Getting Rid of The Pile

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Getting Rid of The Pile

Everyone has a place or two in their home that they become blind to seeing.  A drop zone is one of them.  In the daily travels we all have, there is one area in the home that always gets the brunt of mifit items or trinkets like:

  • Junk Mail
  • Greeting Cards
  • Coupons
  • Books you intend to read
  • Items you were gifted that you have no idea what to do with
  • A gift bag you want to use again, but forget is there
  • Pens and note pads 
  • Batteries
  • Photos
  • Address books that have been replaced by your phone
  • The reusable store bags you forget you have
  • A broken item you intend to fix
  • A watch that needs a battery

This was my drop zone.  And in preparing for some holiday fesitivities, I decided that the drop zone was going to be cleared.  The items on top that had no immediate use were going to the trash.  In a matter of thirty minutes, the area was transformed and a weight was lifted.  I didn't realize how much having all that crap was weighing me down.  Clearing it, and keeping it clear, has been so wonderful.

So the drop zone pile is gone, but now there is The Bathroom Box.  This is a box from last Christmas when I had to clear items out of the guest bathroom that had piled up so my mother could use it.  Mom was here for a few days around Christmas 2020.  That blessed box is still sitting where I took it to be out of the way.  And even looking at it today with a hint of intention to get rid of it, I shrugged my shoulders and walked away.   So frustrating.

When I publish this listing I am going to walk straight to The Bathroom Box and be done with it.  Clearly, nothing in there can be valuable or worth saving because my husband and I have not once in one year been bothered to look in it.  It is time to say bye-bye to the dang thing.

What pile or box have you become blind to that would be a relief to tackle?  Can you get to it before the end of the year?  It might make a fantastic gift to yourself.

Comments (22)

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Estate Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate

I am so darn organized and for the most part, I deal with stuff in real-time. I do not have piles of anything anywhere.  No drop zone in my home. 

My son has a drop zone of storage in my garage. It was only supposed to be for 6 months. I believe we are now at 3+ years.  I've asked him to get his things and if he does not want them, to get rid of them. 

It is an energy thing for me. I must have a clean and organized space to live and work.

I am happy that you tacked your drop zone and the bathroom box.  No doubt it feels wonderful! 

Dec 18, 2021 07:27 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

I want to live that way too....dealing with crap in real time.  Tired of holding onto stuff for no good reason.

Dec 18, 2021 07:34 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Estate Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate

FEATURED IN CRAP-TACULAR

 

Mr. Crappy Says

Deal with the Pile of Crap!

💩💩

💩

 

 

 

Dec 18, 2021 07:29 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Thanks for the feature in your group.

Dec 18, 2021 07:34 PM
John Pusa
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Crest - Glendale, CA
Your All Time Realtor With Exceptional Service

Hello Chris Ann Cleland very valuable report for getting rid of the pile.

Dec 18, 2021 08:16 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Chris Ann,

This past week we took two carloads to our charity place...and we keep getting rid of stuff.  I just have a couple more drawers to go through!  I love the feeling of clarity that comes from de-cluttering. A

Dec 18, 2021 08:41 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Ditto.  It is so freeing.

Dec 19, 2021 02:10 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I often tell the tale of when I bought my own current home.  I knew the neighborhood, and I knew the floor plan.  Yet, when I stepped inside the first time there was so much clutter I struggled to divorce myself from it to make a decision to buy.  Finally, on the third visit I cleared a pile of magazines off one end of the couch, sat down with graph paper and began making a "To Do" list of things required before I could move in.  Once, I envisioned the seller's crap being gone, along with the orange shag carpet and the flowered wallpaper, I realized little needed to be done, but to paint.  Imagine my surprise after close of escrow, when I peeled back that old carpet and found perfect hardwood floors beneath!

Dec 19, 2021 01:57 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Must have felt like a present just for you.

Dec 19, 2021 02:10 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Chris Ann, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Dec 19, 2021 01:57 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Thanks for the feature in your group.

Dec 19, 2021 02:11 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Chris Ann - I am not blind my drop zone.  It certainly bothers me I just cleared out that section of the kitchen.

