I am actually out of town and thinking back to the day when the space under my kitchen sink was wide open and free. You see, right now, the space under my sink is a clean slate...we are staying at a Residence Inn for the weekend while attending my college homecoming. 
I am thinking about how nice it is to start anew...before we have accumulated any of that 'stuff' that just fills up the space. You know
what I mean, the random room atomizers, the stainless cleaner that streaks instead of cleaning, the mostly empty counter cleaner, the box of Dishwasher Detergent that you really don't like but are determined to use up, the plant food, and the violet food. Maybe you have, like I do at home, some random products like the cheese cloth stored under there (I can't remember why I ever needed that??!!). My favorite product of all, Goo-gone, lives under my sink,too. Remember what is was like when you first moved in and the space under your sink actually held promise, instead of junk?
Buying your first new home is an experience like no other. Most of us really have no idea what we are doing, or even what we think our new home should be. We just know that it is the beginning of something great. Every space that we see offers the promise of our new life. Maybe we are working our first job--or our fifth. Maybe we are newly married--or divorced. Maybe we are expecting a child--or they have all moved out. There are many reasons why someone buys their first house, but we almost all share the desire to set up camp and turn it into a home.
Maybe it is a stretch to think that the stuff under your sink is reflective of the phases of your 
life. But I think it is. I bet if I dug under my sink at home, I could find things from each of my 
houses. As I sit here in the hotel I can picture a dish-washing rack tucked up along the side of the cabinet that I remember from my second townhouse--when we really started entertaining and sometimes pulled out the china. There is a copper water can (a small one) from our first itty-bitty town house that isn't good for much of anything, but I can't 
seem to toss it out. That caddy that holds all of those small items and keeps them contained, I picked up for our last house where the plumbing had kind of a funny layout and it was easier to pull the caddy in and out than to dig to the back behind the plumbing. The compost can that I tuck away
during the winter months is something that I bought in this house after I set up the composting bin.
Many of my friends have started downsizing as they send their kids off to college and first jobs. Up until now, our crowd has been 'up-sizing.' As the house gets bigger, the space under the sink gets bigger, too. No reason to edit...there is space enough for everything! Downsizing, however, offers new space challenges as sink space (and everything else) gets smaller. Gone are the 'stick it in the storage room days.' The storage room is now the home office or even the rec room. There is no extra space under the sink...it is time to lose the useless copper water can!
Making a change, whether it be a first house, a bigger house, or a smaller house, is stressful and uncertain. Using an Accredited Buyers Representative who knows the area to help you make the right decisions and negotiate both the best deal and the process is kind of like walking into a party with someone who 'has your back.' You wouldn't want to go to the party alone (can you tell by this analogy that I am back at college?)...not without your wing-man (or woman), so why would you venture out into the purchasing process without someone looking out for your interests? Let's face it, buying an house is emotional. It can be a great help and a great comfort to know that there is someone along for the ride who will be objective and help you see both the pros and cons of the house.
If you are looking for some new 'sink space' in the Northern Virginia area, I am an Accredited Buyers Representative and would love the opportunity to discuss your needs. If your adventures take you elsewhere, I would be happy to help you find an Accredited Buyers Rep to help you find the right place to store your dish-washing detergent (and granite cleaner, and cleaning products, and furniture polish and sponges and on and on and on)!
At the end of the day, an empty sink is just an opportunity to make a new home!
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