de-cluttering/packing heeeeelp. please

we have 120day settlement on a house we bought.
our house goes on the market on monday :o and well i need to de-clutter/pack in the mean time - mainly stuff to make the house look semi like one you'd see as a display home :rofl:

but i also want to pack away other odds and ends - they'll be shifted to my mum and dads place for the time being until we move. so this is where i need some help!

what can i get 'away' with packing away for good (this is the first massive move i've done!)
are things like; towls, winter clothes, shoes, sheets (flannel) ok to pack away or should i wait?

now i know i need to mop/vaccume before people come to look at our place but what are some other things (other then no dirty dishes ect on the bentchs) a good way of making a house 'sell' better KWIM? MIL said bake something!

Fruit cake is a great smell - easiest way is to get some fruit mince pies, wack them in the oven on low to warm - or the Body Shop has christmas scent that smells divine in an oil burner.

When decluttering, think "do I want to keep this" and then put everything else into either "salvos" or "bin" pile. Start with your knick-knacks - a few photos is OK, but your collection of 500 cats is a bit much for anyone to see past. They say you want the buyer to have an idea of how they could use the space and be able to imagine their own stuff there.

When moving, I generally pack everything bar what I'm using. If you have a clothes dryer, then you only need one set of towels, sheets etc and then you can pack the rest up. Books - use smaller boxes cause they get really heavy. Baking stuff - the bare minimum - a cake pan, slice tin and cookie sheets are all you need. Everything else can get packed up. Same as tupperware - if you're like me and have drawers full of the stuff, pack up half so the drawers look like there's plenty of room for storage. Plates etc, one set / person and a couple of spares is enough.

With the cats, when there are buyers coming round, move the litter out of the house and cover it up - if possible put the cats into a cattery / parents / outdoor cage while you're having open house days (it will be less stress for them!). Also you don't want anyone who has a cat hate to be turned off your house for that very silly reason!

The kids might be too young yet for school, but put some stuff around that shows the area facilities - a church pamphlett with the school etc, any community events coming up, have information on public transport available.

Good luck!!!!

What have you NOT used in the last 6 months? Can you get away with not using it again?!? Things such as sheets and towels can be packed away with just what you "need" out.

plastics cupboard is always a good one to declutter.

Ordaments (keep out a few to make the house look homeee)

throw out anything u havent used in 12 moonths, trust me you'll be suprised how much stuff u chuck!!
books, dvds and video games are good to pack early too

I agree with anything not used within the last 12 months - toss it and anything not used in last 6 months - pack it.
Linen - I keep out two sets. Just in case you can't get one dry.
Toys - you'd be surprised with how little they can manage on. At the very least get yourself some plastic tubs with lids that can be stacked neatly in a wardrobe and only keep a few faves out.
Definitely all seasonal things can be packed away. Wardrobes that aren't over flowing def look more spacious.

Be careful with aromas in the home. If it's a new house I would stick to just fresh air. If it's older and needs 'homeying' then avoid strong smells as you never know who is going to look though your house and what they're going to be put off by. For example I do not likes smells hanging around of any sort - baking bread or anything cooking/strong oils etc would make me suss that they were trying to cover up another smell, be it animals or smoke or whatever.
For open homes remove all signs of your animals inside. Many people don't like animals inside and will def be put off by that.
Beds made within an inch of their lives, few family photos, very little clutter on surfaces.
Get in and give the house the best clean you've ever given it and then I know it's hard but maintain it. Dirt is def off putting to buyers.
Get rid of junk/clutter from the yard.

We just went through the same thing. We rented a small storage shed near us and stored a whole heap of boxes in there, plus old toys and things that we didn't want to throw out.

The less clutter = the more spacious your house looks and will feel more airy.

Our real estate said a few drops of vanilla essence in a warm oven before an open home makes it smell inviting without being sickly sweet.

Good Luck!

thanks girls

Skybie: you better get ready for boys clothes darl 'cus a cousin of mine dropped of some she got from a friend of hers when i told her about your little man!!

I've almost finished the lounge now. 4 boxes later. thank goodness my dad bought over bigger (and non-booze related) ones. we do have a dryer so i'll pack away all the sheets we dont need. i will need to find a place to hide out foam matress though- we use it!

a few drops of venilla in the oven eh? i'll give it a go. we need something to mask that paint smell. and the cats can go in the cat run for open house. and the yard is clear - thanks to a 4m square skip.

now back to the grind.