Decluttering in the New Year: How to Get Your Home Market-Ready

A new year is the perfect opportunity for fresh starts and clean slates. If selling your home in St. George is part of your plans for the year ahead, there’s no better time to start preparing than now. Decluttering is one of the most effective ways to get your home ready for the market in 2025—and it can make all the difference in how potential buyers perceive your space.

Here are some tips to help get you started. 

Why Decluttering Matters

When you list your home for sale, you’re not just selling the physical space; you’re selling the idea of a lifestyle. Buyers want to envision themselves living in your home, and that can be difficult if clutter is in the way.

Decluttering creates space. Clean, open spaces make your home feel larger and more functional. A clutter-free room allows buyers to focus on your home’s best assets, like hardwood floors, large windows, or built-in shelving, rather than being distracted by your belongings. It will also make moving easier. Starting the decluttering process now means less to pack, organize, and move when your home sells.

Decluttering is one of the most budget-friendly ways to make a big impact when preparing your home for the market. All it takes is time, effort, and a clear plan.

Start with a Plan

Decluttering your entire home can feel overwhelming, so start with a plan to keep yourself organized and motivated. Set clear goals and break the process down into manageable steps, like focusing on one room at a time. You might start small to build momentum, like decluttering one drawer or closet before moving on to another project. 

Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. Tackle a little bit each day, and you’ll make steady progress. If you’re listing your home in the spring, give yourself 6–8 weeks to declutter at a steady pace.

Going Room by Room

A room-by-room approach helps you stay focused and ensures that every space gets the attention it needs. It's also more realistic while you need the home to remain livable. Here’s how to declutter common areas of your home:

Living Room

• Remove excess furniture to make the space feel larger and more open.
• Store personal items like family photos, knick-knacks, and collections.
• Keep surfaces like coffee tables and shelves minimal—add a few tasteful decorations like a vase or a single piece of art.

Kitchen

• Clear off countertops, leaving only a few key appliances or decorative items.
• Organize cabinets and pantry shelves—buyers often open these spaces, so make them tidy.
• Dispose of expired food and pack away items you don’t use regularly.

Bedrooms

• Pack away out-of-season clothing to make closets look more spacious.
• Keep nightstands and dressers clear of clutter.
• Pack away anything that doesn't make sense for the staging of a bedroom. 

Bathrooms

• Remove personal hygiene items from counters.
• Get rid of or pack away products that are not being used and are cluttering up cabinets and drawers. 
• Make sure the medicine cabinet is organized—buyers might peek inside.

Garage and Basement

• These areas often collect the most clutter, so be ruthless.
• Donate or toss items you no longer need, like old tools or unused sports equipment.
• Arrange stored items neatly in labeled bins or on shelves.

Focus on General Appeal

The main goal of decluttering is to help a wide variety of people be able to envision themselves living in the home. Decluttering helps achieve this by removing personal touches and making your home feel like a blank canvas.

Pack away personal photos, certificates, and overly specific decor. Stick to neutral colors and styles when staging rooms. Use furniture and decor sparingly to highlight your home’s layout and features. The more neutral and versatile your space feels, the easier it will be for buyers to imagine themselves living there.

Erika Rogers emphasizes the importance of decluttering, saying" Don't underestimate the power of decluttering in preparing your home for sale. With a little time and effort, it's one of the most budget friendly ways to make your home more appealing to a wide range of buyers."

Decluttering your home is a simple but powerful way to get it market-ready—and the New Year is the perfect time to start. By creating a clean, inviting space, you’ll attract more buyers, highlight your home’s best features, and set yourself up for a successful sale. Want to learn more about getting your home in St. George ready to sell? Contact us any time.