be rushed into decisions about what to keep or discard, and you can present your home at its best without having to part with anything.
Pack away your personal items, bold décor choices and excess furniture so that buyers can see the space and potential your home has to offer. Your belongings will be safe, clean and dry until you want them back.
How does self storage work for temporary decluttering?
You can rent a self storage unit with Safestore for as little as long asyou need. You can access your unit whenever you like during normal trading hours, to add things or take them back out.
In practice, it works like this:
- Move excess belongings into your unit ahead of listing photos or viewings.
- Relax knowing everything is safe, clean and dry while your home is on the market.
- Retrieve items whenever you need them, or simply when you want them back at home.
One more benefit worth mentioning
As well as making your home feel larger and easier for buyers to picture themselves in, having fewer belongings around makes it much easier to keep clean between viewings, which is no small thing when you're still living there.
If you have the time, budget and energy, it's also much easier to give rooms a fresh coat of paint, or at least touch up scuffs and chips, when the furniture and clutter are safely out of the way.
Can we help?
Preparing a home for sale is already a lot to manage, and storage shouldn't be another thing to stress about. If you'd like a price for renting a unit while your house is on the market, we'd be happy to help. We can point you to your nearest store, advise on the right unit size, and make the whole process as straightforward as possible. Get in touch whenever you're ready.
