CHAPTER 15 How to Declutter in a Hurry
Clutter is in the eye of the beholder. You may think a refrigerator decorated with kids’ art is quaint and homey, but a buyer might think all that paper makes the kitchen look messy. When it comes to decluttering, less is more. The fewer pictures, collectibles, and family keepsakes you have littering shelves, the more a potential buyer can envision his new life in that home.
Here are some techniques that will help you get rid of clutter.
• Look at your home with fresh eyes: Pretend you’re a buyer who’s never seen your house before. What might he think of your “stuff?” Go through each room with a keen eye to removing and reducing clutter. If you’re just too attached to your things to be objective, ask a friend to help you assess your space. Go through each room and jot down what needs to be removed or repositioned. • Piles are your friends: When it comes to decluttering, your house will look like a wreck on the way to making it clutter-free. After you’ve decided which objects will hurt the sales process, make several piles.
> Pile of family pictures and collectibles that you want to keep forever, just not in your house at this time: Box these up and store them in a crawl space, if you have it, or in a storage locker somewhere. You can retrieve the boxes when you 80
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