Consider hiring a professional stager as part of your de-cluttering process or if you have to move out before your home is sold. A home that is filled with knickknacks and furniture is just as bad as an empty home – it’s difficult for a prospective buyer to see themselves living there. Your agent may be able to help you or recommend a professional stager. The stager can suggest ways to reduce the amount of furniture in each room to just a few pieces. This will make the rooms appear large and inviting. If you have a lot of big, heavy furniture, consider renting a storage unit and moving that furniture out of your home. Don’t fill up your garage with items you’ve stored. You want every area of the home to look large and open. Any sign of clutter feels disorganized and is off-putting to prospective buyers. Professional stagers also have warehouses of small, interesting furniture to take its place. Also, if your home has oddly shaped rooms, is very small, or has other challenges, a professional stager may be able to bring a fresh perspective in how to camouflage some of the challenges and make every room in your home seem appealing. The goal is to create warm, open and airy spaces that can serve as a fresh canvas so the buyer paints their own picture of living in your home. Not only will a properly staged home sell more quickly, it can also sell for more.