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You Might Be a Pack Rat . . . . and How to Overcome It

By
Real Estate Agent with Front Gate Real Estate Broker 11085

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Clothes you no longer wear or clothes you've outgrown are stored in spare closets or under your bed, in Bedroom Full of Junk by Bill Longshawhopes 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

 

  1. 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. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. PAPER - Paper is my own personal worst nightmare as it seems to multiply. The best way to conquer Magazines by Pat Starnes 2015paper 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.
  8. 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

Comments (20)

Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Loved your comment on Belinda's post.....it was so funny.  Glad it inspired you to write this amazing and very helpful post about getting organized and de-cluttering.

Sep 07, 2015 05:43 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Roger D. Mucci - then you truly understand the inspiration of the post. It's a constant battle and I have a love/hate relationship with clutter.

Sep 07, 2015 05:49 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Park in the garage Pat Starnes ? You mean your supposed to get a car or even a bicycle in there? I once had a triple garage that I got a car into... once.

Sep 07, 2015 06:01 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

Yes, Bob, it's a novel concept, I know... :)

Sep 07, 2015 06:10 AM
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

oh my...i applaud you madam for not JUST re blogging, (as i find....seemly) but

you added your take , your spin, your comments. and not just 2 sentences worth...thank you! and i wish all would do this, if something moved you to like it, please tell US WHAT YOU liked about it.

Sep 07, 2015 06:33 AM
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

i left out that i can always rely on you for good chit to read. and an original thought worth repeating :)

Sep 07, 2015 06:34 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I was never a "real" pack rat, but likely had some tendancies.  However, in recent years I've been better at clearing out the clutter!  I still have a ways to go!

Sep 07, 2015 06:42 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

MIKE ROCK - I could talk all day about clutter; it's near and dear to my heart. :) Reblogging can be a useful tool. I'll use it sparingly to share with my readers other expert's opinions, but my potential clients want to know MY opinions on the local real estate market, and that's something they can only learn from me. 

Myrl Jeffcoat - It's a constant struggle at my house, too. I go through phases. Currently I'm in the declutter phase.

Sep 07, 2015 06:56 AM
Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

All great tips, it is amazing what I sometimes see of where people can fit things. Have a great week!

Sep 07, 2015 07:57 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Pat our rooms don't look as bad as the one in the picture, but we have been doing Fall Cleaning the last couple of weeks.  Still have at least one more day of it.

Sep 07, 2015 08:15 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Stefan Winter - if there is a cubby, a good pack-rat can fill it!

George Souto - it's time for me to put down the laptop and do some fall cleaning of my own. A little daily maintenance goes a long way. Thanks for visiting!

Sep 07, 2015 08:44 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Pat, I just took half of the clothes out of my closet and gave them away within the last month, so that is a start...Great post!

Sep 07, 2015 09:26 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Pat- I have been trying to rid myself of paper and am making headway.  All of my magazines, books, and newspapers are online!  We make frequent trips to donate things from the house that we no longer use, and when new clothing follows me home, I pull something from my closet to donate.  

Sep 07, 2015 09:27 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Evelyn Johnston - I so admire you for the courage or tenacity to donate so many items at once. That sounds like an awesome start to me!

Kathy Streib - As I said in the post, paper is my enemy. It takes constant work, and unfortunately I haven't touched anything today. I also make regular (can't say frequent) trips to the donation center.

Sep 07, 2015 09:36 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Pat well it is clear to me - I'm not a pack rat by a long shot.  Thankfully I might add.  I've seen those shows about serious pack rats and it's very sad indeed.

Sep 07, 2015 09:55 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

Although I am not a hoarder, I love my "things" and sometimes collect too many of them. :) For many people it is a very real struggle. You are lucky you don't have that gene.

Sep 07, 2015 11:04 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Pat. Good for you, that you chose to take Belinda's post to the next level. You handled the topic very well, as I enjoyed reading your take on a challenging topic.

Sep 07, 2015 07:04 PM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Pat Starnes 

Excellent extension of Belinda Spillman article.  I know several people I am going to share "You might be a pack rat" with! 

Sep 08, 2015 07:19 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is very good advice for the pack rats among us.

Have an outstanding week.

Sep 08, 2015 07:36 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Joe Petrowsky - Unfortunately, I know the signs all too well. :)

Lisa Von Domek - Share away! Thank you.

Roy Kelley - Advice is one thing; action is another. Thanks for visiting and hope you have a good week, too.

Sep 08, 2015 12:10 PM
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Great tips and useful not only for sellers. Can't think straight with clutter around.

Sep 08, 2015 12:16 PM
Will Nesbitt
Nesbitt Realty at Condo Alexandria - Alexandria, VA
Nesbitt Realty is a family-run brokerage.

For Brandon MS Real Estate, today, call (601) 278-4513 for Broker with Pat Starnes Realty Pat Starnes.

Sep 09, 2015 04:04 AM