<<< back to article list

Counter Clutter


Blog by Matt Carre | September 19th, 2011


How many times have you heard this one; “if you are selling your house you have to take everything off of your kitchen counters”?  I say that’s ridiculous!  If your counters are completely clear then it doesn’t look very homey.  If the home has a warm feeling buyers will be more attracted to it.  Think of the evolution of show homes, they used to be blank slates and now the table is set, there is fake fruit on the table and sometimes (if you’re lucky) they bake bread or cookies in the oven for that "at home scent".

Take inventory of what’s on your counter, you will likely need to edit.  Common appliances you see on the counter are coffee makers, toasters and stand mixers.  But if you have every small appliance you own out on the counter buyers will think there isn’t much storage.  If that is the case don’t draw attention to it.  Pack away the items you aren’t using on a regular basis – you’re going to have to pack it sooner or later so there is no harm in starting now.  Notice I said “items you aren’t using”.  I have said it before and I will say it again; I strongly believe that you still have to be able to live in your home while it’s for sale.  So don’t pack up the coffee pot you use it everyday, instead pack away the espresso machine you haven’t touched since you opened it on your wedding day.

Be mindful of the back of the stove too.  Displaying 17 bottles of spices looks cluttered.  Keep it to salt and pepper and maybe a cute oil & vinegar set.  Another clutter zone in the kitchen is the fridge.  Although you think little Timmy is a DaVinci in the making, buyers will just find it distracting.  I don’t mean distracting like they can’t see the kitchen because of it, I mean subconsciously distracting.  You want the buyer’s eye to go smoothly around the room and not stop and be distracted by unnecessary items.  The fridge is often a place where people will post notes or calendars for everyone in the home to see and use.  While this is very functional it results in having your personal information on display so tuck it away for showings.  Find a spot in a drawer near the fridge where you can quickly grab the items on your fridge and put them away, then when you return home you can put it up again and carry on.

I usually spend a lot of time in the kitchen when I am showing buyers a home.  We will generally tour the whole house and then naturally come back to the kitchen to discuss the home and its pros and cons. Just like a party – it always ends up in the kitchen, so make it a pleasant place to be.