Don't Let Tiny Closets Shut Out Buyers

Walk-in closets are a necessity for many of today’s home buyers, who have lots of stuff and need a place to store it. So if your house is lacks storage space, you have a big challenge to overcome in order to maximize buyer appeal.
Small storage areas are common in older homes and condominiums.
“We’re a consumer society, and we have more stuff than ever before,” says professional organizer Barry Izsak, owner of Arranging It All in Austin, Texas. “Twenty or thirty years ago, people didn’t have 15 pairs of black shoes.”
But even tiny closets and other storage problems are surmountable, and the hard work purging and organizing will gives sellers a head start on packing for the move — and will go a long way in winning over potential buyers. Izsak suggests telling sellers: “If a closet is packed to the gills, it’s only going to draw attention to how small it is. The smartest thing you can do is weed through what you have so the closets look ample, not overflowing.”
Sift through your belongings and clean out everything that’s not used regularly. “A rule of thumb is to have closets no more than two-thirds full,” says Terrylynn Fisher, a broker in Walnut Creek, and a trained staging expert, says prospective buyers should be able to look inside a closet and think: “I have more stuff than this. But there's extra room in the closet, so surely my things will fit.”
Bedroom closets, which can make or break a sale, need special attention when they’re on the small side. That means removing clothes, shoes, and bulky jackets that are out of season or worn only on formal occasions. But sometimes it’s not just clothes and shoes clogging up a closet. Purses, hats, and sports equipment also are commonly misplaced in bedroom closets — making the space seem smaller than it really is.