The True Cost of Clutter When Selling a Property

The True Cost of Clutter When Selling a Property

In this two-minute read, we look at one of the simplest ways to turbo charge the sale of your home – decluttering.

When it comes to selling a home, there’s a simple way to add thousands of pounds to the price you achieve – and that’s to get rid of your clutter.

By being a little bit ruthless with yourself, and those you live with, you really can achieve a quicker and more lucrative sale.

Here are five ways to say toodle-oo to your old toot.

Make a start
The first step is often the hardest, especially if you have a strong emotional attachment to the property. Make things easier by focusing on a single cupboard or box – and building up from there. Move on to other boxes, cupboards or shelves in the same room before progressing onto other rooms in the property.

Be honest
You don’t have to bin everything, but you do have to be honest. Will a buyer be impressed by your fishing rod collection, or your stash of Queen Mum memorabilia? Probably not. Buyers are looking for a property they can put their stamp on and might be turned off by your ‘special interests’. Put your beloved items into storage.

When did you last use it?
It’s amazing how many items we never use but keep ‘just in case’. Exercise equipment, camping gear, and sewing machines top the ‘I swear I’ll use it one day’ list. Consider selling these items online. That way someone else will get joy out of them – and you’ll earn some extra cash.

Take before and after photos
Before you start decluttering a room, take a quick snap of it in all its crowded glory. Once you’ve finished in a room, take an ‘after shot’. You’ll be surprised at how much more spacious the room looks, providing useful inspiration to keep going on your decluttering mission.

Reward yourself
It can be stressful – and even emotional – getting rid of things that you’ve had for a long time. When you finish decluttering a room, reward yourself with a nice meal out, a walk with a friend or trip to the cinema.
If you’d like more advice about selling your home, contact us here at Shaws Kensington.












Get in touch with us

May is a key month for sellers, but more homes are competing for attention. If you are thinking of moving this spring, here is how the current market is shaping buyer behaviour and what helps a home stand out.

As we move through May 2026, buyers are seeing more homes come to market, but affordability still matters. Here is what today’s mix of greater choice, steady demand and higher mortgage costs means if you are planning a move.

Artificial intelligence is starting to shape the way people sell, buy, rent and let homes. Used well, it can make the moving process smarter, faster and more connected.

In May 2026, pricing strategy matters more than ever. With more homes on the market and buyers watching affordability closely, setting the right asking price can make all the difference to your next move.