Our REALTORS® at Coldwell Banker Tomlinson show clients the best Boise homes for sale every day of the week. One of the most critical steps to making a home sales-ready is easily overlooked: Organizing and de-cluttering the space.

Even if a home is immaculate, it can look messy when there's too much "stuff."

Organizing items and putting them away helps prospective buyers visualize what it would be like to live in the home. 

Unfortunately, getting organized can be a lot tougher than it looks!

One vital step to getting there is finding enough storage space. Even if you aren't planning on selling just yet, it's still a good idea to take a close look at where your things go when you're not using them. 

Here's how to create extra storage space in almost any home:

1. Use Storage Systems in Closets
   It's all too easy for a hallway closet to become a "catch-all" where things go when you don't expect to use them for months. By installing shelves or a simple organizational system you can buy at any major housewares store, it'll be easier for you to see at a glance what's inside.
2. Utilize Vertical Space
   Vertical space can be surprisingly valuable. Vertically-oriented bookshelves can hold a great deal of material in a minimal footprint. Specialized vertical racks can be purchased for things like DVDs, shoes, toys, and many other small items that might end up scattered.
3. Set Aside a Place to Discard Things
   If you set aside a box for items you want to donate, you'll quickly find it getting full. You never have to get rid of things you want, of course, but you will have the chance to get rid of items that are getting in the way. 
4. Tidy Up Ten Minutes a Night
   One of the biggest decluttering challenges comes when things end up on the floor. To become mindful of these things in a hurry, set a ten-minute timer each night to pick items up. Pay attention not only to what winds up on the floor, but where you end up putting it. You might learn you need a new piece of storage furniture to help.
5. Utilize Under-Stair Storage
   Multi-story homes have many storage opportunities. The space beneath stairs can be fitted with custom cupboards, shelves, or drawers to meet your exact needs. Each of these could be for one specific type of item.
6. Hang Things
   Hanging certain items from the ceiling is one of the latest trends in home storage. Hanging pots, pans, and cooking utensils over a kitchen island is especially helpful. Not only can you access things quickly, but it is easier to wash them and return them where they belong.
7. Convert Your Attic into a Storage Room
   Most Boise homes have traditional gabled roofs with shingles, and an attic is an architectural necessity. However, that doesn't mean you can't use the attic how you want to! Instead of leaving it idle or letting it get cluttered, use the other organizing tips to turn it into a real storage room.

Need to get your home in shape to sell? Our experts will help with personalized advice. Contact us to find out more.