This post was inspired by Belinda Spillman's post, Advice for Sellers - They are looking Behind Every Door. Belinda's article advises sellers to de-clutter and organize when putting ones' house on the market, because buyers open cabinets and pantry doors to see how much space is available. Her advice is spot on and highly recommended reading.
One of Belinda's comments inspired me to take the post in a different direction. You may not recognize yourself as someone who needs to de-clutter. But if you plan to put your home on the market and hope to gain top dollar, I hope you enjoy this tongue-in-cheek comparison to Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be a Redneck..."
YOU MIGHT BE A PACK RAT IF:
- You cannot park in the garage. Whether it's furniture, or boxes of household goods, or a myriad of other items that no longer "fit" or are not needed in the house, if you can't park at least one vehicle in the double garage, YOU MIGHT BE A PACK RAT.
- Clothes you no longer wear or clothes you've outgrown are stored in spare closets or under your bed, in hopes that "one day you'll fit in them again". Or dozens of shoes linger beneath your bed or in another room, because there is no room in the closet. If your clothes don't fit in your closet, YOU MIGHT BE A PACK RAT.
- You store canned goods in any room other than the kitchen. You buy in bulk but don't have room for cases of English peas or shoe-peg corn. If your groceries don't fit in the pantry or the kitchen, and you utilize other rooms in the house for canned goods, YOU MIGHT BE A PACK RAT.
- You have stacks of unread newspapers and magazines , or you're saving them for projects or clippings or to read "some day". If you recognize yourself here, YOU MIGHT BE A PACK RAT.
- You are addicted to yard sales and belong to 30 Facebook yard sale sites, or you purchase items only because they are "on sale". Not everyone who shops garage sales is a pack rat, but it can lead to or disguise obsessive behavior. If you buy things because you "might need it later", YOU MIGHT BE A PACK RAT.
- You need a larger house to hold your "stuff"... YOU MIGHT BE A PACK RAT.
Eliminating bad habits doesn't happen overnight. It took time to accumulate your possessions and eliminating the "crap" can be challenging.
Following are a few suggestions to gain control over clutter. It is an on-going process and requires regular maintenance to keep clutter at bay.
- Start by turning off the TV and turn on some motivational music. Whatever music works best for YOU. Television is a huge distraction and you won't be able to focus on the task at hand if you are easily distracted.
- Set aside a few minutes each day or several times a week to work through the clutter. Tackle a different room (or closet or drawer) each time to keep from becoming bored or overwhelmed.
- CLOTHING - Eliminate what you have by SORTING, DONATING, AND TOSSING. If you believe someone else can use the items, put it to the donation box and GET IT OUT OF THE HOUSE as soon as you can. If an item is ripped or torn, throw it away. If you LOVE it and it fits, KEEP IT. A good rule of thumb is if you haven't worn the item in a year, you should eliminate it.
- Enlist a close personal friend to assist with the above task. A good friend will be honest about what outfits looks good on you and which articles you should pass on. My best friend is a minimalist. I am not. We complement each other perfectly. If I am drowning in too many things, I'll invite her over and we'll have a "girls day" and clear out the closet together.
- KITCHEN - Eliminate any food stuff that is out of date or expired. Unless you are planning for the apocalypse, you don't need a years supply of paper towels or bottled water. You don't need four bottles of ketchup or six bottles of Dawn or ten different kinds of cleaning products. Use up what you have and buy only what you need.
- HOUSEHOLD GOODS - If you bring something new into the house, commit to eliminating two things in its place. Donate extra sheets, blankets, and bulky items.
- PAPER - Paper is my own personal worst nightmare as it seems to multiply. The best way to conquer paper is to never let it in the house. Place a bin inside the garage (or at the back door) for junk mail. Have a designated spot for bills and file or shred as soon as you can. If you subscribe to the newspaper or receive the weekly circular, either read it or recycle it immediately. Eliminate the stacks of magazines and cancel subscriptions; the information is available online anyway.
- BREAK THE ADDICTION - Don't make shopping a hobby. Shop only for essentials. How many knick-knacks and what nots do you need? If you eliminate the excess clutter, you will have more room in your life to enjoy the things around you, and spend less time looking for lost things. Join a support group, even if it's a group of friends who encourage one another. Don't be too hard on yourself. Clutter has sustained you up til now but you don't need it anymore!
Hopefully these tips will help you conquer clutter. There are many available resources online if you need professional help. Most of us just need a little motivation, and what better reward than to come home to a nice, clean space at the end of the day?
If preparing to put your home on the market, clearing out the clutter will result in a quicker sale at a more favorable price, and the bonus is you will have less junk to move.
Call me if I can be of assistance.
Image courtesy of Bill Longshaw at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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