Tips on How to Declutter Your Home to Sell

Putting in your efforts into listing your property is a given if you want to get a decent price for your house, but maximising your chances is another story. One more way to add value to your property is through decluttering. Doing this before selling your house will make it more appealing to potential buyers; it can showcase the features of your house and make each room look its best.

However, how is decluttering done? Is removing your personal belongings or your excess furniture enough? We don’t think so. This process can be a lot trickier than what you think, especially if you have become attached to the way your property looks.

To make it simpler, we have listed down some tips that can help you declutter your house easily and tidily. But first, let us tackle the why, when and where you should start decluttering.

WHY DECLUTTER?

As mentioned earlier, you need to prepare your house in a way that it will attract potential buyers. The first step is to get your property ready before every inspection. It is important to keep in mind that making it look presentable is always crucial and that potential buyers should be able to project themselves living there. This is when decluttering matters the most.

Decluttering your property means depersonalisation. This will help potential buyers to consider purchasing your property more, since having very few personal items in the house will enable them to visualize what they want to apply or do in it. However, remember not to make empty spaces; instead, try adding decorative furnishings to make sure your house still appears warm and inviting to potential buyers.

Another great advantage of decluttering is that it also makes your moving process a lot easier. Putting your excess personal items in a box and throwing away anything you will no longer use will save you some time and space as you go on with the moving process. In addition, it can help you with any lingering emotional attachments with your house.

WHEN AND WHERE?

There is no definite condition as to when you should start decluttering your property for sale. However, it is ideal to begin with this step as soon as you think of selling your property or once you have found your real estate agent. One thing is for sure though, this process should never be skipped, especially before professional photography is taken.

Now, where to start decluttering?

Definitely, the best places to start are the multi-function rooms in your home. Make sure to return them to their original or most common function in order for the buyers to see what your house really has to offer.

Moreover, if you have extra rooms like a home gym, theatre room or storage area, it is important that you also remove all the items that alter the use of those spaces. On the other hand, if the rooms ended up empty, you can always use home staging to give them a purpose. Now, if you are on a tight budget and you cannot buy or rent furniture, then you may opt to choose virtual staging instead.

Once the rooms are decluttered, move on to communal areas such as the living room, kitchen and bathroom. Take note that these are generally the most important to buyers. Lastly, finish off with the bedrooms and other smaller spaces.

DECLUTTERING TIPS

Moving on, we are now ready to start the process. Here’s a list of decluttering tips that will help you prepare your house easily:

Set your emotions aside while doing the process. If this is something hard for you, ask someone for help.
Get inspired by professionals like Marie Kondo or Alejandra Costello.
Segregate the things you would like to keep or throw away.
Clear off surfaces, specifically window sills and kitchen benches. Then, move into cupboards.
Invest in stylish storage options like cupboards and filing systems. You can always use these even at your new place.
Declutter your garage and garden.
Whether small or not, start decluttering as soon as you can.

Consulting a real estate agent can also be a better option. At Reval, our agents can assist you in your decluttering process and give advice on how you can make the most of the spaces your property offers.