Tips on How to Declutter

The Process of Selling a Home

I was recently tasked with cleaning out the home of a deceased love one. It was part heart-breaking, and part treasure-hunt. Throwing away a loved ones’ belongings is difficult, and when family members are short on time, unfortunately, many items that could be donated or gifted end up in the dumpster.

After reflecting on this process I offer the following practical tips – many which we used this past weekend – but as a homeowner, you can start doing now. And yes, purging can be difficult, but it can also make you feel lighter!

Books – keep your treasured books, the ones that you enjoy rereading or have made an impact on your life, and donate the others to a local library. The library will provide you with a receipt for tax purposes.
Clothing – items in good condition can go to consignment shops, clothing can be donated to back-to-work programs that provide professional clothing for low-income individuals to look fantastic on the job. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local thrift stores are also great resources.
Antiques – garage, attic, and basement overflowing with antiques or fine furniture? Estate sale companies can take these items off of your hands and into the hands of people who also appreciate antiques.
Paperwork – Label important paperwork in an easy to find place. Invest in a quality shredder and shred anything more than 7 years old. Recycle magazines, newspapers, etc. You cannot use 7-year-old coupons!

For everything else, I was fortunate that I found a company that will come in and take any item that can be sold at auction; afterward, they provide a percentage of the proceeds. And there’s also Give Back Box, which makes donating easy.

It is never too early to start removing clutter and “stuff” from our lives!