{"id":25901,"date":"2025-06-03T11:11:50","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T18:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?p=25901"},"modified":"2025-06-02T18:32:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T01:32:07","slug":"small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Effort, Big Results &#8211; A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Preparing to sell your home is a big step, and it involves more than just tidying up. To make your home stand out in listing photos and during showings, you\u2019ll want to do more than surface-level cleaning. Creating an inviting, clutter-free space allows potential buyers to picture themselves living there. Remember: buyers want to know how they will make your home their own.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Why Storage Matters When Selling Your Home?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You\u2019ve heard it before: first impressions matter. Buyers form opinions within seconds, and clutter can distract from your home\u2019s best features. A well-staged home feels welcoming, spacious, and move-in ready \u2014 all qualities that drive faster sales and better offers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the National Association of Realtors, 83% of buyers\u2019 agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. And homes that are staged spend less time on the market and often sell for more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Decluttering before selling your home achieves two important goals :<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2022 Visual Appeal : Clean, minimalist spaces photograph better and show more impressively in person.<br \/>\n\u2022 Practical Prep : Packing early simplifies your move \u2014 you\u2019re getting a head start by removing non-essentials now.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>What to Put in Storage : Room-by-Room Breakdown<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wondering where to start? Here\u2019s a simple guide to what to put in storage when selling your house, broken down room by room.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Living Room<br \/>\n\u2022 Extra or oversized furniture (think : bulky recliners or large sectionals)<br \/>\n\u2022 Personal collections (books, vinyl records, figurines)<br \/>\n\u2022 Excess throw pillows or blankets<br \/>\n\u2022 Family photos, kids\u2019 drawings, and personalized decor<br \/>\n\u2022 Overly themed or dated wall art<br \/>\n\u2022 Staging Tip : Aim for a balanced layout with just enough furniture to define the space \u2014 and nothing more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kitchen<br \/>\n\u2022 Small appliances you rarely use (waffle maker, juicer, etc.)<br \/>\n\u2022 Duplicate or mismatched dishware, mugs, and utensils<br \/>\n\u2022 Countertop clutter: knife blocks, spice racks, drying racks<br \/>\n\u2022 Fridge magnets, calendars, and personal notes<br \/>\n\u2022 Staging Tip : Clear countertops create the illusion of more perceived space. Display only one or two tasteful items.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bedrooms<br \/>\n\u2022 Off-season clothing, shoes, and accessories<br \/>\n\u2022 Overflowing nightstands or bedside clutter<br \/>\n\u2022 Personal items like framed photos, keepsakes, or trophies<br \/>\n\u2022 Toys, hobby gear, or home gym equipment<br \/>\n\u2022 Staging Tip : Neutral, hotel-like bedrooms help buyers imagine restful, organized spaces.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bathrooms<br \/>\n\u2022 Non-essential toiletries and grooming tools (store daily items discreetly)<br \/>\n\u2022 Extra towels, bath mats, and shower caddies<br \/>\n\u2022 Over-the-counter medication and personal products<br \/>\n\u2022 Staging Tip : Display a few plush towels, a candle, and fresh soap for a spa-like effect.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Garage, Basement, or Storage Areas<br \/>\n\u2022 Tools you don\u2019t need immediately<br \/>\n\u2022 Seasonal items (holiday decorations, snow gear, camping equipment)<br \/>\n\u2022 Bulky storage bins and moving boxes<br \/>\n\u2022 Bulk-purchased household items or paper goods<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What NOT to Put in Storage<br \/>\nWhile decluttering is key, don\u2019t go overboard. Some items are essential for maintaining a staged, livable home :<br \/>\n\u2022 Core furniture : A sofa, dining table, and primary bedroom are a must. Extra bedrooms can be re-staged, for instance as a home office.<br \/>\n\u2022 Well-chosen decor : A few tasteful items, such as mirrors or modern art, can define a space or increase light in a room<br \/>\n\u2022 Lighting : Lamps help brighten darker areas and make rooms feel larger.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Storage Options and Tips<br \/>\nNot sure where to stash everything? Here are a few smart storage solutions :<br \/>\n\u2022 Self-Storage Units : Great for short-term needs. Look for climate-controlled units for items like electronics, photos, and clothing.<br \/>\n\u2022 Portable Storage Pods : These can be delivered to your driveway and picked up later \u2014 convenient and flexible.<br \/>\n\u2022 Friends &amp; Family : If you have trusted nearby connections, storing boxes or bins with them can save on costs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Smart Packing Tips<br \/>\n\u2022 Label every box clearly and note the room it belongs to.<br \/>\n\u2022 Don\u2019t cram your garage or closets \u2014 buyers will peek. If those areas look stuffed, it can raise red flags about storage space.