Pimp My Pad: Clever Staging Tricks to Prep Your Property for a Lucrative Sale

Pimp My Pad: Clever Staging Tricks to Prep Your Property for a Lucrative Sale - Declutter Like Your Sale Depends On It

Decluttering is one of the most important staging tasks when preparing a home for sale. An excessively cluttered property will turn off potential buyers faster than just about anything else. Even if your home is move-in ready in all other aspects, clutter can create a chaotic vibe that makes rooms feel smaller and darker. According to real estate experts, decluttering can help homes sell for 1-8% more compared to similar properties that haven't been decluttered.

When decluttering for a home sale, be ruthlessly efficient. Sort through every single closet, drawer, shelf, and storage area. Get rid of anything you haven't used in over a year, keeping only current essentials. Create separate "give away," "sell," and "trash" piles so items leave your home quickly. Hire a junk removal service if needed. The goal is to strip your home down to the bare minimum.

Decluttering pro Ana White did an epic declutter before selling her home. She donated or recycled 70% of her family's belongings, keeping only items they used daily or had deep sentimental value. This brutal purging maximized the clean, open look of her home's spaces. Ana says the decluttering process was tiring but worthwhile, as her home sold above asking price within a week of listing. She credits decluttering for allowing buyers to instantly picture themselves living in the beautiful, peaceful home she created.

Michelle Jones took a different approach when preparing to sell her home, doing a "fake declutter" rather than actually getting rid of items. She simply boxed up extraneous decor, out of season clothes, toys, and anything else cluttering spaces. These boxes were neatly stacked in the garage, basement, and closets. This created the impression of a decluttered home without requiring Michelle to part with belongings she wanted to keep. After 30 showings and 15 offers, her home sold for $20,000 over asking. Michelle says decluttering - even just temporarily - played a huge role.