The benefits of decluttering go deeper than many older homeowners realize. More than just making your house safer and more comfortable, decluttering can have a great payoff when you’re eventually ready to sell, whether that’s a few weeks away or a few years.
For example, a properly decluttered home means having fewer belongings to manage come moving day. It also helps you get settled in your new home on the right foot. On top of that, a clean and clutter free home will be much more appealing to potential buyers.
Yes, it can be a big process. But it’s worth the effort.
In this blog post, I’m sharing a few tips on how to declutter your home as a senior, and what your next steps will be if you plan to sell.
Looking for senior-specialized real estate services?
Find out how I work with downsizers
Start Early
Sometimes getting started can be the hardest part of decluttering. Especially if you have a lot of stuff.
To make things easy, get started as soon as possible. Even if you don’t have a specific timeline in mind for selling your house just yet, it’s never too early to get organized and begin making your home more spacious.
If you’re expecting family members or friends to take certain belongings off your hands, let them know about your plans in advance. You don’t want to delay your plans by waiting for someone else.
On that note, if you think you’ll need professional help (i.e. a full-service real estate agent) with decluttering or another aspect of downsizing your home, start researching options as soon as you can. More on this later.
Need more advice on downsizing your home? Head to these other pages on my site!
- Should You Downsize Before Retirement?
- Best Peterborough Neighbourhoods For Retirees & Downsizers
- Helpful Advice For Downsizing & Estate Sales In Peterborough
Go Room By Room
Rather than weaving through the house without a plan, decluttering becomes much easier when you go room by room.
Start with the least emotional or least used areas of your home. For example, the basement bathroom, guest bedroom, and dining room. From there, work your way up to the important everyday spaces, such as the home office, living room, and master bedroom.
Don’t forget about decluttering your garage and front and back yards as well.
Designate and Categorize
It’s easier to make your decisions about what stays and what goes before you begin moving things around. As you go room by room, separate everything into one of four categories: Keep, donate, recycle, or throw away. You can use labels or designated bags and bins to keep track of your progress.
Balance Sentiment and Practicality
At its core, decluttering is a fairly practical process. However, it can also be emotional. As you sort through years’ worth of belongings, it’s natural to feel sentimental or attached to certain things. That said, it’s important to be as clear and objective as you can be.
Being overly sentimental may lead to holding on to more things than you need. Try to find a nice balance between emotions and neutrality.
Don’t Overexert Yourself
Decluttering an entire house is a big job, and it doesn’t happen in a day. Allow yourself to manage the process at a comfortable and easily manageable pace, however that may look to you.
Trying to rush decluttering or do it all at once can lead to burnout, decision fatigue, or even potentially injury. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Selling a parent’s house on their behalf? You’ll find helpful advice in these blog posts.
- Can Power of Attorney Sell Property in Ontario?
- How to Prepare For an Estate Sale in Ontario
- Why Sell Your House With Roger Currier
Ask for Help if You Need It
Lastly, if you’re overwhelmed about the prospect of decluttering or you’re feeling stuck partway through the process, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Having support from family members and friends can go a long way.
If you want to take decluttering off your plate entirely, you can work with a full service real estate agent who specializes in downsizing (like me, Roger Currier).
Dedicated Home Selling Services For Seniors
As a Peterborough real estate agent, I’m here to make your downsizing journey as easy as possible. From start to finish, I’ll help you coordinate all the logistics, from decluttering and junk removal to repairs and ongoing maintenance, and everything in between.
Beyond your sale, I can also help you find the ideal place for your next chapter. Whether you’re looking for a smaller house, a sensible condo, or retiree-oriented housing, I’ll connect you to the properties best suited to your needs.
Downsizing your home? I can help!
Reach me at 705-927-2774 or email roger@teamcurrierhomes.ca
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