4 Tips for Decluttering Your Home

By Fran Campbell - January 03, 2020

2020 is officially here and if you’re thinking about selling your home at the Lake of the Ozarks this year, it’s never too early to start thinking about the selling process. One of the first things you will need to start thinking about is getting your home ready for showings. It’s important to not wait until you list your home to get it ready for showings because it’s possible a potential buyer will want a showing on the first day your home is on the market. A cluttered and unorganized home can turn away buyers, so if you know that you plan to list your home soon, it’s never too early to start decluttering your home and getting organized! Read on to get a few tips for decluttering your home from the Fran Campbell Team!

1. Set Goals.

The thought of decluttering your home can be overwhelming. Where do you even start? Making a plan and setting goals will help you stay focused and be efficient in decluttering your home. Start with a list or map of all the rooms and specific areas that need tackling. Then prioritize them by which area needs the most work. Set goals for when you want each area completed and be sure to set aside a specific time to work on the project, especially for the areas that may take longer like the garage or the basement. If you only have an hour or less to work, consider tackling a smaller area such as the under-the-sink cabinet.

2. Create a System.

As you go through each area, you want to have a system for how you will sort your personal belongings. One of the most common methods uses three baskets or three piles: one for keep, one for donations and one for trash. This method forces you to make decisions one item at a time; this helps you avoid creating a bigger mess than the one you started with. Clear a space in your house where you can stack boxes and bags that you want to get rid of or donate. As for the things you want to keep, make sure you have a place to put them where they are out of the way. Consider using labeled bins or other organizers to keep your space looking nice and clean.

3. Make a Commitment.

If you're serious about decluttering your home, you need to make a commitment to yourself that you're actually going to get rid of stuff. You need to mentally prepare yourself for what's to come. Many of the items you'll find don't have much monetary value anymore but may hold some sentimental value. Think about the last time you used the item - if you can't remember when that was, you should probably just get rid of it. Consider the 80/20 rule. We typically only wear 20% of the clothes we own, 80% of the time. The same applies to the use of other items in your house as well. Your mission should be to get rid of the things that you don't use 80% of the time.

4. Clean Off Flat Surfaces First.

Before you commit to an entire room, pick a small project to tackle, to give yourself a sense of accomplishment. Countertops, shelves, and other flat services are the biggest clutter-magnets in your home. They are the "catch-all" places for everything you're either too lazy to put away or that doesn't have a place. Mail, bills, magazines, you name it, you're sure to find them on those flat surfaces. This is a great starting point for your decluttering project. While you may need to keep a few items on the counter, make it a goal to keep those areas free of clutter.

Now that you’ve got a few strategies for decluttering your home and getting it in tip-top shape for showings, it’s time to get to work! When you’re ready to list your Lake of the Ozarks home, reach out to the Fran Campbell Team to help with more strategies for getting your home SOLD!