Decluttering your long-time home can seem like a daunting task. There are so many rooms to sort through and decisions to make about what stays and what goes. However, decluttering, cleaning, and tidying does not have to be hard or stressful. Whether you're getting your home ready for sale or just tidying up to give your home a fresh, clean feeling, take a look at these effective ways to successfully declutter your home.
Decluttering Room by Room
Tidying your house room by room is a classic way of decluttering and organizing your possessions. You choose where you want to start, and complete one room before moving on to the next. Of course, you can work on several rooms at the same time, but this may create more confusion. Going room by room also helps you feel more accomplished because you can mentally check the room off your to-do list once it's done.
Asking a friend or family member to help is a great idea, especially if you tend to keep more items rather than throw them away. Having someone to help out who’s a little less sentimental and can provide a logical viewpoint when your emotional side kicks in can make this process easier.
Marie Kondo-ing Your Home
I'm sure by now you've heard of the Japanese master organizer Marie Kondo. She has become known for her ingenious method of making any home look tidy, clean, and decluttered.
Her method involves tidying up by category of item instead of by location and only keeping items that "spark joy." The five categories to tackle are: clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items.
Part of the “KonMari” method is to thank each item for fulfilling its purpose before discarding it and reorganizing. The goal is to finish with a home that is free of clutter and to focus on bringing joy and prosperity to your life. Even if you don't feel the need to go all-in with her method by thanking and recognizing the items as you remove them, the process of decluttering based on item category may be more helpful for those who know they have a specific problem area (too many clothes encroaching into extra closets, for example).
Decluttering to Prepare Your Home for Appraisal
Strictly speaking, your home does not need to be tidy for an appraisal. However, when general clutter turns into signs of neglect, it may affect the value of your home in the appraiser's eyes. Here is a list of things to check before the appraiser comes knocking:
Find the source of persistent odors and remove it
Dry out dampness and stop smoking indoors
Wash mold or mildew off of exterior and interior walls, as well as in wet areas like tubs and sinks
Consider repainting areas where paint is peeling or chipped
Consider replacing broken or damaged windows
Make sure the landscaping has been maintained
All of these points reach further than basic tidying. However, preparing your home properly for sale is important because you want to make sure the home makes a great first impression. This will inspire buyers to put in a high offer and the appraiser to value it highly as well. The things on this list will be much easier to do if you have taken the time to declutter first.
To Recap....
Tidying your home and decluttering is easier if you take a systematic approach. Breaking the process down into smaller steps makes it less overwhelming. Don’t forget to ask friends and family for help!
Are you ready to start preparing your home for sale? I offer a free, personalized consultation in which I can suggest the most impactful improvements for your home. I also have a complimentary staging checklist I can share with you. Reach out to me today so we can schedule a call to discuss getting your Tampa Bay home sold!