If you plan on selling your home in 2016, the beginning of the New Year is a great time to start preparing. Rather than trying to cram everything you need to do into a packed spring schedule, consider utilizing the winter months of January and February to make the most of your time (and make the exhausting process easier). Following are some easy tips on where to start the “selling your home” preparations.

De-Clutter and Organize

Take advantage of cold and dreary weather by organizing and de-cluttering the interior of your home. This is a perfect time to donate rarely-used items to charity. Consider cleaning out your closets of clothes, shoes, ties, and jackets you never wear. Pantries and other storage areas should be cleaned, too. If you have excess canned goods, consider donating them to your local soup kitchen or food bank. Be sure to throw out any expired items as well.

By de-cluttering and organizing your shelving and closets, you can keep these spaces looking tidier. When your home is ready to sell, potential buyers will open closets and pantries. It is best if these spaces are organized and clean as they will appear bigger and more inviting. HGTV recommends keeping closets half-empty because “storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of.”

Gather Paperwork

One overlooked chore you can accomplish in the winter months is a search and gather mission for important paperwork. Consider placing lot and property documents along with utility bills and owner’s manuals for appliances in a folder. How Stuff Works also recommends keeping track of stuff like the paint colors used on the walls and warranties, because these are items potential buyers might want to have.

Tidy the Lawn and Landscaping

When plants and trees are in winter hibernation, it’s a little easier to trim them and tidy them up. On sunny and mild winter days, take time to rake leaves, clean gutters, prune bushes, and trim trees. This will make yard work in the spring much easier.

Get a Head Start on Spring Cleaning

If you plan on selling your home, you will likely need to do more than routine cleaning. In fact, Forbes recommends doing a deep clean of your home, from top to bottom. Everything from windows to hard to reach corners will need to be cleaned and dusted. Tackling a deep clean is easier when done in stages and the work is divided up over time. January and February are a great time to start this process.

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