Comments on: Booklover or Clutter Bug?

By: Patricia McLinn

Patricia McLinn — Sat, 08 May 2010 19:54:07 +0000

Jane!

Storage bin? I didn’t need no stinkin’ storage bin.

Besides, you know I’m your favorite client ever. . . . Ok, my dog was your favorite client’s dog ever and you put up with me because I was on the other end of Riley’s leash.

Here’s the thing about books and house-selling. If the whole staging thing is about having the buyer imagining they would be neat and organized if they moved into that house, then why not have them imagine they’d become interesting and well-read, too (as we all, ahem, know that booklovers are)?

And since you are such a terrific Realtor, I knew you could made prospective buyers see bookshelves as the benefit they truly are.

By: Patricia McLinn

Patricia McLinn — Sat, 08 May 2010 19:37:40 +0000

Michelle, I’m so pleased to hear that you’re a reader, too.

I concede that the books need to be neat and non-dusty for anyone selling a house.

Maybe even slices of space here and there to show the depth of the room or the beautiful woodgrain of built-ins. (But the house better sell fast, because that space is a vacuum that will suck in new books in any booklover’s house.)

But, please, NOT the clutter label!

By: Jane Jensen

Jane Jensen — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:53:34 +0000

Ok, speaking as a realtor…….or should I say “the” realtor mentioned in this blog….you know what they say; you can lead a client to the storage bin but you can’t make them put stuff in it.
I’m all for the books. I am in two book clubs and totally get it, but look at this way, if you have too many of them on the shelf, none of them will stand out.
Pat’s house was great and would have sold with or without the book removal but a little less stuff (whatever it is) never hurts.

By: Michelle Yackel, Divine Redesigns

Michelle Yackel, Divine Redesigns — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:58:28 +0000

I’m laughing at how my quote for HGTV.com on staging bookshelves became another full-page article! My advice still stands for those who are SELLING their homes – there should be space on the bookshelves. Those of you bibliophiles who continue to live in your homes are welcome to stack them high and wide wherever you find space! BTW, I read about 3 books a week, so my shelves probably look similar to many of yours!

By: Patricia McLinn

Patricia McLinn — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:31:58 +0000

Oh, but Louise, stairs are such natural-born bookholders. You can stack them up on each step until they’re even with the step above (or a little extra) and/or put them between the balusters, and I can even rest a book or three or four atop the closing swirl of the newel non-post!

By: Patricia McLinn

Patricia McLinn — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:27:52 +0000

I love to hear Dina and Susan got bookcases. After clearing out a filing cabinet to make room, I’m ordering the one I mentioned before.

Then I was looking at benches to go at the end of a bed. The one I was looking at had open space underneath that was divided by two vertical boards to make 3 “cubbies.” It struck me that one horizontal shelf would make 2 bookshelves instead. Hmmm, now all I have to do is find a carpenter

By: louise

louise — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:32:24 +0000

Advice to the addicted: Do not ever start the habit of putting a book on the stairs (not even for a second) It is fatal.

By: louise

louise — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:31:02 +0000

I’ve also been trying to pack away the (triple stacked) collection. As fast as I pack …… Yes they DO breed!
My organization warning gets tripped (literally) when the temporary piles on the staircase landslide.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:33:48 +0000

I just got another bookcase! This one is bigger than my other ones are.

By: Dina

Dina — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:46:41 +0000

I had to buy a bookcase, because I was using up my dresser space, but still have lots of room.