Ready to Sell? Try These Decluttering Tips Before You Put Your Home on the Market

If you’re planning to sell your house, decluttering your space is just as important as curb appeal and pricing it right. After all, a buyer, especially a first-time buyer, needs help imagining themselves living in the house. Packed closets, tons of decor, and lots of furniture makes that hard to do.

Before you put out a “For Sale” sign, tackle these home decluttering projects.

Store Personal Stuff

Large wedding photo? Collection of coffee mugs? A wall full of kid pictures? Put away (or move into storage) those and other personal possessions before you put your house on the market. You want buyers to imagine the life they could have in the house, not be bogged down by the life you’ve had in it.

Remove Furniture That Blocks the Flow

If you have too much furniture, it’ll make your space seem smaller than it is, which is not a selling point. Move chairs away from doors and clear the walkways. This is especially true in bedrooms, where homeowners notoriously have too much furniture. Either donate the excess pieces, or store them to use in your new home.

Clean Out Cabinets and Closets

Buyers look behind every door, so make sure they like what they see. Throw out old stuff and organize your drawers and closets neatly. Buy storage bins so every space looks tidy and appealing.

Put Away Pet Supplies

Some people are not pet lovers and don’t want to look at your large cat tree or dog bed. If you have animals, take these items out of your home when you have a showing. Store all but the necessary pet bowls and toys, as well.

Take Down Unique Decor

Large, colorful, or outlandish decor probably only appeals to a small part of the population. That fuzzy lamp, side table shaped like a high heel, or picture of dogs playing poker won’t charm buyers. Trust us. Store it off the premises.

Address Cord Clutter

If you have lots of cords by your electronics, find a way to hide them. A cord jumble doesn’t lend to the clean, spacious ambiance new buyers want to see.

Donate Old Clothes

Bulging closet doors won’t woo buyers. Go through every closet and clean out what you no longer use or wear. Donate clothes, shoes, ties, coats, handbags, and anything else you find that’s in good condition, and toss the rest. You’ll be so glad you proactively did this when your moving day rolls around!

Clean Off Surfaces

Appliances, bowls, candles, photos, vases, OH MY! Too many knick-knacks offers diminishing returns. Keep items on your end tables, cabinet tops, and nightstands to a minimum.

Make sure you help your house put its best foot forward by taking care of the clutter you’ve undoubtedly accumulated while living there. That way, buyers can see a clean, large, inviting space and imagine their stuff — and themselves — living in it.