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Decluttering For Your Open Home

Keep it clean, simple and increase sales potential.

 

When you decide to put your home on the market – it is just the very start of an intense time. Of course, your chosen real estate agent will be there to help you through the process: marketing, signage, online listings (including The Fold), advice on how to present the property and Open Homes.

 

Compiled by Terry Biscoe

 

A person holds stacked plastic bins filled with colorful clothes spilling out. The setting is a minimalistic room with a plant and a lamp, suggesting a busy and cluttered atmosphere.
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Presentation is everything – but not everyone has a budget to remodel or stage a home. As the experts will advise, keep it clean and spacious-looking. Entice the potential buyer to picture themselves (and their belongings) in your home.

To declutter a home before sale, aim to present a clean, spacious, and orderly environment for prospective buyers. Begin by removing surplus items from visible areas such as countertops, tables, and floors, followed by organizing storage spaces like closets and drawers. 

Methods such as “keep, donate, bin” or a four-bin system (“keep,” “sell,” “donate,” “bin”) can be used to sort belongings. Depersonalising may involve taking down personal photographs and reducing decor, while renting a storage unit is an option for storing items that are not needed but not intended for disposal.  

A person organizes a pantry, placing a jar of pasta on a shelf. Neatly arranged jars contain pasta, dried mushrooms, grains, and legumes, conveying order and tidiness.

Here’s a list of tips:

1. Prioritize visible areas: Prioritise high-impact areas such as the living room, kitchen, and entryway, as these are the initial spaces prospective buyers will encounter. Ensure countertops, tables, and floors are free of unnecessary items to create a more spacious and inviting atmosphere.  

2. Declutter storage spaces: Some buyers often check closets, drawers, and cabinets, so ensure these spaces are organized and tidy. Consider removing half of the items from closets to create a sense of spaciousness

3. Sort and categorize: Employ the “keep, donate, bin” method or a four-bin system (keep, sell, donate, bin) to systematically organise your belongings. Assess each item objectively, retaining only those that are necessary or regularly used, and be willing to part with items that no longer serve a functional purpose.  

4. Depersonalise: Remove personal photos, artwork, and excessive decor to create a more neutral environment. This allows potential buyers to better envision how they might use the space.  

5. Consider storage: For excess furniture or items you wish to keep eventually, renting a storage unit is an option to keep them out of view during property showings.  Storage options in the Highlands are a growing sector Mittagong and Moss Vale feature several long-term and short term options.

6. Stage with less: Avoid excessive decoration. Streamline furniture and decor to promote an uncluttered, open environment. Prospective buyers should be able to envision the possibilities of the space without distraction from personal belongings. 


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