Dec 19, 2021 05:04 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Crap has a tendency to accumulate.  I am mindful to clear it out regularly now.

Dec 19, 2021 02:11 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Chris Ann - while a "drop zone" tendency for the collection of "things" that are not for immediate use can certainly still occur, constant attention to de-cluttering stuff has been an obsession-of-sorts.  If only I could spend some more time doing with that with that $^!* in my brain.  

Dec 19, 2021 05:05 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

I understand that feeling all too well.

Dec 19, 2021 02:12 PM
Brian England
Arizona Focus Realty - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I am always amazed by how much stuff I have at my home that I never use.  Of course, once I get rid of it, I end up needing to use it, haha.

Dec 19, 2021 05:12 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

I figure if I haven't used something in a year, it is history.  Get rid of it.

Dec 19, 2021 02:12 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Chris. Oh so true, so many things we never use or put in a place we can never find when we need it. Organization is a daily event. Enjoy your day.

Dec 19, 2021 05:49 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Chris Ann... I don't really have a drop zone for "junk," unless you categorize everything I drop in my office as "junk." I do drop things on my kitchen island, but I sort it out every couple of days so it doesn't build up. As for my office... big clean up due before year end as well as a fresh paint job.

Dec 19, 2021 06:11 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

A fresh paint job always makes a home feel brand new.

Dec 19, 2021 02:13 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Chris Ann, although there is no "drop zone" in my house, I had too much crap in my filing cabinet, and lots to shred this week.  Got it all done!  

Dec 19, 2021 09:08 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

I love shredding things.

Dec 19, 2021 02:13 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Property Manager

Hi Chris Ann,
This totally resonates with me. "Purge" is my word for 2022. My drop zones are my office and my garage. 

Dec 19, 2021 09:11 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

My husband's drop zone is the garage.  Oh if only I could get him in this mindset.

Dec 19, 2021 02:13 PM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Getting rid of things can be wonderful! It makes our load feel lighter. I'm glad you got rid of your pile and now your bathroom box!

Dec 19, 2021 01:16 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

And I sold some things using Facebook today.  Love that.

Dec 19, 2021 02:15 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Chris Ann Cleland ,

I'm so glad that Kathy Streib featured your post in her "Ah-ha" moments for the week. I've been organizing the "drop zone" (love the name you gave it) over the last 5 years and I've made such progress! I'm not done but you have spurred me on to tackle more boxes that clearly need to be organized.

Dec 20, 2021 06:08 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Drop zones seem to take on a life of their own and can appear anywhere.

Dec 20, 2021 06:53 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Hi Chris Ann Cleland  I still have a pile box from when I moved in September

Dec 20, 2021 07:22 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Hopefully it will not be there next September.

Dec 20, 2021 06:53 PM
Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Oh yes seems like there is a never ending 'drop zone' somewhere in our house.  Since we remodeled last year we got rid of a TON of stuff and it was great!  Everything is neat, tidy and I know what there is......instead of stuff sitting in a cabinet for years and years.  So silly, isn't it.

Dec 20, 2021 09:32 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

My dream of being that organized is coming into focus.

Dec 20, 2021 06:54 PM
Ed Silva
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

We have move boxes:  Boxes still stored from when we moved into this house 25 years ago.  They get thrown out without even being opened

Dec 21, 2021 07:06 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

I just started going through some and sold stuff on the Facebook marketplace that I found.  Better than throwing it out.

Dec 21, 2021 12:06 PM
Jim Paulson
Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID
Owner,Broker

I should practice this approach.  I am gaining on it slowly.

Dec 21, 2021 03:30 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Dealing with a true hoarder a few years back got me in the mode to let stuff go.

Dec 22, 2021 02:08 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Chris Ann:

That must have felt so freeing...and not really all that hard to do once you get started.

My personal and business files are in need of cleaning (and shredding) and the garage, sadly, is a big drop zone - our own stuff and our 2 daughters. That's a big project we really need to tackle.

Jeff

Dec 22, 2021 02:19 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Set your mind to it and get it done!

Dec 22, 2021 02:34 PM