It’s that word again ‘declutter’! We’re told to declutter our homes, declutter our desks, and even declutter our minds. But, while we might wince on hearing the dreaded ‘D word’, the truth is, decluttering isn’t just a fad or a latest TV craze; it does actually work, and, what’s more, it can be quite therapeutic too. And no more so than when it comes to decluttering to sell your home.
Why Declutter?
There are many reasons for this. Decluttering helps to create space within a room, making accommodation appear larger. Rooms look tidier too, making the home more appealing to prospective buyers. You can follow this link for a practical guide to declutter your home, get organised and make extra room!
Less clutter usually means rooms are easier to clean, which means you can accept visits at short notice, so you don’t miss out on any potential opportunities to sell your home. It’s advisable to declutter the home as soon as possible, before any photographs are taken by the estate agent. After all, you want your advertising material to look the part.
Decluttering also helps to de-personalise your home. It’s a proven fact that too many personal artefacts can be off-putting to buyers because it makes it more difficult for them to picture their own possessions in a property. Property experts, or home staging consultants, advise on neutral colours for this very reason, especially when it comes to walls.
They suggest neutral base tones can be livened up with coloured accents, such as a carefully placed cushion or striking ornament. Fires should be lit, lights should be turned on (mood lighting preferably!), bedlinen and towels should be fresh and clean, and pleasant aromas should fill the house. That’s the ideal anyway.
It is amazing the effect that ‘clutter and colour’ can have on our mind. If décor is too overpowering it can overload the brain, and with it any clarity of thought. By making your property more desirable to buyers, you stand every chance of securing a quicker sale at possibly a higher price.
Decluttering doesn’t have to mean that you part with your possessions and dash off to the nearest charity shop. In fact, there is a balance to be struck when decluttering to sell your home, as you don’t want it to look too sparse and cold. It needs to feel comfortable and homely too.
Temporary storage, such as the secure rooms provided by self storage companies, can be really helpful throughout the house selling and moving process. Self storage facilities are ideal for storing those items that you don’t need to use so often. It provides a useful stopgap if you are undecided as to whether you want to keep something or not.
Self storage service providers can be found throughout the UK. We always recommend using the services of an established business, and one that is a member of the Self Storage Association (SSA). Membership of the SSA means the provider operates to a European standard for security and customer protection. It gives you reassurance that your possessions are being stored in a secure environment.
If you’re planning to declutter to do everything you can to prepare to sell your house as quickly as you can then you might also consider using an online house buyer. We Buy Any House for example, is becoming increasingly popular to achieve fast, no hassle cash sales.
The Benefits of Self Storage When Selling Your Home
Self storage rooms offer a clean, dry, and secure space for household storage for any length of time. You choose the size of room that suits you best and so you only pay for the space that you need.
One concern some new customers have about using self storage for the first time is that they feel their possessions might not be so accessible. Once they have used the service they quickly understand that this isn’t the case. Access isn’t an issue because you are free to come and go as you please during opening hours. You have your own lock and key to your own room, so it’s very much home-from-home in terms of accessibility.
In fact, some customers find using self storage services actually makes their possessions more accessible because they can be stored in a more organised fashion rather than crammed in a spare bedroom, attic, or garage. Equally, the extra space in the home can be a blessing too. By keeping your home tidier and more organised, you feel in more control during the stressful times of packing and house moving.
It’s Easy Placing Your Goods Into Storage
The prospect of transferring your possessions to a self storage facility shouldn’t be daunting either. You can make as many trips as you like to the store so you are under no pressure to do it all in one go. If you discover you need a larger (or smaller) room, you have the freedom to upsize or downsize as required, so it’s really very flexible.
Most self storage companies will also be able to provide, or recommend, van rental if you require a larger vehicle for moving your items in and out of storage. They can also usually provide any shelving, removal boxes, bubble wrap and packing materials that you may require. In fact, you can start packing some items ready for your house move – doing it gradually helps to take the strain out of moving. Again, another hassle ticked off the list!
Congratulations, You’ve Sold Your House
So, you have sold your home and now you are planning to move into your new property. It might be larger or smaller than your existing home. Either way, you already have a head-start if you are using household self storage. You now have options!
You can leave your goods in self storage until the time is right to move them into your new home. This means fewer items to pack and load/unload on the day of your house move. This could help to reduce your removals costs. Removals companies charge by cubic feet, so transferring some bulkier items temporarily into self storage can make all the difference to the size and number of removals vehicles you need on the day.
Using self storage services also buys you time to make rational decisions as to whether you keep something or dispose of it. Moving can be stressful enough without having to make important decisions that you might regret later, especially when it comes to family heirlooms or items that have some sentimental value. Self storage is pay as you go so you can store for as long as you like. Even if you want long-term storage, there’s absolutely no rush.
Make Decluttering a Social Event!
Decluttering can be overwhelming. If time allows, we recommend decluttering gradually, starting with the easy items first and working up to the more difficult decisions. But if you are forced to do it in a hurry, we suggest making the occasion sociable and fun. Get the family involved and make it memorable for all the right reasons.
For further information and assistance about our self storage units:
- In Nuneaton, call 02476 01 02 65 or visit self storage Nunueaton
- In Tamworth, call 01827 722 122 or visit self storage Tamworth
- In Hinckley, call 01455 268 278 or visit self storage Hinckley