How Decluttering Your Home Before Selling Can Boost Your Profit and Peace of Mind

If you are planning to sell your home soon, you might be considering how to make it more appealing to potential buyers to get the most equity out of the sale. One of the best ways to start is to declutter your home before listing it for sale.

Decluttering your home means getting rid of any excess or unnecessary items that take up space, create visual clutter, or distract from the features of your home.

The benefits of decluttering for you and your home when selling

  • Creates more space and is more inviting. Decluttering can help you create more breathing room and show off the full potential of your home. Buyers will be able to see the full size and layout of your rooms, closets, cabinets, and storage spaces more clearly. They can imagine their own belongings in the space without being influenced by your personal items or style.

  • Appears clean and well-maintained. Decluttering uncovers any hidden dust, dirt, stains, odors, or damage. Potential buyers will be impressed by how clean and cared for your home is, which leads to fewer concerns about the condition or quality of your home.

  • Looks more valuable and desirable. Decluttering can help you highlight the best features and selling points of your home. Buyers will be able to appreciate the details and craftsmanship of your home without being distracted by clutter. They will also be more likely to notice any upgrades or improvements that you have made to your home.

  • Sell faster and for more money. Decluttering can help you create a positive first impression and a lasting impact on buyers. Studies have shown that homes that are decluttered and staged tend to sell faster and for more money than homes that are not. Decluttering can also help you avoid price reductions or lowball offers that might result from a cluttered or messy home.

  • Making your move easier and less stressful. Decluttering can help you reduce the amount of stuff that you have to pack, move, unpack, and organize in your new home. You will save time, money, and energy by getting rid of anything that you don't need, use, or love. You will also have a fresh start in your new home with less clutter and more space.

How to Declutter Your Home Before Selling

Decluttering your home before selling might seem overwhelming, especially if you have lived in your home for a long time and have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years. However, it doesn't have to be difficult or stressful if you follow some simple steps:

  • Start early and plan ahead. If you have the luxury of time, don't wait until the last minute to declutter your home before selling. Give yourself enough time to go through each room and category of items without rushing or stressing. Make a list of the areas that need decluttering and prioritize them according to their importance or difficulty.

  • Sort and categorize your items. Go through each area of your home and sort your items into four piles: keep, sell/donate, trash/recycle, or store. Keep only the items that are essential, functional, or sentimental for you. Sell or donate the items that are in good condition but no longer serve you or fit your lifestyle. Trash or recycle the items that are broken, damaged, expired, or unusable. Store items that are out-of-season, rarely used or sentimental but not needed in your new space.

  • Organize and store your items. Once you have sorted your items, organize them into boxes, bins, bags, or containers according to their category or destination. Label them clearly with their contents and where they belong. Store them neatly in a designated area of your home, such as a basement, garage, attic, closet, or spare room. If you’re running low on space, you can rent a storage unit or pod temporarily until you move.

  • Clean and stage your home. After you have decluttered your home, clean it thoroughly from top to bottom. Pay attention to any areas that might need extra attention, such as windows, floors, walls, appliances, fixtures, or furniture.

    Make sure there are no unpleasant odors. You can also open the windows, air out the rooms, or use fans to circulate the air.

    Finally, stage your home to make it more attractive and appealing to buyers.

When to Hire a Professional to Help You Declutter Your Home Before Selling

Decluttering your home before selling can be an extremely beneficial process for you, but it can also be challenging and overwhelming for most people. If you find yourself in any of the following situations, you might want to consider hiring a professional to help you declutter your home before selling:

  • You have a large or cluttered home that requires a lot of time and effort to declutter.

  • You have physical or mental limitations that prevent you from decluttering effectively or safely.

  • You have emotional attachments or difficulties letting go of your items.

  • You have a busy or hectic schedule that doesn’t allow you to declutter on your own.

  • You have a tight deadline or short notice to sell your home.

  • You have a high-end or luxury home that requires expert staging and presentation.

A professional declutterer or organizer can help you declutter your home before selling.

Professionals provide you with a customized plan and strategy for decluttering your home according to your needs and goals. Benefits include:

  • Assisting the homeowner with sorting, categorizing, organizing, storing, donating, selling, or disposing of items efficiently and effectively.

  • Offering you guidance, support, motivation, and accountability throughout the decluttering process.

  • Handling any logistics, paperwork, or arrangements for storing, donating, selling, or disposing of your items.

  • Cleaning and staging your home to make it more appealing and attractive to buyers.

Hiring a professional can save you time, money, energy, and stress. It can also help you achieve better results and outcomes for your home sale.


Decluttering before selling is one of the best ways to make your home more appealing to potential buyers. It can help you make your home look more spacious, clean, valuable, and desirable. It can also help you sell your home faster and for more money. The best part is it will definitely make your move easier and less stressful.

Decluttering your home before selling can be done by yourself or with the help of a professional. Either way, it’s best to start early, plan ahead, sort and categorize your items, organize and store your items, and clean and stage your home.

We hope this blog post has given you some useful tips on how to declutter your home before selling. If you need more assistance or guidance on how to declutter your home before selling, contact us at Celina@StagedToInspire.com or fill out the contact form HERE.

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