The real estate market is appealing, but this also means the competition is strong. If you want to achieve a speedy home sale, preparation starts before you list it. And preparation entails many tasks, one of which is decluttering.
Fortunately, today’s homeowners can hire professionals to assist in decluttering. You don’t have to do it all on your own. When it gets too busy and overwhelming, you can hire cleaners to do a streak-free cleaning of your entire home. There are gardeners to help you with your yard. And, when it’s time to finally let go of all items you’ve piled under ‘to throw,’ same-day rubbish removal companies can take care of it on your behalf.
Therefore, decluttering your home before listing is a concerted effort of yourself and reputable experts. You can follow this checklist, as it covers every nook and cranny in decluttering your home before listing it for sale.
Gather All The Supplies You Need
Before starting, you should have all the necessary supplies. Big boxes, trash bags, bubble wraps, tape, and old newspapers are only a few of what you’ll need.
Having all the supplies you need enables you to focus on decluttering and doing it in the most efficient way. Lacking supplies may only delay your project, and this wasted time can break your momentum.
Take It One Room At A Time
You can declutter more effectively when you visualize the progress you’ve made. Start with one room and stay there until it’s done before moving on to the next. Not only will it keep you more motivated when you see how much you’ve done, but it also gives a sense of direction when decluttering. This way, you won’t go over the place, which makes decluttering less efficient.
Empty Each Room As Much As You Can
While you don’t have to get rid of everything you own, make it a goal to give, throw away, or let go of many more than what you’ll keep. Not only will this make your home more pleasant upon listing, but it also makes your move easier when there are fewer things to transport.
If you have enough time before listing and moving, you can hold garage sales over the weekend or post your items online for sale. Instead of spending a fortune to move big and bulky items, you can use the cash proceeds to buy new furniture and home pieces instead in your new home.
Ideally, you’ll want to keep only those that are sentimental, personal, and useful for your new home. If it’s been so long since you’ve used something, chances are, you won’t get to use it again. So, it is better to get rid of it.
Make A List Of Things You Can Let Go Of, Fast
Unless you’re a hoarder, it’s easy to let go of some items in your home that you know you’ll never use anyway. However, this is easier said than done. Some homeowners still like to cling to their things, despite how those are generally considered ‘clutter’ in a household.
To give you an idea, here’s a list of some things you should let go of fast:
- Bathroom
- Old glasses or contact lenses in the wrong prescription;
- Expired makeup;
- Cleaning supplies you no longer use;
- Makeup in the wrong shades;
- Hair accessories you’ve outgrown.
- Kitchen
- Storage containers with lost lids and covers;
- Takeout sauces and napkins;
- Mismatched cups and dishes;
- Unused cookbooks and magazines;
- Appliances you don’t use anymore.
- Living And Family Room
- Extra throw pillows;
- Home décor you don’t like;
- Scratched and broken DVDs and CDs;
- Dead plants;
- Old magazines.
Tackle Minor Home Repairs
Doing minor repairs and decluttering your home go hand-in-hand. Take note, the premise here is to do minor repairs. These are simple tasks like fixing broken cabinets, repainting chipped walls, and re-tiling grimy and moldy toilets, to name a few.
Do this as that final step before listing your home, so your property becomes even more marketable. It’s a little extra, but it makes a difference in achieving that clean, organized, and polished look.
The Bottomline
As overwhelming as it may be, decluttering a home before listing remains one of the most important responsibilities before selling. No matter how grand a home is, potential buyers can never appreciate its features if it is overshadowed by clutter. It is best to keep it clean so buyers have a blank canvas to envision their fresh start in your home. If you’re lost on how and where to start, let the guide above set you on the right foot.
