A seller’s guide to recognising (and combating) clutter

It’s amazing how quickly we amass personal possessions, paperwork, clothes and collectables. Before long, our homes can overflow with things we have got used to seeing and items we can’t bear to part with but too much of anything, however, can be a seller’s worst enemy.

What is clutter?

Most of us already know that clutter can devalue a home (research by Rated People found a cluttered home can be worth £9,290 less than a tidy one) but where do we draw the line between a few personal possessions and knick knack overkill? Clutter can take different forms, depending on which room you’re in, so we’ve highlighted what clutter can look like throughout the home.

Living rooms

If you have a collection of books, CDs and DVDs, having these neatly stored in shelving units in the living room is usually no problem. Conversely, if they’re piled up on the coffee table, stacked by the side of the sofa or even lined up in the hallway, there is an issue.

Displays of personal items can also be classed as clutter. As a general rule of thumb, family photos – however treasured – should be removed. An over-accessorised décor can also feel claustrophobic, and restraint should be used when it comes to figurines, ornaments and trinkets you’ve collected on your travels.

Kitchens

Clutter in kitchens is, predictably, food related. Worktops quickly feel cramped if they’re chock full with cereal boxes, small appliances, spice jars, utensil pots and coffee mugs. Store as much of this away as possible. As ruthless as it sounds, fridge magnets, postcards and children’s art work can also make a kitchen feel disorganised.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are busy, hardworking rooms but as small spaces, they can easily get cluttered. Always remove toilet roll tubes and empty toiletry bottles, ensure the bin isn’t overflowing, remove stacks of magazines by the loo and neatly fold towels rather than leaving them in a heap. A more streamlined look will also be achieved if you keep cleaning products on display to a minimum, or you invest in better storage.

Bedrooms

Clutter in bedrooms usually revolves around fabrics. This could be crumpled bedlinen and a bed that’s strewn with dirty garments, stacks of laundry waiting to be put away, an overflowing washing basket and wardrobes/drawers that won’t shut because the clothes are bursting out. Keep bedrooms organised by always putting clothes away. If you need any more motivation, research by ING Direct found clutter and disorganisation in a child’s bedroom could reduce the home’s perceived value by as much as £8,000.

General

Clutter can accumulate in communal spaces and wherever there’s an empty spot. As well as rooms, on your watchlist should be hallway tables, dining tables, writing bureaus, open shelves and porches. Ensuring these places are clutter free before a sale will improve the overall appeal of your home.

12 tips for clearing clutter

1. Buy yourself a filing system so all post, instruction manuals and receipts can be stored away

2. Promptly recycle newspapers, magazine, glass and plastics

3. Tidy away toys and pass on anything that’s been outgrown

4. Take unwanted items to the charity shop before there’s more than a carrier bag’s worth

5. Dispose of anything that’s broken

6. Buy a shoe rack and a set of coat hooks

7. Introduce a temporary ban on bringing anything unnecessary into the home

8. If you hire a skip, ensure it is removed from the property before any photos are taken and viewings are booked

9. Old fridge freezers should be disposed of using your local council’s collection service

10. If using a rubbish collection company, ensure it is a licenced waste carrier 

11. Rehome or recycle where possible, utilising charity shops, online reselling sites and recycling facilitiesCan’t bear to part with it?

12. Consider renting a storage facility during the sales process or at least until your home has exchanged contracts 

When to get professional help

There’s a difference between having a collection of crystals on display and a home that’s unbearably cluttered. The NHS recognises hoarding as a disorder, and characterises this as “someone who acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner, usually resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter.” If you, or someone you know, is affected by clutter in a way that causes distress, safety issues or an inhabitable environment, contact your GP or the charity OCD-UK for help.

If you’re embarking on a decluttering mission ahead of a sale, contact us. We’re here to help – ask us for advice on property presentation and for a free valuation.