Once you’ve made the decision to sell, and have enlisted the help of a Real Estate Advisor, and set a timeline for putting the property on the market, it’s natural to turn your attention to repairs, renovations, and staging.
You can certainly prepare for the types of improvements by getting help and materials lined up, and getting your scheduling in place.
But before you dive into those bigger-ticket, more time-consuming items, there are several foundational tasks you should begin immediately (and they’re low cost or free – yay!). These early steps will not only make your property more appealing to buyers but also make the selling process easier for you as it unfolds.
Let’s walk through the first things you should start working on logically, practically, and with purpose.
1. Depersonalizing and Decluttering Your Property
Depersonalization and Decluttering can happen simultaneously but are done with different goals in mind.
How to Depersonalize Your Home to Sell
Depersonalizing means removing items that reflect your personal identity, lifestyle, and family history. In general, these items have meaning and significance only to you and your immediate family. They do nothing, however, to help sell the property.
Keeping your items will only remind any prospective buyer who walks through the front door that they are not viewing their future dream house; they are viewing your house with your tastes, which may differ from theirs.
They may feel your presence when your stuff is there representing you. Because of this, it is common for buyers to feel less inclined or comfortable to give the property a deep, serious inspection or consideration. They feel more like a guest.
They will look at your personal possessions, though, and try to put together a picture in their mind about who you are and what your motivations are. You want them focusing on the property itself, not your personal life and why you might be selling.
Items to Remove When Depersonalizing Include:
- Family photos
- Religious, ethnic, or political items
- Personal collections and memorabilia
- Highly specific artwork or décor
- Children’s artwork or school memorabilia
- Risqué or provocative items
Why Depersonalization Matters: Personal items, especially ones that are not to everyone’s tastes, can be distracting and therefore make it harder for buyers to connect emotionally with the space.
By learning how to depersonalize, you create a neutral canvas that appeals to the widest possible variation of Buyers.
PRO TIP: If you’re unsure what counts as clutter or personalization, ask a friend with a fresh perspective to walk through your home. They’ll notice things you’ve become blind to over time.
What is Decluttering?
Decluttering means removing excess items that make your space feel crowded, chaotic, or overly lived-in. This exercise is primarily to make your property appear spacious and neutral for your Photography session and, of course, for your showings. This is not your main organizing and packing session; it is simply step one.
Tips to Declutter Home Before Staging
First, go through the property and take a survey of your items that are going with you and those that won’t make the cut. These are probably the items that either end up in the trash bin, the charity store, or find a new home with a grateful friend or neighbor.
Removing those items that won’t be taken with you should be your first priority because it’s usually the easiest place to start and generate momentum, you’ll get a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, and you’re also making more available space.
After that, you should identify any items that you still want to take with you but that are causing your space to feel either:
- Busy
- Crowded
- Draw too much visual attention
- They are not in keeping with the rest of the decor
- Oversized and take up a lot of visual space or block the logical flow through the property
These items should then be ‘earmarked’ to be removed and stored out of sight, but in a way that they can easily be added to your packed belongings during moveout. Decluttering is a balancing act. Your aim is to remove excess items to make a space look open, airy, and unified, but not empty.
Things to Consider Removing When You Declutter a Home for Sale:
- Extra or oversized furniture that makes rooms feel small
- Countertop clutter (appliances, paperwork, décor)
- Items stored on top of cabinets or shelves
- Overflowing closets and storage areas
- Non-essential pet items
- Toys, hobby gear, or seasonal decorations
- Excess wall art or distracting décor
- Fridge magnets, bins, boxes, baskets, or trays
- An overabundance of plant pots with sickly or thinned out plants
- Tools, equipment, or gardening items visible in sheds and garages
- Exterior clutter: hoses, broken furniture, empty plant pots
Quick tip: Everyday items you still need (toiletries, chargers, smaller kitchen essentials) can be placed in small bins. This way, they’re easy to grab when you need them but can quickly be tucked away before photos and showings.
Why decluttering matters: Buyers need to see the space, not your stuff. Mastering how to declutter a home effectively comes down to creating open, airy, and organized rooms that ensure the buyers’ only consideration will be how and where their belongings will be placed and arranged to create their new lifestyle. During staging, new items may be added back but these should be items that only improve the balance of furniture layout, flow and overall aspirational design style.
Removing, Packing and Storing of items
So, you’ve gathered the things to remove and maybe even store. What’s next?
Packing them up is the best solution. You are going to pack anyway, so you might as well get started early. It will make the task of packing up the rest of your possessions easier!
Plus, starting this process early allows you to pack carefully and intentionally, rather than in a last-minute rush.
The packed items will need to be stored somewhere out of sight. While storing some of these first items in your property is not always the desired or best solution, it might not be enough to warrant a major off-site storage space. Your real estate advisor might suggest the best place to do so in your particular property.
Some of the Best Storage Options Include:
- Renting a nearby storage unit (climate-controlled if needed)
- Using a friend or relative’s garage or spare room
- Neatly stacking boxes in your own garage as a last resort (buyers generally understand you’re moving)
- Using a secondary closet, such as a guest bedroom closet, instead of the primary bedroom
While we’re on the subject of the Primary Bedroom, closets, and bathroom, sometimes also called the owner’s suite, this is one of the spaces, along with the primary living areas, to pay the most attention to. That’s because the person viewing the property and making decisions will also likely be the person directly using those spaces so they have special significance!
Lastly, while you’re in ‘pack up and store away’ before photos and showings mode, don’t forget to survey for and remove these items:
Dangerous items such as guns, swords/knives, weapons
• Prescription medication (hide this when you are not around)
• Valuables, jewelry, precious or delicate items
Conclusion: Building the Foundation for Staging
Selling a home is a process, and the first steps are often important because they lay the foundation. Before you spend a dime on renovations or repairs, start with these free and foundational tasks in preparation for staging, photos, and viewings:
- Declutter and depersonalize
- Tuck away small daily-use items.
- Remove dangerous or sensitive belongings.
- Begin packing early
- Organize and store items neatly.
These low-cost actions create a clean, neutral foundation that makes your home more appealing, easier to stage, and more marketable to buyers.
By mastering how to declutter a home and knowing how to depersonalize your home to sell, you’re laying the groundwork for a faster, smoother, and more profitable sale.
FAQs About Decluttering and Depersonalizing
1. What is the first step in how to declutter a home?
The best place to start is with obvious clutter, old furniture, paperwork, or seasonal décor. Tackling these items first gives you quick wins and makes your home feel bigger.
2. How do I know what to remove when learning how to depersonalize your home to sell?
Focus on packing away family photos, personal collections, or unique artwork. Understanding how to depersonalize helps buyers picture the home as their own, not yours.
3. Should I declutter the house for sale before or after depersonalizing?
You can do both together. Decluttering removes excess items, while depersonalizing strips away personal touches. This combination creates a neutral, inviting space for buyers.
4. Why does it matter to follow tips to declutter a home before listing?
Clutter makes a house feel smaller and less functional. Using smart tips to declutter a home shows off the property’s full potential and makes it easier for buyers to connect emotionally.
5. Do I need storage when I declutter house for sale?
Often, yes. Use a storage unit, garage, or guest closet to hide packed items until you move. Keeping them out of sight helps your home look more spacious.
