Anybody out there have too much stuff crowding up your living space? I’d feel pretty safe betting that the majority of people do. Whether you’re selling your house and moving, or staying put for the long run, decluttering your spaces can provide breathing room and peace of mind. I previously wrote a post on the eight things you could do to get your house ready to sell, and high on the list was decluttering. Following are some tips I share with my clients that are preparing their houses for the market, broken down into categories.
Clothes and shoes: Almost everyone has more clothes than they need. If you’re struggling with an overflowing closet or preparing for a move, there is a simple rule—if you haven’t worn it in a year, either take it to a consignment shop or donate it, because there’s probably someone out there that could make better use of it. If the items are in excellent condition, you can make a little money by taking it to a consignment shop, and Goodwill is a great place to donate clothes.
Dishes, cookware, and other likely suspects: Same one-year rule goes for dishes and cookware, although I can’t bear to part with a fondue pot we’ve only used twice (once was at an awesome 1970s theme party, so there are good memories attached).
Books: During our last move, I decided it was time to stop hauling around boxes and boxes of books. Although it felt like I was getting rid of some good friends, I went through each title and asked myself if I could live without it. In the end, I had a manageable bookshelf, and I donated all of the books that I got rid of to a local free library. In many neighborhoods there are “Little Free Libraries,” and you could add your books to those shelves for others to enjoy.
Furniture: When selling a house, cutting down on the amount of furniture you have can make the property appear much larger than when it is stuffed with bulky items. If you don’t want to, or can’t, haul the furniture away to Goodwill or a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, there are charities that will pick up furniture, such as The Salvation Army. Another option is to make a little extra money by selling on Craigslist, Letgo, or OfferUp, or just get rid of it for free by simply posting a “curb alert” on Craigslist. Drag the old chairs, tables, and dressers down to the street, post your address and hours the furniture will be available, and magically some of it will disappear. (Make sure to bring back in what doesn’t disappear, though, because the city will fine you if you leave bulk items on the street for too long).
Everyone loves a good yard sale, especially when it’s a thousand degrees outside with 300% humidity, right? If you want to take on the challenge, invite your neighbors to contribute items as well—they most likely have stuff they need to get rid of, too, and “multi-family” or “neighborhood” yard sales are a big draw for bargain hunters early on a Saturday. If you have so much stuff it’s overwhelming, or if you’ve inherited a house chock full of belongings, consider an estate sale—they aren’t just for wealthy people. There are companies, like Estate Sales by Tom Roberts, that will come into your house, price and tag the items, and then manage the sales over a weekend or two. They take a percentage of the proceeds, but it’s someone else’s headache, not yours.
Finally, if you have items that you know you need to part with but can’t stand the idea of going to strangers, tag those items and invite your friends over for a moving/purging party. To keep it civilized, people can draw numbers to determine the order in which they go through the house, and then let them take whatever tagged items they want. It’s a great way to pass on your loved, but unnecessary, belongings to friends and family, and they’ll be happy with their newfound treasures.
Hopefully these tips can help you create a little breathing room in your living space. If you’re thinking about making a move or purchasing a home in the greater Charlotte area, contact us because we’d love to help you with your next big step!