The ‘Ick’ Factor

April 13, 2023 by

For the uninitiated, the ‘ick’ is a turn-off — multiplied by 10. 

We’re talking dried-out popcorn in a media room that kids inevitably try to eat; stale pasta in a jar on the kitchen counter; fake food plated up as if it’s ready to eat; or glossy, crumbly bread on a dining room table.
Preaching the houseplant gospel

When a space is filled with a bunch of fake plants, like dusty pink fabric flowers that smell like potpourri and look as real as bad taxidermy.

It makes the space feel ‘pretend,’ and does nothing to inspire the potential buyers.It’s like complicated wallpaper, eager to entertain, but all too frequently unable to oblige.



No good story started with a salad.

It’s become a staging cliché: a glass of wine sitting out on the kitchen island or a labelless alcohol bottle with colored water in it next to some martini glasses or a champagne bottle and glasses on a tub ledge.

You never know who the potential buyer may be, so it may be best to avoid staging with alcohol altogether – unless maybe on a beautifully styled bar cart.



Surprisingly unhelpful 

Table cloths are great for living in a home and entertaining. They can be beautiful, provide texture for a holiday table setting, or protection for the table itself. But they are terrible options for selling a home.



Just because it fits, doesn’t mean it fits.Out-of-scale furniture can go two ways; pieces that don’t adequately fill the room or furniture that overfills and overwhelms a space. For example, out-of-scale furniture could be a huge sofa that dominates a living space or a small rug in a large room.



Cuddle up and cozy down

Nothing says extended adolescence the way improperly made beds do.  

When styling a bed, start at the bottom – the bedskirt. The bedding should not be wrinkled, off kilter or showing the bedrails; made neatly enough to win a drill sergeant’s approval.



Contents may have shifted during flight.

To sell well is to let go well, and it all starts with a bag of shirts.When people are touring a home, they’re going to open cabinets and peek into closets. So when clothes are not colour coordinated and the garments aren’t folded consistently, it’s an “ick”. 

THE SYSTEM?

Hang clothing by category first—sleeveless, short sleeve, long sleeve, sweaters, jackets, etc. Then within each category, segment by colour, beginning with white.Toss the jumble of plastic and wire hangers. Change the hangers to a consistent style and colour. 

Similarly, kitchen cupboards, pantries or bar fridges that aren’t organized is also a huge ‘ick’.

If taking out a baking sheet involves removing six other kitchen items to be able to access it, things need to get organized – and probably purged.

TIP: Establish a zone for each category of food and items in the pantry. For example, have a section for baking, small appliances, snacks, cereal, pasta and rice, etc.



Keeping up with the Grout Lines 

Although you don’t want the bathroom to look abandoned, it’s also important to remove any signs of someone else using it. People view bathrooms as personal and private spaces. Declutter and put away all personal items…but if there really has to be tissues out – do it in style.Othewise, things could eventually go, well, down the toilet.
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