Whatever you call it, figuring out what to do with your 'stuff' can be enough to stop many potential home sellers before even getting started. It doesn't matter what your age or the size of your home, 'stuff' seems to grow to fill whatever space you have.
I love the cathartic feeling that moving can give… have often said we should prepare to move every few years, even if we are not going anywhere! There is something therapeutic about tossing things…
Here are some tips to help you get started…
Start by tossing anything broken, damaged or no longer wanted.
Ok, that was easy… now you're ready for something a little harder…
Get rid of things that no longer match your lifestyle.
This can be a great time to 'gift' items to friends and family members, donate to charity, sell items on Craig's List, etc… or more tossing…
Ask yourself if you would miss and replace something if it was gone.
If not, it's probably not worth keeping… more tossing or donating…
Set a deadline to have others pick up things you have stored for them.
If you have become a storage unit for family or friends set a deadline to have their things picked up or shipped. After that date, be firm about donating the items… or more tossing…
Decide what is most important to you.
Ask yourself what you would grab if there were a fire… or what items you would take if you were moving overseas and it would cost a small fortune to ship things. These are the things that matter most to you… set aside these things as non-negotiable 'keeps'.
Value what you keep.
The fewer things you keep, the more you will treasure them and the more meaningful they will be to you. Prevent new collections from forming by collecting experiences rather than 'stuff'. Consider a new tradition that when something new comes in, something old goes out.
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
If the task feels just too big to do it alone ask for help, and it doesn't need to be just family and friends. Professional organizers can provide great help with getting your 'stuff' under control, even when you aren't planning to move anytime soon, or are maybe planning ahead for a future move.
- Two Dames and Friends helps with decluttering, reorganizing and making your home more 'you' for improving living now… and also helps when you are preparing your home for sale
Moving right now? Have a house full of stuff after you have chosen what to keep?
- Empty the Nest offers a full clean-out service after you have moved out and taken what you want to keep with you, with the goal of maximizing re-use and minimizing waste
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results
The team at HomesMSP - Sharlene, John, Angela – Minneapolis-St. Paul Realtors
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