Thinking About What You Can Do With Your Stuff?
January 23, 2023
Thinking About What You Can Do With Your Stuff?
Decluttering makes moving easier for everyone—and less costly,
too. It is also helpful for those who want to live simpler in their current
residence. In fact, having less clutter and being more intentional about what
homeowners bring into their space is a positive for mental health and financial
health.
Many saw the wisdom of doing so during the pandemic when they
were stuck at home, looked around, and wondered: Why do I have all this stuff
that I never use?
Now, in the dead of winter when many again are indoors for long
stretches can be a good time to begin. Think of it as an adventure to pursue
gradually rather than feel pressure to tackle all at once.
Truly effective—and lasting—decluttering represents a multistep
process that varies according to each person’s situation. Those who’ve
inherited a roomful of “brown” furniture from the 1950s and ‘60s, stacks of
books, photo albums, crystal, and more may feel overwhelmed if they don’t want
or can’t fit these furnishings in their home or apartment or find consignment
shops interested in selling pieces, often because they have so much that’s
similar from others hoping to unload possessions.
The following toolbox is offered up as a resource so that anyone
can get started on their decluttering journey.
What Experts
Advise
Marie Kondo became a
world-touted expert on the benefits of decluttering with her first book,
"The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up." It extolled the virtues of
owning fewer belongings to have more space to display things that spark joy.
Kondo went on to write more books, and
developed two Netflix series: "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo"
and "Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo." She also opened an online store,
KonMari, and started a certified-consultant training business.
If the Marie Kondo method doesn't quite spark joy, there are
alternatives. The “Swedish Death Cleaning,” which involves getting rid of
anything not needed to relieve others of the task to discard a loved one's
possessions after they’ve died. Margareta Magnusson, author of "The Gentle
Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Make Your Loved Ones’ Lives More
Pleasant," says the practice offers an underlying message of caring for
our heirs.
Decluttering, even if moving isn't on the immediate radar, is a
great idea for many reasons. First, you never know when a move might be
necessary. An intentional approach to decluttering well before moving ever
becomes a questions takes a lot of stress out of the moving process. Doing so
can save time in packing up later, slash moving costs and help reduce the
amount of new living space someone might require. Even before it's time to
move, there's the listing process to think about. Decluttered settings help present
a better visual, which helps maximize sales, says Christopher Matos-Rogers,
associate broker, Coldwell Banker Realty in Atlanta.
While many find it
tempting to put off the difficult decisions about what to keep and what to toss
until after they move, consider the wisdom of being realistic about what can
fit in their new home, says Barry Izsak, an Austin, Texas-based move/relocation
expert and founder of PackingMovingUnpacking, an online service that
helps those moving find movers in their area. “This is especially
important for those moving long distances," he says. "Consider
clothing in a new climate. They might be able to ditch most of their winter
clothing and that snow blower, too,” he says.
Know When to Seek Professional Help
Homeowners who can’t handle the task on their own should
consider hiring a certified member of the National Association of Professional
Organizers (NAPO) or the National Association of Specialty and Senior Move
Managers (NASMM) or even someone with years of experience, says Izsak. As a
former president of NAPO, Izsak says the national hourly rate professionals
typically charged hovers between $50 and $100, depending in part on their
locale. Your Realtor may also be able to
help you with this process, or suggest professionals who can help.
Rhea Becker—who offers
organizing services for homes and offices in Boston—says many of her clients
appreciate how professionals speed up the process by keeping them focused on
maximizing profits and avoiding digressions over each object’s history. “With a
professional, you have the best chance to cut the time and get some money on
the table since they know what will sell,” she says.
Consider Grouping
Items Into Categories
Whether or not you decide to bring in a professional, it helps
to categorize each item in a given area into one of five groupings: keep,
store, sell, donate or toss. Izsak says the litmus test he uses and shares with
clients is to save an object only if it fits one of these three criteria: It’s
useful, beautiful, or loved. Becker suggests homeowners snap photos of favorite
items that are difficult to part with to give them a visual memory they can
retain rather than keeping the item itself. Here’s specific help you can offer
them for each pile:
Sell
Midcentury modern furniture and contemporary art both appeal
widely to buyers of all ages, especially if they’re good quality and in decent
condition. Create a list of estate sales specialists and consignment shops in
your area that are known for fair dealing. However, be aware that many services
that do the work of selling take a big cut, often half the sales price. If you
are inclined to try to sell items yourself, try eBay for the best prices.
However, if you’re not willing to go through the trouble of shipping sold
items, post goods on hyperlocal online sites, such as neighborhood Facebook
groups or Craigslist.
Donate
Remember the adage,
“One person’s trash is another’s treasure.” If you have older children ask them
to claim beloved items from their childhood. Becker says it’s important to set
a time limit for those who are interested to pick up what they want. Take note
of what charities will accept and when, and even which ones will pick up
donations, saving your clients time and hassle. Some charities have gotten
choosier about what they accept. For instance, many won’t take mattresses, box
springs, pillow cases, or sheets. Real estate salesperson Christopher Flores
with Keller Williams Larchmont in Los Angeles suggests a local halfway house
that helps troubled young adults stabilize their lives as a great destination
for used goods. “That way they provide furniture and clothing they don’t need
to those who may have nothing,” he says. You may be able to secure a tax
donation from the IRS if items are contributed to tax-exempt
organizations. Because of recent changes
in the tax code, it’s best for clients to keep detailed notes of what they
donate and to consult their tax adviser for the exact percentages they will be
able to write off.
Toss
Sometimes it’s easier
and will save time to contact companies such as JunkLugger to haul away
unwanted items. Homeowners can also
consult HomeAdvisor’s list of trash-hauling service providers by ZIP code.
Also, it’s important to be aware of laws governing trash. Some municipalities
allow homeowners to leave stuff by the curb with a sign that reads, “please
take me,” while others levy fines for such activity. A more organized version
of this idea comes in the form of local Freecycle chapters, part of a grassroots nonprofit where
local people post stuff for free pickup in their own towns to help keep usable
goods out of landfills.
Store
Off-Site
It may be tempting to
store certain household items off-site, and one in three Americans do, There are numerous reasons why. Aside from apartments getting smaller,
people are unwilling to part with stuff permanently. The pandemic required a
bit of a shuffle as well, requiring work-from-home space that didn't exist
previously. Some families moved in with one another and needed a place for the
extra stuff.
Picking self-storage requires homework. If you choose this
option, consider units that are locked, insured, climate-controlled, and offer
access whenever they want. Prices can vary widely. Self-storage isn’t a
great long-term solution, as months can extend into years and beyond. “Often
storage is a matter of postponing the inevitable. It’s better to get rid of
whatever you don’t need,” Izsak says. “If you know you’re storing something for
a granddaughter who will use it in a year that makes sense. Otherwise, get rid
of it now!”
Labels: # 1 Westport Real Estate Agent, # Decluttering, #Junk, #Preparing Home for Sale, #Real Estate Advice
posted by Rob Grodman at 10:46 AM
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