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Purge Your Home This Fall
Out with the old and in with the new! Spring seems to be a popular time to go through old items and clean up your home, but Fall is also a great time to purge. Why not cut down on the clutter and clothes you didn’t wear over the summer months and make a clean slate before winter comes around? If you are planning to list your house just in time for the Spring Market of 2019, September and October is the perfect time to start decluttering your home so you don’t need to worry about it when it's time to start packing up and making your move.
Getting rid of your personal items that you have held onto for the last 20 years may be a stressful task. The items in our home can hold all kinds of sentimental value even if they are sitting on a shelf collecting dust in the basement. It is much easier to turn a blind eye to the extra items in our home, but getting rid of these unused items can be a truly liberating experience! Just imagine opening that dreaded 3rd drawer in the kitchen and being able to find what you’re looking for rather than having to search for it. The random little items in our homes add up and getting rid of what you don’t need frees up space for what you do need. Though the results can be fantastic, the unpleasant act of decluttering your home can certainly be an aggravating and lengthy process.
To help simplify this experience, The Susan and Moe Team have created an easy step by step guide to purging your home.
PRO TIP
Though it isn’t going to be fun to go through all of the small things in drawers and cabinets – it is still an imperative part to purging. These small items add up and I bet that you aren't going to miss those 12 ballpoint pens that don’t work anymore. It is also nice to give those drawers a wipe down after cleaning all the clutter out of them, you would be surprised at the amount of dirt and dust that can build up in there, sometimes a vacuum hose will work best.
The photo to the right makes me anxious just looking at it. Hover over it to see the magic!
Create 6 zones for your items
You’ll need some supplies like boxes or garbage bags to fill.
A quick way to decide on an item is to think back to the last time you used it and ask yourself if you plan on using it again.
TOSS
DONATE
GIVE AWAY
SELL
UNDECIDED
KEEP
PRO TIP
We know that paperwork can be a difficult task to take on. It is best to put all paperwork you find into a box and set some time aside to go through it all later. Getting hung up on loose paper in the middle of your purge will be distracting and time-consuming. Just don't forget to go through that box later!
We've all had a stack of papers that looked like this. Only a select few of us are able to keep it as organized as the hover photo shows.
Toss
Tossing items can either be the easiest or the hardest thing to do. If you find something that is clearly broken or missing an important piece to it, there is no point in giving it away if it doesn't work. Finding one of your favourite shirts with a rip in it can be hard to just throw away. Ask yourself if you will still wear it like that, or if you are going to take the time to fix it. If not, it's time to toss it!
Donate
Donating your items can be a rewarding experience and it helps to know that your prized possessions are not going to the dump, but to someone else who will enjoy them as you did. Many donation stores will even give discounts or other special offers for bringing bags of clothing and other household items to them. Before donating, make sure your items are not broken or ripped.
Give Away
Giving away your possessions to friends and family keeps those items closer to you than donating to strangers. Perhaps your daughter has always loved that white lace tablecloth or your best friend has always complimented those floor standing speakers. You may even be able to visit those old possessions when you go to visit your friends and family!
PRO TIP
Kijiji and the Facebook Marketplace have made selling items online very easy and an account can be set up in a matter of minutes. If you found enough items in your home to sell, why not have a yard or garage sale!
Yard sales can be a really fun way to spend a weekend getting rid of old things and meeting new people. Kijiji is a great place to list one or a few items to sell privately.
Sell
Selling your old items can be fun! At least this way you are making some extra cash while purging! Of course, we wouldn’t want you to sell grandma’s antique ring for $10 to some lady on Kijiji – but if you have old clothes that were never worn or an old TV or stereo that has since been replaced – why not sell it for some extra cash rather than giving it away.
Undecided
Try not to get stuck on an item figuring out if you need to keep it. A wave of emotions can come over you while looking through your old things and getting caught up on one item can make the process even harder. Put items that you just aren't sure about in the undecided pile and come back to them later. Don’t stall your momentum getting caught up on the undecideds.
Keep
We are all human and we know that you are going to run into items that hold sentimental value that you just can’t let go of. If you decide to keep an item, it is best not to leave it packed away. If possible, keep these items out in the open so you don't forget about them. Try to keep this pile to a minimum while staying realistic about if you will ever use the item again.
PRO TIP
A good rule of thumb for the undecided items is to put them into a box and mark the date on that box. If you haven’t gone looking for those items within the next 3 months – donate them without opening the box.
If you brought the item out of hiding and didn't end up using it in the last few months, chances are you were never going to use it again.
The Susan & Moe Team understands that decluttering and purging your things can be a long and stressful process. We can help to give you more tips on decluttering and can also help you to find a smaller home to downsize to when the time is right. Remember that once you have purged and the stuff is gone – you will feel a sense of freedom and peace. We know that you will feel accomplished and much less stressed about taking on your next move.
For more great tips, give us a call at 613-457-5000, we would love to hear from you!
