Putting your clutter in the closet may not be good enough. Storage is one of the biggest draws for potential buyers looking for a home, and they will open any - and every - door to check what is behind it.

To maximize the appeal of your storage space, be sure to organize, clean and condense all your built in bookcases, closets and cabinetry. And if your closets are packed to the rafters, you may want to consider investing in a storage unit.

Here are some tips to help you slim down your clutter and give the illusion of broader space:

CLOSETS If you don't wear it, it's not worth the space. Take a look at your closets and pull out old clothes you know you'll never wear again. Give them away or throw them out. Then take a second look and pull out all the off-season garments and store them in a separate closet or container. get rid of wire hangers and plastic from the drycleaner.

BATHROOM CABINETS Take out what you don't use and trash it. We often accumulate plenty of old tubes of makeup, creams, soap samples and the like. Get tough with your stuff and eliminate the excess. Try buying inexpensive plastic bins to organize the space under your sink to store the bathroom products you do use.

THE PANTRY Whether you have a walk in pantry or a cabinet for your cooking commodities, don't leave buyers wishing for more space - creat it. Pull out all the old canned soups and jars of jam that have been idle for months and box them. The products that remain should all be facing the same direction. Make sure there is plenty of space between the products; it shows buyers there is still room to grow.

Keep in mind that you are moving and won't need this stuff in your new home. Cleaning out the clutter not only helps the sale of the property by giving the home a sense of space, it helps to cut down on the things you have to pack, move, unpack, and set up or put away.