As mentioned in Part One of our downsizing series, making the decision to downsize can be both emotional and stressful. This blog aims to guide you through some steps to prepare your home for the downsizing process and save yourself some stress before moving day. With a little guidance from your realtor, some hours of decluttering, and the help of local resources, the downsizing process can be easier than you’d think.

Have you read Part One of our downsizing series? Read it right here to get caught up!

What are the Benefits of Decluttering?

Decluttering can be a daunting task. We all collect so much stuff throughout our lives that it’s hard to even know where to begin! As your trusted realtors, we can assure you it’s the perfect place to start. Getting a head start on the decluttering of your home will help you feel more organized and prepared for the sale process. Decluttering in the early stages will also provide a huge relief once you begin packing. By sorting through your items and determining what you would keep, donate or dispose of, you can avoid packing unneeded or unnecessary items. Decluttering can be as simple as choosing one room of your home at a time and sorting all items into “keep”, “donate”, “gift or pass along” and “garbage”. By completing this process one room at a time you can avoid overwhelmingly large piles that need tending too. Most importantly, decluttering prior to listing your home for sale ensures your home will be shown at its best. The average buyer can see themselves in a home with fewer personal artifacts over one with clutter or too much personalization. Taking control of how you present your home can make all the difference in the sale!

How Your Agent Can Help You Declutter

We are here to help you! The Barry Team believes in a hands-on approach. This means you can count on us to offer assistance as well as connect you with local professionals who have earned our trust. We have experience and take great pride in offering a helping hand. It is not out of the question for us to assist in establishing your decluttering and sorting system. Whether it’s wrapping up goods for storage or moving packed boxes to the basement, you can depend on us. Our connections to local organizations mean it will be easy to bring in an external company to clear out any unwanted goods, complete a dump run or give a final clean to make all your hard work sparkle and shine!

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Looking for more tips on selling your home? Read these posts next:

• 6 Tips to Know for Your Property Sale
• Can Good Real Estate Photography Sell My House Faster?
• Sell with Us

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Local Organizations We Work with to Help You Declutter

We have established some great relationships within our community and those are yours to use! When decluttering, sometimes having a professional on hand can make all the difference. For those with items they would like to sell we recommend Niagara Estate Auctions. Niagara Estate Auctions are professional and well-versed in the sale of household and antique items. They will work with you and you can expect sincere honesty regarding the sale of your items. Companies like Just Junk and Urge to Purge can be your very best decluttering friends. Let these guys do the heavy lifting while you offer direction. We have familiarized ourselves with local donation drop-off centres and would be happy to direct you to any second-hand stores accepting donations in your area. Not all things we are ready to part with or meant for the trash, there is a comfort in knowing our possession will be loved by someone else. Lastly, we have cultivated a list of the best home cleaners in the region to share with you. Decluttering is enough work; you don’t want to spend the day cleaning after that! Our cleaners are tried and true and you can expect your home to be sparkling after you’ve utilized their services.

Steps to a Stress-Free Sale

Having a stress-free sale means being as proactive as possible. Decluttering your home proactively sets you up for a smooth selling process. With your home displayed in its best possible state, we can assure you that you will capture the eye of more potential buyers. Not to mention when it comes time to pack and moving day arrives, you will be a step ahead with items sorted and ready to go!

Are you considering downsizing? Give us a call or email today for a home evaluation and a personalized plan for a successful sale! Call 905-717-8529 or email admin@thebarryteam.ca today!