How To Declutter Your Home

When selling a home the property should be the lead act and the contents, the supporting act. A home full of personal possessions can look cluttered, crowded, messy or appear smaller than it is. By maximising space you need to minimise clutter.

Garden - The front garden is often the first area potential buyers see. Most interested parties will do a drive-by of the property before committing to an open inspection. Create a good impression by removing dead leaves, tidying and weeding flower beds and ensuring the grass is cut. Any items/outside furniture that may be cluttering the area should be removed. Any furniture that you are keeping in situ should be thoroughly cleaned. Remove or hide all rubbish bins. Clear garden sheds of dirt and cobwebs and organise them to show how spacious they are.

Hallway - The hallway is the entrance to your home. It will be the first impression a potential buyer will see. Declutter the area by putting away shoes and coats and anything that doesn’t belong there. Put away any mail or newspapers that may have mounted up. Visually increasing the size of the hallway makes your home more inviting. Beginning the declutter of your home in a smaller area isn’t overwhelming. Seeing the results also gives you the incentive you need to tackle larger areas further down the track. Living Room - Removing extra furniture or oversized pieces will instantly make the room feel more spacious. Consider selling pieces you no longer want or remotely storing those that make your current home look smaller than it is. Depersonalise your home by removing photos of the kids or family. Potential buyers need to envisage themselves living there and not you! Remove sentimental items from shelves and keep the room simple but stylish.

Kitchen - Work surfaces should be cleared to show how much workspace is available. Clear out draws, cupboards and the pantry and use this as an opportunity to look at what you haven't used and hence no longer need. Donate duplicate and unwanted items to friends, family or a local charity. Depersonalise the area by removing kids artwork, fridge magnets and minimise the plants on window sills.

Main Bedroom - Use this opportunity to clear out wardrobes and draws. Sort clothes into colours and categories. Once you have all the shirts and trousers for example sorted you can consider donating those that you have duplicates of or no longer fit you. Alternatively use this time to remotely store seasonal items so that wardrobes appear more spacious and clean. Remove unused hangers to create a streamlined space. Clear the space under the bed and either invest in matching underbed storage boxes or remove and store so that the room appears larger.

Kids Bedrooms - Sort toys and clothes into piles that children still use, ones that they have grown out of and ones you still may want to keep if planning more children. Storage baskets are great ways to store toys quickly when potential buyers or agents are viewing the property. Remotely store unused items and donate ones that you no longer need or want to keep in the future.

Bathroom - Sort through out of date medicines and toiletries and throw them away. Put away all of the toiletries and unused towels. Neatly fold towels that you are using and coordinate colours for presentation purposes. Thoroughly clean all tiles of mildew and mould and ensure the bathroom smells nice and is neat and stylish.

Laundry - Put all cleaning products away and clear floors and appliances of any laundry. Create a space that is clean, organised and spacious.

Home Office - File away papers and shred those that you no longer need. Clear the desk and tidy computer cords. Create an office that other people will want to work in.

Loft - Now is the time to tackle the loft in which you may have items that you had no idea about. Remove all items that you no longer need or plan to move with. Invest in boxes to begin the process of packing those that you would like to take. Create an organised space to show buyers how much storage you really have.

Garage - Tidy and create some order in the garage for tools and equipment. Remove all dust and cobwebs.

Home Maintenance - Ensure all minor issues are fixed. Leaking taps, broken lights and bent hinges on cupboards will leave potential buyers wondering what else requires fixing. Consider the cost of a fresh coat of paint. The property needs to be well maintained and looked after.

Hockeys Property Sales Agent - Hockeys Property can assist you with advice and ideas regarding receiving the best possible outcome for your property. We have the knowledge, expertise and experience to ensure you reach your target audience and the best possible price for your property. Book your free appraisal today.

Personal Stylists - You may want to consult with a professional stylist. The stylist can offer a full-style or partial-style of your home (bringing in key pieces of furniture and ornaments to supplement your own). A stylist can also advise you what pieces to move, keep or store. They can help with both room layout and room usage so that the property attracts more potential buyers. This investment can add thousands to the final selling price of your home. Hockeys Property can recommend a stylist should they feel it is beneficial to you. Contact us today to discuss your options.

Professional Organisers - A professional organiser can help you feel less stressed about the task ahead and allow you to focus on what you do best. They can also be the extra pair of hands that you need to support you through what is often an emotional process. Hockeys Property can recommend a professional organiser should you require one. Contact us today to discuss your options. 

Home Maintenance - Ensure all minor issues are fixed. Leaking taps, broken lights and bent hinges on cupboards will leave potential buyers wondering what else requires fixing. Your property needs to look well maintained and looked after.