When it comes to selling a home, prepping the house for sale goes a long way. Aside from cleaning and making the necessary repairs, decluttering is an excellent home staging idea that allows buyers to see the home’s potential. When buyers see a home that’s spacious and well-organized, they will appreciate the space and the possibility of making the home their own.
Ready to start decluttering? Keep these tips in mind:
COME UP WITH A PLAN
Figuring out where to begin is one of the biggest challenges of decluttering. A home has plenty of areas to sort through, from the cabinet drawers to the hallways. That’s why it’s important to have a plan before you start. That way, you can determine how to divide and conquer your decluttering project.
Take note of which areas to prioritize. The kitchen, entryway, living room, and bathrooms are a must. The kitchen, in particular, should look clean, organized, and free from clutter. Your plan should also include the amount of time to be spent decluttering. Instead of a whole day of sorting through items, aim for at least 5 minutes of decluttering per day. Decluttering too much at a time or going in without a plan can lead to burnout.
HAVE A SORTING SYSTEM
A sorting system helps make the decluttering process easier. As you go through the items in your home, there are three categories to sort them into: Keep, donate/sell, and discard. For easier sorting, have a designated box for each category. And among the items that you’ll keep, decide on the ones that you will pack away and the ones that you will leave out for home staging purposes.
If you’re stumped between keeping or discarding, ask yourself these questions:
- Have I used it in the last six months?
- How often will I need this item?
- Do I own something like this already?
- Can I borrow this item from someone else?
- Does it fit my current lifestyle?
- Does this item bring joy to my life?
DIVIDE THE TASKS INTO MANAGEABLE CHUNKS
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you think about cleaning and decluttering the entire house. To avoid this, focus on doing one room at a time or a certain space first. For instance, if you’re starting in the kitchen, tackle one drawer at a time. If it helps, create a checklist of the areas you need to declutter and cross off each one accordingly.
REMOVE PERSONAL ITEMS
Part of decluttering a home includes depersonalization. Buyers need a blank canvas so they can visualize themselves living in your home. Start by taking down personal pictures, collections, memorabilia, and other tchotchkes. Don’t forget to remove the magnets and family photos from your refrigerator, as well.
Let a team of seasoned professionals advise you with decluttering your home for sale. Considered the top-producing team in the Greater New Orleans area, McCarthy Group Realtors has more than 27 years of experience with buying and selling New Orleans real estate. Connect with our team today by calling 504.322.7337. You can also send us an email here.