There is never a better time to have a major clear out than when you make the decision to sell. Why? Well because if you don’t deal with the clutter, you’re going to have to pack it and move it into your new home – and no one wants that! Here’s our room by room guide to decluttering
- Living room
Because we spend so much time in our living rooms, we tend to stop seeing some of their faults which will be blatantly obvious to someone walking in for the first time. One of the most common mistakes of living rooms is to over-furnish them with too-large sofas and big television units. Move this furniture out – either sell it or put into storage – and replace with something lighter and brighter that complements the space.
- Kitchen
Are your benchtops crammed with recipe books and knick knacks? Box them now and get the surfaces cleaned off. Strip all the fridge magnets and drawings from the kids off the fridge. Go through your appliance cupboard, and everything you bought which you thought would save you time, but which has in fact been used once or twice, can go to charity or onto eBay.
- Bathrooms
The guest soaps you collected from hundreds of hotels can be thrown or donated to charity if they are in good order. Go through your vanity unit. Throw out anything that is out of date, or which hasn’t been used for a year. This includes medicines, makeup, sunscreen, old hair gel and miracle facecream.
- Bedrooms
Kids toys should be culled during sale time. Keep a few key things they play with regularly that can be easily tidied away and pack the rest and put into storage with the promise opening at your new home will be like Christmas, or donate unwanted items to charity. Pick up everything off the floor. Now is also a great time to really cull your wardrobe to prevent items spilling out. Pack or donate what you no longer want to charity.
- Laundry
Laundries tend to be dumping grounds of everything from sporting equipment to old shoes to cleaning products. If the kids haven’t played with them for more than 6 months, or if they no longer fit, send them to charity or put on eBay. Stick all the cleaning products into a bucket and stow – they may come in handy once the movers have been and you need to give the place a good clean.