Chris Gmyr

It’s a fact—people grow into a house.  This means that if there are empty closets, you’ll find stuff to stuff into them.  After a few years, the attic, closets, and garage are near-to-bursting.  So what should you do when it’s time to move to a larger home (or, gasp, to a smaller one)?

De-cluttering is non-negotiable.  While it’s okay to have your precious collection of Michael Jordan collector plates or ceramic pigs, you’ll want to box that stuff up before putting your house on the market.  A lot of stuff can just be overwhelming to prospective buyers (and you never know—they might be Detroit pistons fans who hate the Chicago Bulls).

Here are four simple areas to start the de-cluttering process.

Area #1—Closets.  Even if you’re still living out of the house, get rid of the closet clutter.  Leave them half-full and well-organized.  A super-stuffed closet says to a buyer, “This house is too small for you!”  Leave the clothes and shoes you’re most likely to wear and move the rest out.

Area #2—Furniture.  Less is more.  It might be useful for every family member to have their own footstool, but the house has to feel airy, spacious, and inviting.  Less furniture can help give it flow.  Too much furniture can feel like a maze.

Area #3—Toys.  Nothing screams “Disorganized!” louder than a closet (or space under a Disney princess bed) jammed with children’s toys.  Even a barely-able-to close toy chest is too much.  Cut the toy level by half to make the room (s) feel less crowded.  (The same principle applies for adults and their toys: college paraphernalia, sports stuff, and knick-knacks.  You don’t have to trash it, but box it up and get it out.)

Area #4—Kitchen.  Get rid of the cookbooks, the gadgets, the rows of little appliances, the rack of coffee mugs.  Empty out the junk drawer.  Get a silverware drawer if you don’t have one.  Make the kitchen clean, open, and organized.  Think Emeril meets Martha Stewart.

If you have to rent a storage locker for a few months, do it.  Get the mountains of books, mismatched furniture, desks, file cabinets, and stacks of old children’s toys out.  Yes, it’s a pain.  Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort.  But if you want to make a quick and easy sale, the roomy, comfortable feeling that’s left in your now-spacious house will be inviting and effective.