Get Top Dollar When Selling Your Home – 8 Decluttering tips from a Professional Organiser

Everyone has heard of the ‘baking cookies’ trick. You know what I’m talking about – the scene in so many movies where the realtor bakes a dozen cookies immediately before the house viewing. The sweet smell of sugary dough and melted chocolate chips permeates through an organised house. The theory is, bake cookies and sell a house, and the reason it’s become so popular is that it genuinely works. However, there are plenty more sweet tips and tricks that help a house declutter and get top dollar on the property market. 

But sometimes it’s not as easy as it sounds. With so much to do, undoubtedly you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed at the thought of accomplishing everything before your house goes on the market. Your dream to downsize is clouded with the constant anxiety about whether someone will want your home, and at the price you are hoping for.  The place is potentially a mess or at the very least in need of a serious declutter. Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I have compiled a list of the top 8 tips to declutter your home and prepare it for a sale. As a professional organiser, I use these tips daily, and they can easily help you too.

Make Cleaning your Best friend

Clean everything, everywhere. Even when you think it’s clean enough, clean some more. A clean house is the first thing that people notice when at a viewing. Is the carpet pristine and are the cabinets free from dust? As arguably the most important aspect of a house sale, it’s important to consider hiring a team of cleaning professionals to handle this. Doing so will not only save you time but make you feel more organised and less stressed. They can do a deep clean, including steaming the carpets and all you need to do is a quick tidy up before each house viewing. 

Declutter

Start by removing everything you haven’t used or won’t need for a while. Consider hiring a storage unit and declutter cupboards too. Don’t be fooled, buyers will check the cupboards, and having tidy cupboards will give the impression that the rest of the house is organised and in tip-top shape. Decluttering is the perfect opportunity to make downsizing a reality by selling or donating things you don’t need anymore.

Keep Décor Simple

Do you have a unique taste? That weird looking vase in the living room or that leopard print rug in the bedroom? A simple solution to save face is to get rid of it for the house sale. If you don’t, you run the risk of putting people with an opposing taste off.

Bring Nature Inside

Plants are life and bring so much diversity to a space. Place them in the corner of the room and watch it come alive. Just make sure the plants are looking healthy and are bug-free.

Give Personal Items the Boot

Yes, those family photos need to go. Potential buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home, not see photos of your kids from 15 years ago.

Organise your Closets

If you are downsizing to a smaller home, then take this as an opportunity to get your wardrobe organised. Storage space is important for buyers and if your closet is looking tidy and decluttered you will be better off for it. Invest in some boxes, dividers, and other solutions that will help you make your stuff look more organised and remove things you don’t need. If you need that extra bit of help then professional organisers like myself have a crazy amount of storage solutions.

Keep the Toilet Closed

No one needs to see inside the toilet bowl for a house sale. Remember this when showing and photographing your home.

Highlight Focal Points

Some call it focal points and others call it statement pieces. You want to draw viewers to an exciting part of the room like a colourful throw, a big fern in the corner, or even an old-school armchair. Whatever you choose as the focal point, make sure it pops with a contrasting colour or texture. 

If reading this has made you feel like you can accomplish a house declutter by yourself then all power to you. If not, don’t feel overwhelmed. I have a passion for decluttering people’s homes, and run a company called Tidy Life Solutions. I turn your home from mess to absolute Zen, positive aura feeling goodness, in just a few hours. The straightforward, gentle process of decluttering, tidying, and organising is made easy with Tidy Life Solutions – meaning your house sale and the dream of downsizing can become a reality.