You’ve decided to make a move, but have no idea where to start preparing your house for sale? Whether you wait to take action after you call your trusted real estate advisor, or want to get a head start, I can guarantee that some de-cluttering and re-organization is in your new future. Keeping a variety of time and budget constraints in mind, I have gathered these tips over the years from my trusted professional organizers…
Homeless Clutter: To get you started, it’s easy to begin in the areas where the clutter is out and just needs to be put back in its place. If you are short on time, you can still get started. For the clutter that doesn’t have a home, start by putting it all in a box. Every time you have a few minutes, tackle another room with a separate box. Save up these boxes for a weekend when you can sort through the items and decide what you want to keep and what you will donate or throw away. Cost: Free
Cabinets & Storage: When selling a home, you never want it to appear that you don’t have enough storage space. In these vintage neighborhoods, that can often be a challenge, but not completely impossible! Start with the spice rack and medicine cabinets. Look for expired dates on all and throw those away. You may be surprised at how much you can get rid of. Then go to your linen and hall closets and re-fold and neatly arrange all items contained there. Be sure to leave empty floor space in the hall closet for a neat and tidy appearance. Cost: Free
Fido’s Stuff: The dog walking zone often becomes a tangle of toys, treats, and leashes and more. While it’s understandable that you and your best friend still need to live your lives while your home is on the market, it’s important that this area be as presentable as it is functional. If you find some space on your wall ideally near the back door where you can hang a row of hooks, you can easily arrange all your gear necessary. Keep a storage basket on the floor nearby for toys, waste bags, treats, and dog walking shoes. Cost: $10 to $50 depending on supplies needed.
Play Time: If you have young children, this may be the biggest challenge as the toys can often take over half of a room (or more). Take this opportunity for a rotation of play things and start packing up those that are not often played with for the time being. Grab a few boxes, pack away all but 10 toys, and put them out of reach. Then rotate the 10 toys once a week or so.” For those packed away, it will feel like Christmas for your little ones after you’ve accomplished your move and they open the box of delights they haven’t seen in a while! Cost: Free
That Which Is Often Overlooked Shall Be No Longer: The garage and basement are two of the most overlooked regions of the home. Tackle whichever one is the official “dump zone” for all your stuff (if you are lucky enough to have a basement!).
Start by pulling everything that doesn’t have an obvious home out. Get rid of all the obvios trash and recyclables, break down boxes (or set them aside for packing). Get rid of any paint and building materials such as old tiles, etc. that no longer go with the home’s current finishes. Check with local charities like Habitat for Humanity to see if building supplies can be repurposed.
Next step is to categorize the contents. Group like items with like items: sports equipment, household supplies, car supplies, tools, old furniture, discarded toys. Determine what’s trash, what can be recycled, donated, and sold, and what you want to keep. Pack away and neatly stack the boxes anything you won’t need before your big move. Then, sweep out the area and organize it, doing your best to keep everything off the ground (unless its packed moving boxes tidily stacked). Use vertical space and invest in some utilitarian shelves if necessary. Label everything, so anyone in the household can find what they’re looking for as you move toward putting your home on the market. Cost: $100-plus depending on shelving system you use
This would be a good time to remind you of my ongoing moving box exchange. I will gladly accept donations of used, flattened moving boxes and arrange to find them a new home.( Cost: Free.) When I find myself helping clients decide what to keep and what to put away when preparing for marketing, I often remind them that they need to start packing anyway! If you are in need of some moving boxes and a full service, experienced real estate advisor, please give me a call at 619-944-2798. I’d be happy to roll up my sleeves and help you get started!