Feel free to use this tip sheet / checklist as you tackle your own ""do-it-yourself"" organizing projects. If you would like to REPRINT or DISTRIBUTE this information, please click here for reprinting instructions.
An Introduction
The Number One home improvement that will give you 973% Average Return on your investment is REMOVING CLUTTER. Remove clutter by storing items in basement, attic or friend's home. Rent a storage space or sell excess items, if needed. In order to sell your home faster and for top dollar, you need to start saying goodbye to your home by staging it to sell! Here’s how:
Attic, Basement, Garage
Clean out or organize any area that you walk into.
Box items you are taking with you to minimize clutter.
Rearrange or consolidate all storage to maximize space.
Increase wattage in bulbs.
Create a workbench area if there isn’t one.
Do a good sweeping, no cobwebs!
Rearrange garage so a car can fit in.
Think zones, not haphazard.
Bathroom
Limit the “stuff” inside the shower stall: makes it look bigger
Consolidate bottles and go through old make-up
Make sure grout is clean.
New bath towels/floor mat?
New shower liner and/or curtain?
Clean out what opens
Cabinets, medicine chest, linen closets
Fold towels in closet
Guest towel and liquid soap on sink
Bedrooms
Organize children’s toys: Categorize and Containerize
Clean out what opens
Cabinets, dresser drawers, closets
Closets
Clothes hang straight, not smashed in
Matching hangers
Too much clothing says, “Not enough room.”
Master bedroom: aim for restful, retreat, book open?
Lighting: Make sure there’s just enough and it has a purpose.
Dining room or dining area
Set the table
Personalize the room: bright placemats, pitcher filled with flowers, candles, etc.
Make large dining room do double duty
Room-within-a-room: secretary to create a den, reading place, music corner, etc.
Visually enlarge small dining area
Remove leaves in table
Against wall instead of center
Remove extra chairs
Clutter eats equity so limit the “stuff”
Entry hall
A dramatic focal point
Create the effect if you don’t have one
Greet buyers with “welcome home”
Flowers, bold and dramatic
Reduce furniture to make it easier to walk.
Add a “special” mirror and clean it!
Improve the floor
Make repairs or replacements if necessary
No loose throw rugs; one long rug is best
Clean out your coat closet
Only coats and shoes! No wire coat hangers.
Closet freshener
Front door and porch
Does your home have curb appeal?
No dead plants, replace with planters
Trim shrubs to expose windows.
Front Door
Does it sparkle? If not, paint it or clean it.
Door knob should shine to welcome people.
Welcome with a spot of color.
Flowers, old sled, bright milk box, etc.
Paint door if necessary.
Invest in a new doormat.
Welcome only
Capitalize on your front porch.
Make it welcoming, even if you don’t sit on it.
Use chairs, books, end table, plants
Do cursory gardening as needed
Keep lawn ornaments to a bare minimum if at all.
Remove toys or any clutter that takes away from the gardens.
Kitchen (your kitchen alone could sell your home
Clean off front and top of refrigerator
Use props to set the scene
Open cookbook, basket of fruit, show food!
Quick cabinet makeover: new knobs and/or hinges.
Expand counter space
Clear it of everything except a bowl of fruit, store other things away
Create more storage if possible (eg. moveable cart, pantry, etc.)
Accent windows
Clean windows, simple curtains
Windowsill with herbs or tiny bottles
Make small kitchens appear
larger
Clear top of cabinets
Repaint or unify the paint
Colorful accents are important
Strategically placed mirror
Highlight eat-in area
Set the stage: placemats, bowl of fruit
Need stools-painted bright colors?
New towels/pot holders/dishcloths?
Items on a horizontal surface should be attractive
Clean out what opens
Cabinets, refrigerator, pantry, mop closet
Create a mail sorting area if there is room
Laundry Room
Cheerful and appealing
Accentuate any window
Well organized and fresh smelling
Bright lighting
Can it do double duty?
Sewing/hobby area?
Area for coats and shoes for out of the way storage?
Pantry overflow?
Living room and family room
Set the stage and strike a happy medium: not too casual and not too formal
Take down 90% of your family photos
Music, games, knitting, reading means “We could live here.”
Open curtains or eliminate them
Highlight fireplace/screen
Clean it
Mantel uncluttered, tasteful
Improve traffic flow
Make room to walk
Remove excess stuff and furniture
Exit and entry ways not blocked
Draw attention to exposed beams or cathedral ceilings
Draw eyes upward: lighting, hanging basket, mobile, etc.
Downplay the television if possible
Clean out what opens
Cabinets, closets, built-ins, toy chests
A few matching pillows and afghans for warmth
Bookshelves
Organize books by size and color and leave white space; less is more.
Organize electronics and accessories, clean up wires
Papers and magazine racks organized
Stairways
Make them safe
Increase lighting
Clutter-free (attic steps too)
Stair railings tight and secure
No loose rugs at top or bottom
Add visual interest
Wide stairways-hang pictures or lighting; attractive focal point
Narrow stairways-minimize clutter, pictures and loud wallpaper
Improve stair treads
Secure any loose carpet
Clean carpet or replace
Lightly wax wood or paint
The Reference Books
Refer to these books for more ideas on selling your home for top dollar!
“101 Easy Ways to make your home sell faster” by B.J. Hall
Dress your House for Success by M. Webb and S.P. Zackheim
50 Simple Steps you can take to sell your home by I.R. Glink
Vali Heist is a Professional Organizer, the owner of The Clutter Crew for homeowners, and a Certified
GO System Trainer for businesses. She also writes a monthly column for the Reading Eagle called 'Ask the Organizer' and has a radio program called 'Organize This!' on
BoomerGenerationRadio.com.
Vali's bachelor's degree is in Business Administration from Shippensburg University and her Master's Degree is in Higher Education from Kutztown University. Vali has an extensive background of 24 years in Higher Education including training, administration, project management, writing,
and editorial production.
Her passion has always been organization and how it relates to the simplification of work and personal life in order to enjoy both to the fullest. Her ultimate goal is to continue finding simple, easy to implement ideas that work in the real world and pass them on to her clients.
Member Of:
Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Greater Philadelphia Chapter of National Association of Professional Organizers
National Association of Professional Organizers
Would you like to reprint this tip sheet in your publication -- or distribute it to a wider audience? Click here for reprinting instructions.
Click here if you would like to submit a tip sheet or checklist...
If you notice any problems with this site, please contact our webmaster.
And if you don't see what you need you are welcome to "ask the organizer" any question!
To see what people are saying about OnlineOrganizing.com, check out our visitor comments.
OnlineOrganizing.com is a service mark of Bradford, LLC.
