On a warm Florida day, real estate broker Alex Platt arrived at a Delray Beach home for a listing appointment. The home was spacious, with a smart layout and attractive furniture. But as Platt toured the home, he was surprised—and concerned—by how much clutter was in every room.
“The miscellaneous items scattered throughout made it feel cramped and less appealing,” Platt says.
He told the seller that, before they listed, the home would need to be tidied.
“I gently but firmly explained the importance of decluttering—not only for in-person showings but especially for the professional photos,” he recalls. “I emphasized that buyers usually get the first impression through online photos, and clutter can make even a spacious home feel small and uninviting.”
Indeed, cleaning and decluttering can be one of the easiest, cheapest, and most important home upgrades. With just a few hours and some sorting bags and boxes, a homeowner can give their home a major face-lift—and likely increase their sale price.
So, if you’re looking to sell now, it’s a good idea to schedule a decluttering session—and set aside items you might be able to sell for extra cash. In the end, going through your stuff could help you get a higher price for your current home, as well as fund any additional expenses that come up during closing, like repairs.
Why decluttering is so important
Platt explains that decluttering is an important part of preparing for a home sale.
During his meeting with the Delray Beach homeowner, he says that he pointed out the potential value difference between presenting the home in its best, most polished condition versus its cluttered state.
“I estimated that difference could be around $100,000—or roughly 10% of the home’s value,” he says.
In the end, his client decluttered the home, which made the space look brand-new.
“It felt brighter, more spacious, and much more appealing,” Platt recalls. “The seller was visibly proud of the transformation and all the effort they had put in.”
Three days after listing, they had two offers and ultimately sold the home for the full asking price.
Other real estate professionals agree that a tidy home sells better. A recent survey by StorageUnits.com found that 99% of real estate agents said junk or clutter in and around a home decreases property value. In addition, 76% of the surveyed real estate agents say homes free of clutter will sell at least twice as fast.
Indeed, when it comes time to sell a home, many improvements can help spark interest from buyers. A fresh coat of paint will do wonders. Switching out lighting can be a simple and inexpensive upgrade. Even refreshing the landscaping has been shown to increase a home’s value by up to 28%.
But decluttering can be an easy and cost-effective DIY project—with big results.
Top home items to sell for big bucks
You might have a lot of valuable stuff sitting around your house, and once you know what you can part with, the next step is deciding how to sell it.
Garage sales are a classic option. Alternatively, there are sites that will help you sell online. Plus, antiques shops might buy your vintage items.
Brad Stanwick, owner of The Parson’s Nose Antiques in Detroit, says that when people are trying to sell their stuff, it’s important they know roughly how much their items are worth. After all, you wouldn’t want to sell a vase for a couple of bucks only to find out later it’s worth thousands.
“The best way to get something appraised is to bring it to a professional appraiser,” Stanwick says, noting that they usually charge a fee. “Another way is to go to a respected antiques shop or jewelry shop. But keep in mind that if they want to buy it, that might influence their appraisal.”
He adds that most antiques shops don’t want you to bring the piece in, and would rather see photos.
“It’s very easy for them to quickly understand if it’s something that they’re interested in or not from photos,” he says. “This will save you and the dealer time.”
Here are some household items that are worth selling:
Furniture
Many people want to get rid of old furniture and buy new stuff when they move. This is good news for sellers because furniture can be worth big bucks.
Newer pieces can sell well online or at garage sales, but Stanwick says to look for classic pieces, which might be especially valuable to antiques collectors.
He says that “brown furniture,” which refers to pieces made of oak and mahogany, is very desirable.
Pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries are especially valuable, he adds. So think twice before tossing that worn-out rocking chair or end table.
“You’d be surprised at how many of us are living with old pieces of furniture every day and don’t even know it,” Stanwick says.
Floor rugs
Just like old furniture, old floor rugs can be worth a lot. Granted, that old Ikea rug probably isn’t worth much, but an antique piece woven with silk could be worth a fortune.
“Old rugs are making a comeback,” Stanwick says. “Make sure you know what’s lying on your floor before you purge.”
Clothing
While decluttering rooms is important, sellers should also try to lighten their closets. After all, if the closets are crowded, buyers might think storage is a problem in the home.
While some designer pieces or unique vintage items could be worth something online, generally, old clothing will fetch only a few bucks and are perfect for a garage sale.
If you have just a bunch of old T-shirts and kid clothes, price your outfits to sell, or consider setting out disposable bags for shoppers to fill and pricing each bag at $10 or $20. The real value is in how tidy and spacious your closets will look to buyers.
Jewelry
Second-hand costume jewelry can sell surprisingly well at yard sales, but Stanwick advises getting a professional opinion before selling jewelry. Many people inherit jewelry and might not know what a piece is worth.
“Is Aunt Jane’s diamond broach real or only costume?” he asks. “You never know, and experts are very ready to take a look and give you an appraisal.”
Flatware
Stanwick says that people often try to sell old sets of china, silver-plated serving pieces, and old flatware. Generally, these aren’t worth very much.
Regular kitchenware is typically best for the donation pile.
Still, he says there’s always an exception. “Don’t mistake silver-plated serving pieces for sterling silver, which is solid, silver, and worth money,” he says.
Kids’ toys
Quality toys can get attention at a garage sale, especially if they’re still in their original packaging. Lego Duplo and other building sets are a great second-hand buy because they rarely show damage and missing a few pieces (unlike a puzzle) isn’t a big deal. Plus, Lego usually retires sets after a few years, so if you have a set that is rare, collectors will pay top dollar—even if you’re missing a brick or two.
Old DVDs, CDs, records, and gaming consoles
Some rare, limited-edition records could be worth a lot to collectors, and an old Game Boy or Switch might be of interest to gamers. In fact, there is a huge market for “vintage” gaming systems, such as the original Atari, Nintendo, and PlayStation.
But even your basic DVDs and CDs can sell. Garage-sale shoppers tend to be older and might still be using classic systems for their movies and music. If you price them for a dollar and sell only 10, at least that’s $10 more in your pocket and a little less clutter in your house.
Put your money to good use
More than half of real estate agents (55%) believe that junk or clutter in your home “significantly decreases” your property value, according to a recent study by StorageUnits.com.
But another financial to keep in mind as a seller is concessions. Depending on the condition of your house, a buyer might look to you to make repairs before handing over the home, or make concessions due to the state of the place.
To avoid the latter, it’s a good idea to make necessary repairs before showing your home to potential buyers. And now, with some extra cash in your pocket, you can prioritize projects.
For example, most experts agree that a fresh coat of paint, both interior and exterior, can add value to your home with little money out of pocket.
For example, interior painting offers an ROI of around 107%, so spending $8,000 for a fresh coat of paint can add around $16,500 to your home’s resale value, according to Angi data.
Article originally appeared on Realtor.com.
