Selling your home? Don't Forget about the Pantry!
So you're selling your home. You've probably cleaned and purged and organized. Every inch of every room, every closet, every cabinet..... Don't forget about the Pantry.
It may seem silly, but if your pantry is overflowing with boxes and cans and bags.... It can turn a buyer off. Especially if the buyer loves to cook. A messy and overstocked pantry can make a normally wonderful pantry look small and inadequate.
We've been having cooler weather here on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina (it's fabulous), which forces me to open the windows, let in the fresh air, and CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. I started my morning at the Grocery Store, and when I returned home and couldn't find any room in the pantry for my purchases, I knew I had to add the pantry to my list of projects to tackle.
- Start by removing EVERYTHING! Vacuum out any crumbs and wipe down every surface. If possible, add a liner to the shelves to make future cleanings a breeze.
- Then start placing items back, in an organized manner. Place the items you don't use frequently on the top shelf, and the items you use the most at eye level. I keep the snacks and juice boxes on the bottom shelf so Tanner, my six year old, can help himself.
- As you are placing the items back on the shelves, check expiration dates and freshness of items like crackers, chips, cookies, etc. If items are still good, but something that you will never use donate them to your local food bank. Or maybe you stocked up on items that you will not be able to use before they expire... donate those items too. Your local food bank will thank you and your pantry will look great with the added space. Make sure you place items in order of purchase or expiration date.... Oldest up front.
- I recommend using baskets or bins to store such items as Cookie & muffin mixes, soup mixes, etc. so they don't get lost in the shuffle. They often get pushed to the back and forgotten, what a waste.
Once you finish, your pantry will look much larger and more organized. You'll be able to complete your grocery list quicker knowing what you do and don't have, you'll save money by not buying items you don't need, and potential buyers will not be turned off by the lack of space. Hopefully, with the added space you've created, you can take the items off the top of the refrigerator and place them in the pantry where they belong. Now, tackle the refrigerator, freezer, and counter tops for the removal of any "food clutter"! Believe me.... It makes a big difference in the Buyer's Eyes!
Amy Hahn
Pine Knoll Shores Realty
252-723-7972 * 252-727-5000 * 800-605-8598
For all of your real estate needs on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina
