Before You Stage Your Home, You Must Declutter!
/
image used with client permission. [see below for the ‘after’ transformation]
It’s time for you to put your house on the market and move to a new home, but how do you get started? Before you start to create a list of home repairs or repaint your home, the best place to start is by decluttering. As you declutter, you will be able to better visualize what improvements and repairs will be necessary before you list your home for sale. And better yet, decluttering is the first step towards staging your home and packing for your move.
Did you know that 54% of Americans are overwhelmed by the amount of clutter they have, and 78% do not know what to do with it. (Source: 2015 National Association for Professional Organizers and Decluttr.com.) And that getting rid of clutter eliminates 40% of housework in the average home (Source: National Soap and Detergent Association). This tells us that not only should we regularly work on decluttering our homes for living, but that the process of selling our homes can be very stressful just based on the amount of work that needs to be done before the house is ready for the market.
Following is a list of places that Living. Simplified. recommends you start the decluttering process. As you move from room to room, keep a list of repairs and improvements that, if you have the time and budget, you will also tackle before listing your home for sale.
Areas to Declutter
Living Room, because 46% of home buyers say this is the most important room in the house, and because it should be warm and inviting.
Master bedroom, because 43% of home buyers say this is the second most important room in the house. Be sure to make all the beds and declutter anything under them.
Kitchen because 35% of home buyers who say this is one of the most important rooms in the house and because this is often the center of the home.
Kids spaces (use buckets and bins to quickly hide/corral toys, books, and clothes).
Closets and cabinets throughout the home because potential home buyers will open everything!
Areas to Style You will also need to consider areas that you want to style so it’s clear to the potential buyers what the purpose of the room is supposed to be.
Style the dining room by setting the table.
Let focal points shine through, such as a fireplace or built-in furniture.
Stage the outdoor living area with comfortable furniture.
Add mirrors to brighten up rooms and make them feel larger.
Rearrange your furniture to maximize the flow of each room.
Make your walls count by displaying just the right number of items on the wall without being overwhelming.
Place fresh towels in the bathrooms.
Remove all religious and political décor.
Add houseplants or fresh flowers.
Remove area rugs to make rooms feel larger.
Last Minute Details Don’t leave anything in the home that might be tempting for someone to take.
Put away all medications.
Put away all valuables including jewelry.
Depersonalize the entire home by packing away family photos, trophies and memorabilia.
Deodorize the home by opening windows and clearing out any lingering pet odors.
Take care of the floors but removing pet stains.
If you’re getting ready to sell your home, focusing your money and time on the most popular rooms in the home should be part of your home staging plan. The master bedroom, family room, and master bathroom are the areas that potential home buyers focus on the most when touring a home (Source: Ally Home 2019). Remember that when potential home buyers come to see your home, first impressions really do matter. The more time you can spend decluttering and staging your home, the easier it will be for potential home buyers to envision their family in the home.
PS Want to know what this master bedroom looked like after staging the home for sale? Here you go!
photo credit: nick lariviere. used with client permission
More Organizing Ideas
Need even more ideas on how to organize your home? Living. Simplified. is ready to help. Take a look at these blog posts or send us an email at lauren@livingsimplified.net and we can work together to reach your organizing and decluttering goals:
How to Organize Your Kitchen in 4 Easy Steps