When potential buyers view a home, they want to see everything, including the utility closet and the shed in the backyard. If they walk into a cluttered home, there's a good chance that they'll turn around and walk right back out the door.

Buyers want to be able to envision themselves living in the home. It's hard to do that when you have your belongings scattered about the rooms.

Before you open your home to potential buyers, take the time to declutter these key areas of the house.

1. The Hallways

Narrow hallways make a home feel smaller and more cramped. Remove everything from the hallways in your home. Don't just focus on the floors – focus on the walls, too. Remove all artwork, photographs, and hanging hooks.

Eliminating all visual clutter will instantly make the space feel larger and more open.

2. The Entryway

The entryway of the home sets a first impression for the buyer. Make this space welcoming and organized. A coat rack will give potential buyers a place to hang their coats while touring the home. Brochures and other paperwork can be placed on a nice accent table.

The goal is to make guests feel welcome and at ease when they walk through the door.

3. The Closets

When we don't know where to put things, they usually wind up in a closet somewhere. We say we'll deal with them later, but later never comes.

You can bet that buyers will look in every single closet in your home. After all, they want to know how much storage space you're offering. But it's hard to visualize this if every closet is filled with clutter.

Start with the closets in the bedrooms. Pack up off-season clothing, or donate it. About 80% of the clothing in a closet gets worn 20% of the time, so let go of things you haven't worn in a while.

Once you've packed up or donated old clothing, remove unused hangers to make the space look more streamlined.

Repeat this process in every bedroom of the house.

4. The Bathrooms

Bathrooms are a huge selling point for a home. Make yours as attractive and organized as possible. Clear your countertops. Reorganize the linen closet and medicine cabinet.

The less clutter, the better. Potential buyers need to be able to visualize themselves in the space.

5. The Kitchen

The kitchen is another major selling point in a home, so take the time to de-clutter and organize everything.

Keep countertops clean and clear. Curate what's in your pantry and cupboards. Clean the freezer, refrigerator, stove and other appliances. Remove all other small appliances from the counters.

6. The Living Room

Like the entryway, your home's living room should feel open and inviting. Remove as much of "yourself" as possible from this space and de-clutter as much as you can. This means getting rid of stacks of magazines, curating your bookshelves and paring down on the pillows and table accessories.

De-cluttering and organizing your home will not only make it easier to sell your home but also to move out after closing.