Tackling home decluttering can seem daunting but when selling your property, presentation is crucial. It makes a significant difference and I assure you the payoff is well worth the effort. Not only does your home photograph better, but a clutter-free environment helps potential buyers envision the space as theirs.
To help you tackle the project, I asked the team to put together a detailed room-by-room guide. Decluttering is one of the first steps things that they do when we prepare a listing for the market, so I thought it might be helpful to share their thoughts!
The Charles Francis Team’s Guide to Decluttering
Before getting into the room by room breakdown, it’s important to keep 3 important things in mind.
- Focus on One Space: Avoid feeling overwhelmed by tackling a single room. Also try to establish achievable daily objectives. We also recommend employing the 3-box method to packing things up in each room. One box for keeping, one for donate/selling and one for the trash.
- Plan Ahead: This is one job that shouldn’t be left to last minute. Depending on timing, the size of your home and level of decluttering required you may need 3-4 weeks to get everything done. We often bring in a team to help with the project and shorten the amount of time required.
- Make Tough Choices: Consider parting with non-sentimental items you haven’t utilized within the past year.
Now, let’s take a look at what you should be doing in each room! We usually start on the main floor spaces and then work our way towards the bedrooms, so that’s the way we’ve put together the checklist!
Living Room Decluttering
- Remove unnecessary furniture to enhance flow and create an illusion of more space. Even removing a single piece of furniture can make a room feel bigger!
- Keep coffee tables minimally decorated with just 1-2 accent pieces.
- Take down personal photographs. If you have a ton of wall hangings or art, make sure it isn’t overwhelming the space.
- Declutter bookshelves by removing at least half the contents (leaving some shelves partially empty or empty entirely can actually be a good idea).
- Conceal cords from electronics and get rid of any that aren’t necessary.
- Pack away toys, hobby supplies, and fitness equipment.
- Limit throw pillows and blankets to a few complementary items.
- Clear off the tops of entertainment centers/TV stands.
- In smaller rooms, consider removing area rugs to highlight the flooring.
Dining Room Decluttering
- Clear the dining table entirely or add just simple settings and a simple centerpiece.
- Remove excess chairs – do not crowd the space!
- Declutter china cabinets/buffets, leaving only a few select decorative pieces.
- If the room feels tight, remove table leaves to create more floor space. If the table has no leaves and is too big for the space, consider staging with a different one and putting yours into storage.
- Store special occasion dinnerware and rarely used serving items elsewhere. This is probably a great time to pack them up!
- Temporarily remove children’s high chairs and booster seats during showings.
- If you have a bar area, remove access or opened bottles.
Kitchen Decluttering
This is a big one and will probably take you the most time of all the rooms on the main floor. So don’t try and do this one in a day!
Cabinets & Pantry:
- Without doubt, potential buyers will look inside drawers, cupboards and pantries. Decrease contents by approximately 30% in each of them.
- Don’t forget to organize the cupboard under the sink. This one tends to see a lot of action!
- Take down any objects stored above cabinets.
- Put away, pack up or donate infrequently used appliances, serving dishes, and cookware.
Countertops and other spots
- Clear away mail, papers, and other non-kitchen items.
- Remove magnets, photos, and papers from the refrigerator.
- Keep only 1-2 frequently used small appliances on counters.
- Clear windowsills of plants and any decorative items.
Entryway Decluttering
- Clear coat hooks/racks of excess jackets and seasonal items.
- Remove bulky furniture that makes the space feel cramped.
- Store sports equipment elsewhere.
- Remove all shoes. You can keep 2-3 pairs if they are stored neatly in a closet.
- Pack away mail, keys, and other everyday items from visible surfaces.
- Consider removing area rugs if they make the space feel smaller.
- Pack up personal items such as family calendars or children’s artwork.
Bedroom Decluttering
We’ve included a second category of bedrooms for children’s rooms below this one.
- Clear dresser tops of perfume bottles, jewellery boxes, and other items.
- Remove personal photos and highly personal items.
- Ensure only seasonal clothing is in closets, with everything else stored.
- Organize closets so they appear spacious (aim for 30-50% empty space).
- Clear nightstands of everything except a lamp and perhaps one book.
- Remove hampers, exercise equipment, and other non-bedroom items.
- Store luggage elsewhere.
- Remove extra furniture that makes the room feel cramped.
Children’s bedroom
- Store collections (action figures, dolls) out of sight.
- Clear desks of personal items and school materials.
- Decrease toys by at least half (keep favorites in decorative containers).
- Take down posters and personal photographs.
- Organize wardrobes and remove clothing that’s out of season or too small.
- Minimize wall decorations to just a few tasteful pieces.
- Consider replacing themed bedding with neutral alternatives temporarily.
- Remove unnecessary furniture (extra shelving, toy boxes).
Bathroom Decluttering
- Remove scale and bath mats.
- Clear countertops of all personal items (toothbrushes, makeup, etc.).
- Remove prescription medications and store safely elsewhere.
- Clear away bath toys, shower caddies, and loofahs.
- Reduce shower products to bare essentials or store away completely.
- Remove toilet brush, plunger, and excess toilet paper.
- Clear items from back of toilet (tissue boxes, magazines, etc.).
- Reduce towels to one coordinating set per bathroom.
- Remove hampers and laundry baskets.
- Clear under-sink storage and medicine cabinets of excess items.
Basement Decluttering
If you have a fully finished basement, follow the guides above. If your basement isn’t fully finished it’s still important to prepare it. Neat organization can help buyers see the potential for the space.
- Organize laundry space and eliminate unnecessary cleaning products.
- Make mechanical spaces accessible and tidy.
- Organize tools and maintenance equipment.
- Minimize holiday and seasonal decorations. This is a great time to either pack them up or thin through them and donate!
- Do the same for children’s unused toys and outgrown belongings.
- Select matching, attractive storage containers for anything you are keeping in the space.