There are plenty of things that a homeowner should do before putting their house on sale. If you want to sell it fast and at a good price, decluttering your entire property should be on top of your list. The appearance of your home plays a huge role in the financial aspect of the sale.
Decluttering your house is much like preparing it for the market. Keeping it spotless can make it look irresistible to the buyers, look bigger in photos, and even inspire the buyer’s imagination. People are looking for homes where they can put and organize their stuff so make it easier for them to visualize that by decluttering the place. Plus, it can potentially increase your house’s value.
Here are the best ways to properly declutter a property before selling:
1. Fuel up that giving spirit
First thing to remember is that you can never sell every item in your old house. If you can’t sell them, better donate the stuff instead. Sometimes getting into the giving spirit feels better than making money out of your stuff.
When it comes to donating, you have to first find non-profit organizations that could really benefit from all the items you’re giving out. For example, if you got tons of crafting tools and art supplies, you can find organizers of after-school programs or summer camps.
On the other hand, if you see tons of wood, fixtures, or hardware that need to be decluttered, opt for an organization with advocacy to provide affordable housing for unfortunate families. The organizations readily have different building and recycling equipment such as industrial balers and compactors to handle such things and reuse them.
Do you have huge piles of books or CDs you don’t plan on taking with you? Check your local library if they’re accepting pre-owned items. There are also non-profit organizations that accept nearly new or old clothing items, shoes, bags, and various types of apparel.
Bear in mind that not all trash is other people’s treasure. Take time to choose which items do a certain charity wants or needs.
2. Make money from it
Yes, a garage sale would be great and easy. But that doesn’t guarantee you can sell every stuff. There are now new and fun ways for you to sell your stuff at a great price. One of these is through online auction websites such as Webstore, eCrater, Bonanza, eBay, and Ubid. Before posting your stuff there, compare prices of similar items first to avoid overpricing anything. Also, don’t forget to check if there are any fees involved.
It’s also better to opt for an online marketplace that specializes in selling specific items. For example, sites like Gazelle, Swappa, and GameStop Trade-In are popular for selling or trading electronics or mobile devices with cash. On the other hand, you can opt for places such as Etsy, Poshmark, and Refashioner if you’re interested in selling lifestyle or fashion items.
Take note that finding the right place to sell your stuff can increase your chance to sell it quickly and at a very reasonable price. Know the value of your item before hosting a garage sale or posting it on an online marketplace.
3. Rent a storage unit
If the two previous tips don’t work for you, renting a storage unit might do the thing. Most storage facilities offer both short term and long term rental, depending on the client’s need. For example, if you just need extra space to store your other moving boxes, storage units can be a convenient solution. You can just get them once your new house is ready.
Or, if you still want to keep all those valuable stuff and furniture but don’t have enough space in your new home, renting a storage unit is also a great option. These facilities are secured so you won’t have to worry about the safety of your items.
Some of the items you can store in storage units include bulky furniture, artworks, fragile items, kitchenware, books, shoes, blankets, clothes, and other soft materials too. That said, ensure to find a reliable storage facility. They must offer clean space, climate-controlled units, good lighting, and top-notch security systems all over the place. Find ones that offer different sizes of units in case you only need to store a few boxes or a great number of belongings.
With so many ways to get rid of all your excess belongings, decluttering your house won’t be that challenging. Who knows, you might be able to sell it at a higher price than expected.
