Clutter makes your house look darker and smaller than it really is, so decluttering is one of the most important things you can do before trying to sell your house. There’s a process to decluttering. If you’re committed to decluttering the right way, these tips will help.
1. Give yourself enough time.
Decluttering takes time! Start decluttering at least a couple of months before you plan to list your house for sale. If you’ve been living in your house for a very long time, or if you have a very big house, you may need even more time to do a good job.
2. Take an organized approach.
Declutter your home one section at a time, starting with the parts of the house that you use less frequently. For example, start by decluttering your holiday decorations and seasonal clothing before decluttering main parts of the house, like your living room and kitchen.
3. Get help.
This is a big job, so don’t do it on your own. Instead, get help from friends, relatives and the other people in your household. This is especially important if you have a bad back or if there’s some other reason why hard work might be very hard on your body. Decluttering can involve a lot of lifting and sorting, which requires a lot of energy and strength.
4. Don’t stuff it in your garage!
The temptation when you’re decluttering your house is to stuff your clutter in the garage. If you’re moving many items out of your house but plan to keep it for your next house, get a storage unit. Putting items in your garage makes your garage look smaller, darker and harder to use. It’s better to get your clutter out entirely and present a beautiful picture of your house to potential buyers.
5. Recycle whenever possible.
Throwing items in the trash can get expensive. Recycling is a good way to get rid of the things you don’t need, as long as it’s something that can be recycled. Consider donating usable items to charity as well.