Page 16 - Downsizing
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9. DECLUTTER
When you’re selling a house, you want You’ll be getting a head start on
to make sure it shows as well as packing and moving.
possible in order to get the best • Rent a storage unit and store the stuff
possible price in the shortest amount of you want to keep.
time. • If you’re on the fence about getting rid
of something, throw it in storage for
To achieve this, one of the most now. But if you don’t miss it or need it
important things to do before putting it that whole time, it’s probably a good
on the market is to declutter. Most sign that you don’t need to re-clutter
people simply have more stuff than your new home with it once you’re
they need or use, and people get used moving in. Use this as a good way to
to their own clutter. gradually part with things.
• Make a list or tag everything in the
Clutter doesn’t mean it’s useless stuff house that you don’t want, need, or
that you need to throw away though. won’t have room for, and have your
Sure, you should use the opportunity to family and friends come over to see if
go through everything you own and get they want any of it. (Like the piano or
rid of anything you don’t want or need. grandfather clock that’s been passed
(Especially when you’re downsizing down for generations or the kids’ stuff
since you’ll have less room to keep they never took with them when they
unnecessary things.) But there are moved out.)
probably some things you want to keep • Have a garage sale or sell things online
that take up too much space and would that don’t make the cut for you to
prevent your house from showing as keep or that nobody else in the family
nicely as it would otherwise. wants.
• Hire a company or rent a dumpster
So, go room by room, closet by closet, and get rid of anything that you aren’t
drawer by drawer. Don’t strip the house keeping or that nobody wants.
down so much that it looks vacant.
Keep the essentials and “stage” your
house to look as good as possible. But
do:
• Pack up the things you don’t need on
a daily basis while you sell your house.
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