It is amazing how much one can accumulate over the years! If you plan to sell your home, you have likely started to research the first steps to take. One suggestion that comes up over and over is decluttering your home.
Decluttering makes the home look nicer and even smell better since there are not as many items to collect dust. Potential buyers will also have an easier time envisioning the house as their own when your keepsakes and belongings are not taking up space. If you are committed to decluttering your home before you put it on the market, we have 5 tips on where to start to maximize the decluttering process before listing your home for sale.
1. Take it One Room at a Time
Decluttering can be overwhelming and emotional. Get your boxes and bags ready and clear out one room at a time. Doing this can help you get through the process more quickly and will help you process emotions in areas of your home that are especially difficult to clean.
2. Don’t Forget Closets and Cabinets
Just because you may not be able to see what is inside a closet or cabinet at first glance, does not mean you shouldn’t worry about it. Buyers are looking to see how much storage space is in the home and if your spaces are packed full or cluttered, it will make the spaces appear small and likely cause prospective buyers to be concerned about having sufficient storage for their belongings.
Start with your closets by packing away any out-of-season clothes. You won’t be needing a winter coat in the middle of July anyway. Then go through and get rid of clothes you don’t wear anymore and make sure you remove the empty hangers as well. This will make your closet appear more spacious and organized. You should do the same with your cabinets. You can pack away seasonal serving dishes and donate that juicer that you never use, along with any other kitchen appliances you don’t need.
3. Tackle the Playroom
This one will be a huge challenge, but the playroom should look as put together as the rest of your home while it is on the market. The easiest way to clean out the playroom is by packing up at least half of the toys. It would help if you also implemented a strict clean-up policy until the house sells. It will be difficult, but buyers need to see a room with toys in it instead of a gigantic mess.
4. Research Ahead of Time
The last thing you want to do is get everything packed away in boxes and bags ready to donate, only to have them sit in your garage for weeks. Research places ahead of time that could use your donations. If you plan on clearing out your closet and have many old dresses and workwear to give away, you could find a local women’s shelter to donate. If you have old furniture or household goods, you can find a nonprofit that could use those. Having a plan will make the process easier since you know that your used goods will be benefitting someone else.
5. Stop Buying Things!
Once you start to declutter, stop buying more things: no clothes, no picture frames, no candles. Not only will this help you keep your home clean and clutter-free, but it will save money too.
Final Thoughts
If you are still not quite up to the task of decluttering, remember that you are going to have to pack all your belongings anyway, once the house sells. By taking the time to declutter now, not only will you have a head start on the packing, and will make the moving process a little bit less stressful.