Tips for Decluttering Your Home Before You List it for Sale

Despite a recent rodent’s forecast, the spring home-selling season will be here before we know it. For anyone considering listing their home for sale, that means the time to start preparations for selling is now. In addition to reaching out to a real estate agent, who can help you with setting a price, taking professional listing photos, marketing your home and so much more, you should start to clean and declutter your home—before you create your listing.

Why is decluttering your home so important? Because when your home is for sale, no nook or cranny may be off limits to prospective buyers. After all, they want to see exactly how their things will fit in your space. So, closets, cupboards and even that one shelf in your basement need to be tided up. Oh yeah—and when you have less clutter, packing and moving will be much easier too!

If you’re planning to list your home this spring, here are a few tips to make your decluttering process go smoothly.

Start outside and work your way in.

What could you possibly have to declutter outside? Your yard and entryway, of course! Since curb appeal is the first thing prospective buyers will notice when they come to your home, keeping the front yard well-manicured is a must. As for your entryway, keep it simple. A seasonal wreath can give your home a cozy feeling that will draw buyers inside.

After you’ve given prospective buyers a warm welcome with your crisp, clean curb appeal, keep it up! Instead of hanging your coats, shoes and umbrellas by the front door, stow them away while your home is on the market. Give buyers the space to remove their shoes or hang their coats. That will make it even easier for them to envision themselves living in your home!

Give every room reason to stand out.

When it comes to decluttering, you may want to tackle your kitchen early on. Leave only the necessities on your countertops; organize your cupboards, drawers and pantry; throw out any outdated food—or even foods that have strong scents. Give prospective buyers a glimpse of a dream kitchen, even if you may not have always kept it so dreamy.

In your family room and hallways, be sure to remove family photos, old magazines and newspapers, boxes of tissues and maybe even that stack of best-selling books you’re planning to get to, but can’t seem to find the time for. Again, you want to let a buyer’s mind be filled with how they’ll make their own memories in your home—you don’t want them to relive yours.

Now to your bedrooms and closets. When you’re preparing to list your home, get in the habit of making your beds every day (you mean you don’t already?!). This way, your home won’t be in disarray if a surprise showing pops up while you’re at the office. Since closet space is a highly-coveted commodity for many buyers, you’ve really got to make yours shine. Do yourself a favor and sort through all of your clothes. If you have time, sell or donate those you no longer wear. If you think you don’t have enough time to properly sort through everything, consider putting some of your extras in a storage unit while your home is on the market. Remember, buyers will be peering into your closets. Give them the organization they want to see.

Finally, the bathrooms. In addition to scrubbing the tubs, showers and toilets, you need to organize your drawers and medicine cabinet too. At the very least, remove any vitamins and medicines from the counters. You can even consider locking them in a safe while buyers are touring through. When it comes to garbage cans, everyone has them, right? Well, that may be true, but when your home is on the market, keep yours under wraps—or at least out of view!  You may not be staging an everyday reality, but you are trying to make your home appear as desirable as possible!

Complete a mini walkthrough each day before you leave.

Now that you’ve taken the time to declutter your entire house, admire your work each day as you prepare to list your home and while it is on the market. Get in the habit of scanning each room before you leave for work every day. This way, you can be sure each prospective buyer sees a clean, clutter-free home they’ll want to call their own.