Esther Davis | Carlsbad Real Estate

Buying, selling, and moving can be stressful—especially when it comes to preparing your home for sale. As a former professional organizer, I know how to simplify this process and make it less overwhelming.

I’ll help you highlight your home’s full potential, creating a clean, clutter-free space that allows buyers to envision themselves there. Together, we’ll tackle key areas like closets, pantries, and garages—spaces buyers pay close attention to—so your home stands out and sells quickly at the best price.

Don’t let clutter get in the way of selling your home efficiently. Let’s make the process easier for you!

FAQs

It’s no secret that decluttering is an essential step when selling your home. Buyers need a blank canvas to imagine themselves living in the space. If your home is overflowing with your personal items, buyers will feel like they’re intruding on your private space and want to leave as soon as possible.

When putting your home on the market to sell, a clean and clutter free home will create an inviting space buyers will find appealing.

Decluttering helps:

  • Buyers focus on your home’s features instead of being distracted by clutter
  • Buyers imagine themselves in the space
  • Attract more qualified buyers
  • Boost value of your home
  • Sell more quickly
 
Sellers often have difficulty viewing their home objectively as a buyer would.    If that is you, get in touch for professional guidance on de-personalizing your home to allow its features to take center stage. 
 
Here’s what to do:
 
  • Declutter, clean, remove excess furniture
  • Pack up breakables/items not in use, secure valuables/personal items
  • Buyers see stuffed closets and cupboards as lack of storage so be sure to organize all the places a buyer might look including pantries, closets, and garage
  • Have important documents organized to make your transaction smoother, such as home maintenance records, warranties, homeowner’s insurance policy, HOA documents, tax bills, mortgage statements, and any repair or permit records.

Buyers may be surprised to learn that decluttering can help when you’re looking to buy a home too. Whether you’re buying or selling, decluttering your current space will pave the way for a smoother real estate experience and bring several benefits:

  • Clarify your next steps
  • Organize your financials for the mortgage process
  • Gain a clearer understanding of your needs when searching for a new home
  • Make packing and unpacking easier with less stuff
  • Reduce moving costs
  • Lower stress
  • Eliminate distractions
  • Sharpen focus on your goals
  • Have financial documents organized, such as W-2s, bank statements, credit card statements, tax returns, and proof of any additional income or assets required by the lender

What is clutter?

Clutter originates from the Middle English word “clotter” which means coagulate.  It is a collection of things – untidy, unused, unwanted, neglected, forgotten – and causes energy to stagnate.

When things are jumbled up, it creates stress and confusion rather than peace and clarity from knowing where things are.  Sorting out the outer clutter results in corresponding internal changes and a release of stuck energy.  Removing physical obstacles can create space for new opportunities.

Understanding clutter

  • Keeping things just in case.
  • Belief more is better.
  • Sentimental reasons.
 

Think before you buy

  • Where will you keep it?
  • What will you use it for?
 

Start small

I recommend making a list of all the clutter hot spots and tackling a small project at a time to get the snowball effect.  Room by room, you will see a whole home transformation over time.

De-clutter

Start by taking everything out and sorting into like items.  Then you will decide what to keep and what to clear out.  Remember, we only use 20% of our things 80% of the time.

Organize

After your belongings are pared down, then it’s time to organize them in baskets, boxes or whatever bins you have.  You don’t need to buy fancy storage.  You can repurpose almost anything.  Get creative!

Maximize storage space by going vertical. Keep things near where they are going to be used.  Put things you use most in easy to reach places.  And label so you know what’s in inside.

Office & Paper Clutter

When it comes to an office or desk, a cluttered workspace signals to your brain that there’s a lot to do.  Piles of paper can add to the feeling of overwhelm and stress.  Keeping your files and papers organized in efficient systems will reduce stress, save time, and increase productivity.

If you’re selling your home, complimentary staging and decluttering are included in the Residential Home Seller Listing Services. Terms and conditions apply.  Please call for details.

Call today to discuss how I can help you prepare your home for sale!

Call or Text 760-472-3302