Declutter Like a Pro: Get Your Home Ready to Sell Fast
When you’re preparing to sell your home, decluttering isn’t just a “nice to have” - it’s a must. Staging your home effectively means creating a space that feels clean, open, and welcoming to potential buyers - and clutter can easily get in the way of that goal. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in your home, not feeling like they’re stepping into someone else’s space.
A decluttered home photographs better, shows better, and often sells better. It creates the illusion (and often the reality!) of more space, it highlights your home’s best features, and it helps buyers focus on the property - not your possessions.
But the benefits of decluttering to stage your home before a move don’t end there…
Why Decluttering Before a Move is a Smart Investment
Beyond staging, decluttering can save you significant money and stress during your move. Think about it:
Fewer items = fewer boxes = less packing time and lower moving costs
You’re not paying to pack, move, or store things you don’t actually want or need
You’ll avoid overbuying storage solutions for your new home. Bins, shelves, and specialty containers can add up quickly. They’re a smart investment for the things you truly want to keep and organize, but an unnecessary expense for items you no longer need.
Think ahead and commit to keeping and storing the things you love in a thoughtful, organized way in your new home - and let go of the rest. You’ll feel lighter, more in control, and much more at peace heading into your next chapter. You don’t need to bring years of built-up clutter, stress, or decision fatigue with you. Letting go now means less overwhelm in the future - a physical and mental fresh start in your new space from day one.
So How Do you Actually Start Decluttering Before a Move?
Starting early - earlier than you think you need to - can make a big difference. But if you’re reading this and thinking, “I’ve missed the window, my timeline is so tight,” don’t worry - you’ve got this. Whether you have months or just a few days, having a clear plan can make all the difference. Here’s how to get started:
1. Tackle One Space or One Category at a Time
Depending on how your brain works (and how your stuff is organized), you can go:
Room by room - e.g., kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc.
Category by category - e.g., books, paper, decor, clothing.
In each space or category, start by grouping similar items together, then ask yourself: What stays, and what goes? A few helpful questions to guide your decisions might be: How many of these do I have - and how many do I actually need? When was the last time I used this? Do I truly love this item, or am I holding onto it out of a sense of guilt of another emotion?
Pro tip: Save sentimental items for last. It’s helpful to be aware of any emotionally charged decisions you’ll need to make as part of your pre-move decluttering process, but don’t start there. Decluttering is all about decision-making, and it’s much easier to build momentum by beginning with low-stress, easy wins. Gaining that early confidence makes it easier to keep going. Starting with the most emotionally difficult items can lead to frustration - and may even stall your progress before it really begins.
2. Prioritize High-Impact Areas First
If you’re short on time, start with the areas that will make the biggest impression on potential buyers:
Closets - These often become catch-all’s for items we haven’t used in ages. When it comes to bedroom closets, if you don’t have time to do a full clothing sort, pack away off-season clothes now and get them out of the way. Off-season items aren’t needed for staging, and you can revisit them later when time allows.
Surfaces - Kitchen counters, bathroom vanities, and home office desks are some of the biggest clutter magnets. Start by clearing off these high-traffic areas to create a cleaner, more spacious look throughout your home. Paper piles, in particular, can feel incredibly overwhelming. If you don’t have time to sort through every paper now, group paperwork into clearly labeled boxes marked “To Sort After Move,” and schedule a time post-move to go through it.
And here’s something to keep in mind: if it’s not urgent enough to need in the next few months, it might not need to make the move at all. (No judgement - just something to think about.)
3. Pack Away Personal Items and Decor
Family photos, collections, and personalized decor should be packed away for now. While these items hold special meaning for you, it’s important to create a space where potential buyers can envision themselves living. The more neutral and inviting the home feels, the easier that becomes. As you go through this process, if you come across personal items or decor that no longer reflect your style or serve a purpose, consider this a meaningful opportunity to release what no longer serves you and make space for what’s next.
But Where Do All These Packed Boxes Go?
Great question. First of all, once you’ve decided to part with an item during the decluttering process, aim to remove it from your home as soon as possible - whether that means donating it, recycling it, or, when necessary, discarding it. Removing those items right away helps you reclaim valuable space and keeps momentum going.
Since the goal is to keep visible living areas as open and clutter-free as possible during showings, consider storing packed boxes (the ones filled with items you’re keeping but set aside for staging purposes) in the following locations:
Garage, basement, or storage rooms are naturally expected to hold a few boxes, so a bit of storage in these areas typically won’t be a turnoff for buyers. But if these spaces are already packed, set aside a few hours - or even a full day - to clear them out. You’ll likely come across forgotten items or things you no longer need. Decluttering storage areas now frees up valuable space to temporarily store packed boxes, keeping your home looking tidy for showings AND will prevent your new storage areas from feeling overwhelmed from day one. Your future self will be so grateful you did this.
Storage units can also be a smart short-term investment, particularly if you’re very tight on space at home as you’re preparing to list. They’re a great tool for reducing visual clutter in the near-term while your house is on the market. Pro tip: if you didn’t need a storage unit in your day-to-day life before, try not to carry it over into your next chapter once the move is behind you.
Your Decluttering Action Plan
Here are a few simple steps to help you get started - and stay on track - as you declutter before listing your home or while preparing for a move:
Walk through your home and identify the most important areas to declutter for staging. Your realtor can often guide you, or our team is happy to consult - either in person or virtually - if you’d like a second set of eyes.
List your personal priority areas. These may not be as visible to buyers, but they’re important to you. Think: attic, garage, sentimental storage, or anywhere you know you don’t want to take clutter with you.
Create a weekly (or daily) plan from now until your staging deadline or move date. Estimate how long each task will take - then double it. Trust us, it always takes more time than expected, and building in that buffer will make everything feel more manageable.
Ask for help. Family, friends, even neighbors can lend a hand. Put some music on, order a pizza, and turn it into a productive (and maybe even fun) work session.
Call in the pros. If the timeline is tight or the to-do list is feeling endless, bringing in expert help can make all the difference. Our team is here to help make the process faster, more efficient, and - believe it or not - even a little fun!
Final Thought: Don’t Move What You Don’t Love
A move is more than a change of address - it’s a chance to reset. Starting fresh in a new home is so much easier when you’ve left behind the clutter and kept only what adds value to your life. You deserve a new beginning that feels light, calm, and aligned with who you are today - not weighed down by items that no longer serves you.
If you’re getting ready for a Pittsburgh-based move and need support with decluttering, staging, or managing the process from start to finish, we’re here to help. Reach out today by clicking the button below.
Hi there! I’m Kristen, and I’m a professional organizer and owner of Simplified Professional Organizing in Pittsburgh, PA. My team and I absolutely love helping people simplify their homes, businesses, and day-to-day lives. No matter where you’re at in your organizing journey, we’re here to help.
Click HERE to schedule a complimentary consultation to talk about how we can help you eliminate the overwhelm and reclaim space in life for what truly matters most!
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