Struggling to sell your home?

How decluttering could unlock your move 

You’ve put your home on the market and perhaps you’ve already had viewings. Maybe you’ve even had compliments about the garden, the décor, or the space, but weeks have gone by, and nobody has made an offer. It’s frustrating and disheartening, and you may be wondering what’s wrong. 

Often, the answer isn’t the house itself, it’s the way it’s being presented. After decades of living in the same home, many of us naturally accumulate possessions, furniture, ornaments, garden pots, tools, even whole collections of “things that might come in useful.” To us, they feel normal, even homely but to buyers, they can make rooms look smaller, spaces feel crowded, or gardens seem like too much work. 

The good news is, there’s a simple but powerful solution: decluttering while your house is on the market. 

Why decluttering matters to buyers

Buyers are rarely direct when viewing a home. They won’t tell you if they think a room feels cramped, or if the garden looks overwhelming, instead, they’ll smile, compliment your beautiful home and garden, thank you politely, and then quietly move on to the next property. 

What feels like a treasured space to you might feel like a burden to someone else. Decluttering, indoors and out, helps buyers see the potential of your home, not just the possessions in it.  

Spotting the signs of “too much”

 If your home hasn’t attracted offers, it might be time to ask yourself some honest questions: 

• Are surfaces covered with ornaments, photos, or paperwork? 

• Do cupboards, wardrobes, or garages look crammed full? 

• Are there oversized pieces of furniture that dominate a room? 

• Does the garden feel crowded with pots, furniture or large shrubs? 

• Are there things stored ‘just in case’ that haven’t been touched in years?

If you answer “yes” to any of these, decluttering could be the key to unlocking your sale. 

Inside the home: Less really is more

Buyers need to picture their own life in your home but that’s difficult if every corner is filled with furniture or every wall with pictures. 

David, a homeowner at The Spindles, admitted he needed help to let go: “Choosing what to part with was difficult. My previous house was big, and we had an awful lot of fitted storage, that we had filled. I had some help from a lady called Kimberly, thanks to Adlington, and I found that very helpful. I chose a charity to donate a lot of stuff to, and Kimberly got pink Post-it Notes and stuck them on everything so that the people from the charity knew what to take.” 

Simple steps that can transform how buyers see your home: 

• Clear surfaces and leave just one or two carefully chosen items. 

• Store away excess photos or ornaments. 

• Remove or rehome bulky furniture that makes rooms feel small. 

• Tidy cupboards and wardrobes, buyers often peek inside, and space sells. 

 

The garden: A hidden dealbreaker

Many long-term homeowners take pride in gardens that have evolved over decades, but buyers may see a busy, high-maintenance space rather than a sanctuary. 

• Thin out large shrubs, especially those that block light or views. 

• Reduce the number of pots, hanging baskets, feeders, and ornaments along paths and patios. 

• Mow the lawn, weed borders, and define edges for a neat finish. 

• Keep kerb appeal in mind, a simple, tidy front garden makes a big difference. 

Even small changes can help buyers imagine enjoying the garden without feeling overwhelmed. 

Garages and outbuildings

A cluttered garage can be a real turn-off, if buyers can’t even see whether a car fits inside, they may assume your home lacks storage. 

Gloria and Peter, homeowners at Broadleaf House, remembered how much better they felt once their loft and garage were cleared: “It just keeps on coming,” she joked as sons Dean and Wayne heaved down forgotten carpet rolls, scrap metal and children’s toys. “Once the space was clear, Peter’s anxiety about moving lifted.” 

Be ruthless about what you keep. If items haven’t been touched in years, it’s time to recycle, donate, or dispose of them as an orderly, spacious garage is a genuine selling point. 

The “Too good for the tip” trap

One common barrier is holding onto things because they seem too good to throw away: spare doors, tiles, bits of furniture, old carpet. They sit in sheds or outbuildings ‘just in case’ but to buyers they look like clutter. 

Dr Trevor, a homeowner at The Sidings, explained: “Living in the same house for 37 years, you accumulate, and Mavis and I were the kind of people who never ever threw anything away. We had so many crystal glasses and so much crockery, it was amazing. I gave away enormous amounts of stuff to my children, grandchildren, friends and neighbours. After that, we had the Salvation Army come in and they filled two of their big vans and there was still an enormous amount left.” 

Many local recycling centres now have reuse areas, and websites like Freecycle or Freegle make it easy to give things away locally so passing things on doesn’t mean waste, it can mean giving them a useful new life. 

Why professional help can make all the difference

Decluttering while your house is on the market can feel like a huge job, especially when emotions are involved and that’s why many homeowners moving to Adlington Retirement Living communities have worked with The Senior Move Partnership.

These specialists help people in later life tackle the practical and emotional challenges of decluttering. They measure furniture to see what fits in a new home, label items for charity or recycling, and even arrange packing and unpacking on moving day. 

Margaret and Keith, homeowners at The Spindles, said: “We had a lady called Sarah from the Senior Move Partnership come to help us declutter. She was fantastic. She measured up our furniture, checked if it would fit in the new apartment and created a plan. On moving day, she sent us off to enjoy a meal in the restaurant while she unpacked everything for us. We had no stress at all, and we felt settled within the first week. Moving here was the best thing we did.” 

Knowing this kind of help exists can take away much of the fear.  

The payoff

Decluttering while your home is on the market is about more than tidying. It can: 

• Make rooms feel bigger and brighter. 

• Help buyers see the potential, not the problems. 

• Reduce the time your property lingers unsold. 

• Give you a head start on moving when the right offer comes. 

• Provide peace of mind and a sense of progress.

It isn’t always easy, but it is worth it. 

Final thoughts

If your house has been on the market for a while without serious offers, don’t assume something is wrong with it as often, the key is how it’s presented. Decluttering inside, outside, and in storage spaces can completely change how buyers see your home. 

And you don’t have to do it alone. With the right support, from family, charities, recycling centres, or professionals like The Senior Move Partnership, it’s possible to transform a crowded, memory-filled home into one that feels light, spacious, and irresistible to buyers. 

Decluttering now could be the difference between your home sitting on the market and someone walking in, seeing the potential, and making an offer. 

 

Our team is always happy to help you explore the options available, so you can make the right move with confidence. Explore a Adlington Retirement Living community near you or find out more about our moving services

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