FAQ
Do I need to declutter, and how much is enough?
Quick Answer
Yes, and more than most sellers initially expect. A good rule of thumb is removing roughly a third of your belongings from each room, including excess furniture, personal photos, and visible storage, so rooms feel spacious and buyers can picture their own belongings there instead of yours. This isn't about erasing your home's personality entirely — it's about making the space adaptable enough that a buyer can imagine living in it.
Key Takeaways
- A common guideline is removing about a third of belongings from each room before listing.
- Personal photos, collections, and memorabilia are worth packing away even more aggressively than furniture.
- Excess furniture that crowds a room makes the space feel smaller than it actually is in photos and in person.
- Closets and storage areas matter too — buyers open them, and overstuffed storage suggests a lack of space.
- Renting a storage unit or packing early is a common, practical way to handle removed belongings during the selling process.
Decluttering is the step sellers most often underdo, mostly because it's hard to see your own home the way a stranger walking through it will.
Why "A Third" Is a Useful Starting Point
More than feels comfortable
Most sellers find the recommended amount of decluttering feels excessive at first — that's normal. Rooms that photograph and show best are almost always emptier than what feels comfortable to live in day-to-day.
A commonly used guideline is removing roughly a third of your belongings from each room. That includes excess furniture pieces that crowd a space, personal photos and collections on display, and anything creating visual clutter on counters and surfaces.
What to Prioritize First
Decluttering priorities, roughly in order
- Personal photos, family memorabilia, and personal collections
- Excess furniture that makes a room feel cramped or blocks natural walking paths
- Countertop clutter in kitchens and bathrooms
- Overstuffed closets and storage areas — buyers open these during showings
- Anything on refrigerators, bulletin boards, or other visible surfaces
Dave's Local Insight
I tell sellers that closets count too — buyers absolutely open them, and an overstuffed closet signals a lack of storage even if the closet itself is a good size.
This Isn't About Erasing Your Home's Personality
Decluttering isn't about making a home feel sterile or hotel-like — it's about creating enough visual and physical space that buyers can picture their own life in it. A few well-chosen decor items are fine and often help a space feel warm rather than empty; the goal is editing, not erasing.
Where to Put Everything You Remove
Practical options for removed belongings
- Rent a small storage unit for the duration of the listing period
- Pack early if you know you're moving regardless of timeline
- Ask family or friends about temporary storage for larger furniture pieces
- Consider donating or selling items you don't plan to keep in your next home
Bottom Line
Decluttering to the point of removing roughly a third of your belongings from each room is a reasonable, commonly recommended target — more than most sellers initially expect, but consistently worth the effort given how directly it affects how buyers perceive the space.
Related Questions
Sources
Written by Dave Brown
REALTOR®, LPT Realty
Dave Brown is a REALTOR® with LPT Realty who has spent his career helping families buy, sell, and settle into life in Woodbury, Minnesota and the surrounding East Metro. He writes Woodbury Living as a local resource first and a business second — every guide is meant to leave you better informed, whether or not you ever work together.
Need help buying or selling in Woodbury?
Book a no-pressure consultation with Dave to talk through your specific situation — no obligation, just straight answers.