Decluttering checklist for sellers

Buyers want to picture their own life in your home. Personal items and crowded rooms make that harder. Clear rooms also photograph better, and listing photos are often a buyer's first impression. Think of decluttering as packing early: anything you remove now is one less thing to move later.

• Pick a start date a few weeks before photos.
• Work one room at a time so progress is visible.
• Sort into keep, pack, donate, sell and trash.
• Line up boxes, a storage spot and a donation drop-off before you begin.

• Clear counters except for one or two simple items.
• Pack small appliances you rarely use.
• Thin out cabinets and the pantry so they look roomy.
• Clear the fridge door of magnets, papers and photos.
• Set the table simply or leave it clear.

• Remove extra furniture so rooms are easy to walk through.
• Store personal photos, collections and children's artwork.
• Clear nightstands and dressers down to a lamp and one accent.
• Edit closets to about half full so storage looks generous.
• Tuck away toys, pet gear and exercise equipment.

• Clear the vanity of daily products and keep them in a bin you can stash.
• Use fresh, matching towels.
• Empty the shower of extra bottles.
• Clean out under-sink storage.

• Clear a path and show the floor space.
• Haul away old paint, broken items and boxes you haven't opened.
• Organize tools and bikes along a wall.
• Tidy the porch, deck and yard. Store extra outdoor furniture and hoses.

Once the big decluttering is done, keep it up with a quick daily reset: clear counters, make beds, put away shoes and empty trash cans. Keep valuables, medications and private papers locked away or out of the home during showings.

Decide early where things will go. Pack keepers in labeled boxes by room so unpacking is easier later. Schedule a donation pickup or drop-off each week so piles don't pile up in the garage. Sell larger items you won't take with you, and give yourself a deadline. Anything left unsold by photo day can be stored or donated.