Decluttering, which is often paired with a thorough deep clean of the home is a necessary aspect of ensuring a property is optimized for an exceptional market performance. However, doing so may appear challenging – especially for busy families or those with smaller properties.

In this article, we will offer thoughtful, industry-backed advice on maintaining a clutter-free home during the selling process.

New Impressions

The first impression is a critical moment. Upon their initial entry into the property, buyers are looking to feel immersed and impressed. A pristine, well-presented home that is free of unneeded furnishings or belongings feels spacious and welcoming.

Further, a thorough decluttering process naturally depersonalizes the space. This forms a neutral canvas that allows prospective buyers to envision the home as their own – encouraging them to foster an emotional connection to the property. In turn, these connections motivate buyers to place strong, high-quality offers.

Decluttering as a Precursor to Staging

Keeping a tidy, uncrowded home lays a strong foundation for staging.
Professional home staging, which involves the strategic incorporation of furnishing and decor elements to elevate the appearance of a property, ranks as one of the best pre-sale preparations in terms of return on investment. With that in mind, removing excess clutter from your home creates greater flexibility during the staging process – enhancing the value it can provide.

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Approaching the sale of your property? Consider these related insights from our blog.

• Balancing Interest & Equity When Selling Your Home
• A Decluttering: Not Just For Downsizers
• 5 Home Renovations That Enhance Equity

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Comfort During Transition

Presenting your home as clean and exceptionally maintained offers benefits beyond just impressing buyers. As you are still living in your home while it is on the market, keeping the space pristine creates additional comfort during a busy time period.

Further, a proactive decluttering process will also prove beneficial upon arriving in your next home. With older and out-of-sync furnishings removed, you can create a cleaner, more cohesive ambiance in your future space.

Initial Evaluation

Rather than eliminating clutter sporadically, it is wise to approach the process with clarity and strategy. Begin with a room-to-room evaluation of the home. With pen and paper, make a list of items that you are ready to part with, categorizing them into one of four groups: discard, recycle, donate, sell, or move.

As you take stock of various tangibles, avoid classifying belongings as ‘maybe’. Although challenging, it is beneficial to be decisive during this process. Maintaining a non-emotional headspace is part and parcel of ensuring the home is decluttered effectively.

Holding Items Off-Site

Some belongings may hinder how your home appears to potential buyers, however, that does not necessarily mean you will need to permanently part with them. For items of high or sentimental value, consider safekeeping in a secure, private storage facility.

This ensures the item remains safe and within your possession, without obstructing your home’s ambience, flow, or appeal to potential buyers. If you do not have a place in mind where you can temporarily keep priority belongings, speak with your real estate agent. They can assist with moving furnishings and other belongings to a trustworthy off-site location.

Actioning Your Plan

With an itemized list of your belongings (and their designations) in hand, you may proceed with the physical steps of removing clutter. Once again, it is best to approach this step thoughtfully for the sake of efficiency.

First, target high-visibility areas of your home as they will rank among the top priorities for potential buyers. This includes the entryway, kitchen, living room, main floor washroom, and the primary bedroom and ensuite. Larger items that will be donated, moved, or sold, should be allocated to a temporary storage space such as the garage or ideally, directly placed in the designated transport vehicle for removal.

Avoid over-reliance on in-home storage. Buyers will examine closets, cupboards, and other storage solutions. If it appears that your home is at capacity or overflowing with clutter, it could deter buyers from pursuing a purchase.

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Preparing to sell your Toronto home? Explore these related readings for helpful guidance.

• How to Effectively Prepare Your Home For Sale
• Finding Peace of Mind When Selling Under Pressure
• When Is The Best Time To Sell Your Luxury Home?

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Maintaining the Space

​​Conserving a clean, obstruction-free home is imperative during the selling process. Showings may occur with little notice and you will not always have time to re-clean or inspect your home before a new buyer arrives. Therefore, following your initial declutter, you will need to continue with routine upkeep to ensure that your home remains ready to impress at a given moment.

Perform a nightly walkthrough of the home, solving any major or minor untidiness. Each morning, inspect high-visibility areas before leaving for work. Put away dishes, make beds, and ensure all furnishings are in their place. Forming positive habits with these routines will pay dividends upon the same of your home.

Seeking a seamless and personalized property sale? As distinguished leaders in luxury Toronto real estate, Armin Group can help. Send us an email at ar********@************ty.ca or call 416.960.9995 to begin your journey.