Starting with a barn in use for horses or other livestock, we've all experienced the "Gee, how did this room get so messy?" feeling. Keeping a working barn neat and presentable can be a big chore. There's a lot to do each day, and the clutter creeps up on us.

 

We all have moments when we drop things in a corner or an empty stall "for now," promising ourselves to put them away later. Before we know it, the space becomes a mess, dusty and full of cobwebs that seem to grow overnight. Even in the tidiest barns, webs can be one of the biggest battles.

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When preparing your barn for sale, it's best to organize and clean up section by section. Focus first on the tack, feed, and equipment rooms, as these are the areas that buyers notice first. The goal, just like in the house, is to make these spaces feel spacious and able to accommodate the buyer's belongings.

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Tack room:  It's time to clear out the tack you haven't used in ages (how do I have one horse, 2 saddles and 8 saddle pads?). Catalog and sell items online if you have time, take them to a consignment shop, or if you can't part with them, pack them up and put them in storage. A 3-stall barn should have a maximum of 3 saddles, bridles, girths, and pads. Everything else associated with each horse, such as boots and wraps, can be stored in totes beneath the saddle racks.

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Before sweeping or using a shop vac, use a Swiffer floor duster to remove dust from the walls and cobwebs from corners, especially in hard-to-reach areas—it's very effective! Wear safety glasses to keep debris out of your eyes, although the Swiffer throwaway pads do a great job collecting most of the dust and dirt. Clean the floor thoroughly and maintain its cleanliness.