A Guide to Decluttering Your House Before Putting It Up for Sale

If you’re like most people who are selling their home, you’ve probably got a few things that you need to get rid of. And if you don’t have kids or pets, then chances are good that you also have a lot of stuff in your house that’s not particularly useful anymore and isn’t going to sell with the property either. 

Before you even think about putting your home up for sale, it is important that you declutter your house so that everything looks its best when you go on showings. If you don’t do this, you could end up with an empty house on display for months before someone buys it. The longer it sits there, the more likely it is that something will happen to it. So, how can you make sure that your house sells quickly? Here are some tips from real estate agents to help you out: 

Declutter First 

The first thing you should do is start by getting rid of all the stuff in your house that you don’t need. Start with the clothes you no longer wear, as well as anything else that you haven’t used in the last year or two. Once you’ve done that, move onto other items such as books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, games, and any other entertainment equipment that you haven’t touched in a while. 

Next, you’ll want to consider what you still have left over. Make a list of these items, along with their estimated value, and decide which ones you’d be willing to sell. You can keep the rest, but try to sell the least valuable items first. After you’ve sold off all your non-essentials, it’s time to take another look at your list and decide which of the remaining items you’re going to keep and which ones you’re going to get rid of. 

Make Your Home Shine 

Once you’ve gone through your entire house and gotten rid of everything that you don’t need, you should make sure that your home looks its best. First, you should remove anything that might detract from the overall appearance of the space. This includes artwork, plants, curtains, carpets, and any other decorations that aren’t actually part of the décor. 

Next, you should clean everything. You can hire professionals to do this for you, or you can use a cleaning service yourself. Either way, you’ll want to give everything a thorough scrubbing. Get rid of anything that smells bad, and replace any light bulbs that are burned out. Once everything is sparkling clean, it’s time to tackle the bathrooms and bedrooms.  

Remove all the old towels and washcloths, as well as anything else that doesn’t smell fresh. Wash the walls, floors, and counters thoroughly, and replace any broken appliances. Finally, you’ll want to freshen up the place with new bedding, curtains, and rugs. 

After you’ve finished decluttering, you’ll want to make sure that the house is spotless. Then, you’ll want to dust everywhere, including behind the furniture and under the beds. When you’re done, you should set aside a couple of hours every day to spend on general maintenance. In particular, you should make sure that the air conditioning unit is working properly, and that the heating system is in good condition. You should also check that the smoke detectors are functioning correctly. If you’re selling a house that has been lived in, you’ll want to make sure that all the necessary repairs have been made. 

Keep The Rooms Neat And Tidy 

When you go on showings, you want to ensure that your home looks its best. The easiest way to achieve this is to keep all the rooms clean and organized. You’ll want to remove anything that’s not being used, such as newspapers and junk mail. Keep the kitchen and bathroom areas clean, and wipe down the counter tops and sink regularly. Remove any clutter from the floor, and vacuum regularly. You’ll want to make sure that all the surfaces are free of dust, dirt, and grime. 

Finally, you’ll want to keep the living room area looking nice. Remove all the extra furniture and replace it with something that matches the décor of the rest of the house. Move any tables or chairs away from the walls, and put them against the wall where they won’t be in the way. Take down any curtains and hang new ones that match the rest of the house. Replace any broken lamps or mirrors, and polish the floors. 

Final Words 

You’ll find that once you’ve gone through your entire house and gotten rid of everything that you don’t need, you’ll be left with quite a bit of spare space. If you’ve kept the house clean and well maintained, you should be able to get a fair price for it. If you don’t, you may end up having to wait months before you can sell it. If you want to sell your house fast, you’ll need to do everything you can to ensure that it looks its best. This includes removing any clutter, keeping the rooms clean, and making sure that the air conditioning and heating systems are working properly.