Pre LISTING De Clutter Tips

10 Things to Remove from Your Home When Listing for Sale

One of the most common questions from home sellers is, “do I really need

to put my family pictures away”? The short answer is “yes,” but maybe not

for the reasons you assume. The general principle is that buyers need to

be able to visualize their own lives in the home in order to buy the house.

There is nothing new about this, but in this complicated age of security

challenges, there are also safety reasons to remove your items before

showings.

10 Things to Remove

1. Excess Furniture – Consider removing extra chairs, ottomans, side

tables, etc., anything unnecessary.

2. Family Photos – You do not know who is coming through your home;

protect your family by removing any identifiable pictures, awards,

certificates, etc. This also helps a buyer focus on the house and how their belongings will fit rather than your belongings.

3. Collectables – Less is more. Box up those collectibles to help prepare for the move.

4. Laptops and Cell Phones – Anything easily picked up and removed

should be safely stowed.

5. Jewelry – Again, anything of value should be secured out of sight.

6. Important Files and Papers – Hide any papers that may have

banking or social security numbers that can be used for fraudulent

purposes.

7. Firearms – Protect yourself and others by securing any firearms.

8. Clutter – Nothing new here, keep the home clean.

9. Half of All Décor – Think about removing about half of any

decorative items such as pillows, vases, books, etc.

10.Pets – Keep your pets safe and away from visitors.

If you’re ready to start showing your home, taking a little time to

depersonalize can not only help your buyers see the potential of the home

for their lives, but protect yourself and your family as well.