What Am I Supposed to Do with All of This Stuff? (Pt 1)
5 Easy Tips to Declutter Your Home
School is back in session and Autumn is officially on its way! With the kids out of the house, now is the perfect time to rejuvenate your home with some decluttering and organizing before the holiday rush of house guests, new toys and gifts begins! This is especially important if you are preparing your home for sale. Remember, a clean, organized and functional home can make an upcoming move easier, help entice a potential buyer, and make you happier!
Here are my 5 tips you can easily complete in many areas of your home to remove some of the clutter.
Sort it! Start with 4 boxes and label them: “Keep”, “Sell”, “Donate” and “Toss”. Focus on one small area or room at a time. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when it’s done! Then, move on to the next space.
Keep it! Consider the functionality of the item. Do you use it? Will you need it? If you haven’t used an item in the last year, it is unlikely you really need it. Consider what the item is worth. Is it rare or unique? It may be worth holding onto. Finally, consider your emotional attachment to the item. We all know we keep certain items for sentimental reasons. It may be difficult, but pick your favorites and let the rest go!
Toss it! If it fits into one of these categories…toss it: broken, missing pieces, torn or stained, recalled, expired, tax documents more than three years old for personal and six years for business related.
Sell it! If it’s worth your time and effort to sell it, use it to add to that vacation fund or home improvement project. Yard sales are a great option to make some extra cash from unwanted items. Better yet, organize a multi-family yard sale with neighbors. Hang signs around the area, post your sale dates on Nextdoor.com and blast out to your neighborhood email list. Other options include ebay.com, etsy.com, craigslist.com or FaceBook Marketplace.
Donate it! There are lots of options to donate in the Northern Virginia and surrounding area. Check back soon for our recommendations on how to donate your items, including some you may not have known about.
We’d love to hear about your favorite decluttering and organizing techniques. Share in the comments below.
If you’re considering buying or selling in the Northern Virginia market, I am ready to get working for you! Contact us anytime to get started at mkjhomes@kw.com, 703.282.2840, or visit www.mkjhomes.com
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Marietta Jemison is the Lead Agent on MKJ Homes LLC Team of KW Metro Center. She is a REALTOR®️, licensed in VA and an Accredited Staging Professional, ASP®. She has over 20 years of sales and client account management, business development and team coaching experience in the retail and legal services industries.