<br \/>\n\u2022 Pack by category or room to make your eventual move easier.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Small Effort, Big Results<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Decluttering and putting the right things in storage isn\u2019t just about cleanliness \u2014 it\u2019s a strategy that helps your home stand out and sell faster. From enhancing listing photos to reducing buyer distractions, knowing what to put in storage when selling your house is a key part of making a strong first impression.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Start now, and you\u2019ll thank yourself later when it\u2019s time to move \u2014 with less clutter, less stress, and a home that shines during every showing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoocasa.com\/blog\/what-to-store-before-listing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What Should Be Put in Storage Before Listing Your Home : A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering<\/a> by Aiden Lowrie | zoocasa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preparing to sell your home is a big step, and it involves more than just tidying up. To make your home stand out in listing photos and during showings, you\u2019ll &hellip; [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/\">read more<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-homeselling-homebuying","category-real-estate"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Small Effort, Big Results - A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Small Effort, Big Results - A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Preparing to sell your home is a big step, and it involves more than just tidying up. To make your home stand out in listing photos and during showings, you\u2019ll &hellip; [read more]\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@RoryClipsham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@RoryClipsham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rory Clipsham\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rory Clipsham\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\"},\"headline\":\"Small Effort, Big Results &#8211; A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-03T18:11:50+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":753,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Homeselling | Homebuying\",\"Real Estate\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/\",\"name\":\"Small Effort, Big Results - A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-03T18:11:50+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Small Effort, Big Results &#8211; A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\",\"description\":\"Rory C Real Estate Updates | Home Selling &amp; Buying\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\",\"name\":\"Rory Clipsham\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg\",\"width\":504,\"height\":504,\"caption\":\"Rory Clipsham\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/pg\\\/BurnabyandCoquitlamHomes\\\/about\\\/?ref=page_internal\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/roryclipshamhomes\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/RoryClipsham\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Small Effort, Big Results - A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Small Effort, Big Results - A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty","twitter_description":"Preparing to sell your home is a big step, and it involves more than just tidying up. To make your home stand out in listing photos and during showings, you\u2019ll &hellip; [read more]","twitter_creator":"@RoryClipsham","twitter_site":"@RoryClipsham","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rory Clipsham","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/"},"author":{"name":"Rory Clipsham","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7"},"headline":"Small Effort, Big Results &#8211; A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing","datePublished":"2025-06-03T18:11:50+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/"},"wordCount":753,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7"},"articleSection":["Homeselling | Homebuying","Real Estate"],"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/","url":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/","name":"Small Effort, Big Results - A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-06-03T18:11:50+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/06\/small-effort-big-results-a-sellers-guide-to-smart-decluttering-before-listing\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Small Effort, Big Results &#8211; A Seller\u2019s Guide to Smart Decluttering Before Listing"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/","name":"Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty","description":"Rory C Real Estate Updates | Home Selling &amp; Buying","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7","name":"Rory Clipsham","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg","width":504,"height":504,"caption":"Rory Clipsham"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pg\/BurnabyandCoquitlamHomes\/about\/?ref=page_internal","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/roryclipshamhomes\/","https:\/\/x.com\/RoryClipsham"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25901"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25902,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25901\/revisions\/25902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}