Selling? First, declutter

Selling your home can be a chore if you’re a hoarder. Having lots of ‘stuff’ around makes the house harder to keep clean, reduces the perception of space and available storage, and creates more work when it’s time to move out.

Here are five tips for a lighter load, easier sale and quicker move.

1. If it’s broken, let it go

We all hold on to some things when they stop working, thinking we’ll fix them one day. Now it’s time to give them away. Your local men’s shed will enjoy fixing broken appliances, furniture, toys and bikes, then donate them to the needy.

2. Take small steps

Clearing out the clutter might not be something you can finish in a day, so set objectives and work towards them.

• Dedicate a weekend to sorting through the garage or storage areas, making space to store the things you do decide to keep.

• Start working on one room at a time. Continue working through each room in dedicated timeslots over the next week or month, depending on your schedule.

3. Call a friend

You might have attachments to your treasures, but it’s quite likely family and friends don’t share those same binding ties. Invite a sibling or friend over to help you go through and clear out a room.

Establish an agreement of trust: you will honour their advice to let go of things that no longer serve a purpose, and they will listen if you can make a strong enough case for any item. Be sure to have clear guidelines for exactly what constitutes a ‘strong enough case’, and limit the number of wild cards you’re allowed to use.

4. Have a plan

Does your home have a particular style? If not now, what would you like it to be? Knowing the kind of space you want to create will help you identify the things you keep or let go.

Anything that doesn’t fit with your new plans can either go to a local charity store, or fetch a few dollars on Gumtree or eBay. List valuable items such as that antique furniture you’ve inherited but don’t actually like, with a renowned auction house so it goes to an appreciative buyer.

5. Sort by threes

The age-old sorting system of ‘keep’, ‘throw’ and ‘donate/sell’ boxes never fails.

Work your way through each room, taking out the ‘throw’ box straight away. Put ‘donation’ items in the car so they’re out of your house. Place the ‘sale’ items in a designated place and get them sold without procrastinating – the sooner you do, the sooner your space will clear and your bank balance will increase.

Once you’ve cleared your home of clutter, use the lessons you’ve learnt to keep it to a minimum in your new home.