Decluttering 101 for Home Sellers
Homeowners who are ready to sell should take the time to make their house look as attractive as possible to potential buyers. This may mean trimming unruly bushes and shrubs, fixing leaky faucets, and of course, decluttering your home.
Real estate agents typically advise sellers to declutter every room in their house prior to taking listing photos or putting the home on the market. Getting rid of clutter can make the home look larger and more open, which means it will be more attractive to homebuyers.
Plus, if your home is filled with personal items such as family photos and dog toys, it’s hard for buyers to visualize themselves living there, so it could take longer to sell.
The thought of decluttering your entire home can be overwhelming, but there’s no need to worry. Take it one room at a time to make the task seem more manageable.
Follow these decluttering tips for every room in your home, including the:
Decluttering the Kitchen
The kitchen typically attracts more clutter than practically any other room in the home.
Start by throwing out or donating items you no longer need or want. You should also dispose of duplicate items, such as a second set of silverware you never use. Clearing out this clutter can create more room inside cabinets and drawers.
Don’t forget to declutter the countertops, too. If you only use the toaster once a month, there’s no need to keep it on the counter. Put appliances that are rarely used in storage so they don’t waste valuable countertop space.
Finally, sort through stacks of papers or magazines that are lying around the kitchen. The kitchen should only contain items that are related to food, food storage, or food preparation. Recycle papers you don’t need and store the others in a filing cabinet or folder in another room.
Decluttering the Entryway
The entryway is the first space that potential buyers will see when they walk into your home. Therefore, it’s important to declutter this space so your home makes a good impression on buyers.
People tend to drop their car keys, coats, umbrellas, shoes, and other items in the entryway as soon as they get home. This may be convenient, but it creates a lot of clutter.
Solve this problem by investing in organizers such as key racks, cubbies, and coat racks. These items will make it easier to manage clutter while also ensuring that the entryway is still functional for your family.
Check the rug in your entryway as well. If the rug is not securely in place, it can make the rest of the space look more cluttered. To prevent slipping and sliding, secure your rug using either a pad or carpet tape. Now, your home is ready to give buyers a warm welcome!
Decluttering the Bathroom
Bathrooms are fairly small, so it only takes a little bit of clutter to make them look messy and unorganized. Cramming everything into drawers and cabinets will not solve your clutter problem. In fact, it’s best to start decluttering the drawers and cabinets first by getting rid of old or unneeded items. Organize the items you want to keep in trays and bins inside your drawers and cabinets to keep things neat.
Next, tackle the counter. There are only several items that you actually need to keep on your bathroom counter: a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand soap. Find another spot for other items that are taking up space on your bathroom counters.
If you really want to freshen up the space, consider purchasing a new shower curtain and bath mats for each bathroom. This will make your bathrooms look clean and appealing to buyers who tour your home.
Decluttering the Bedroom
The bedroom should be your sanctuary, but it’s hard for buyers to imagine themselves relaxing in a room that is filled with clutter.
The first step in decluttering the bedroom is clearing off nightstands, dressers, and other surfaces. Keeping these spaces clear can make the entire room look neat and orderly.
You’ll need to dig deep into dressers and nightstands to completely declutter your bedroom. Sort through the items inside so you can get rid of things you no longer use.
Put the finishing touch on your bedroom by making your bed. Even if the rest of the room is completely decluttered, it will still look messy if the bed isn’t made. Make sure your bed is made before photos are taken and prior to potential buyers entering your home.
Decluttering the Closets
Buyers will look inside the closets, so it’s important to declutter them prior to listing your home.
You need to figure out which items you want to keep and which you want to donate or throw away, but don’t pull everything out of your closet at once. Instead, tackle one type of item at a time.
For example, pull the shoes out of your closet and sort through them before moving onto jeans, t-shirts, and other clothing items. This makes the process of decluttering your closet far less intimidating.
Make sure all of the clothes inside your closet are hanging on the same type of hanger. If multiple types of hangers are used, it can make the closet seem cluttered even when it’s not.
Finally, take out items that somehow ended up in your closet even though they don’t belong there. You need to maximize the space inside your closet, so storing items that don’t belong is not a good idea!
Hiring A Professional vs. DIY Decluttering
Some sellers choose to hire professional stagers to declutter their home before it hits the market. Hiring a professional will certainly save you a great deal of time, but it could cost you thousands of dollars.
Although it’s time-consuming, it’s usually better to handle this task on your own. It’s best to set aside two to three weekends to dedicate to this project so you have plenty of time to make it through every room in your home.
Selling Your Decluttered Home
At this point, you know the many tips and tricks to decluttering every room in your home. Now, you’re ready to list your home and start the next chapter of your life in a beautiful, new house!
