How to De-Clutter Your Home

If you’re thinking of selling your home, one of the very first steps you should take is to start de-cluttering your home. It’s never too early to start with the de-cluttering process, and even if you aren’t a hundred percent certain that you are going to sell, it can never hurt to rid yourself of unused or unneeded belongings. A crucial element to successfully selling your home is to stage it in a manner that prospective buyers will find appealing. And let’s face it: no one is going to be charmed by a home that is overflowing with extra junk.

Here are a few tips to get you started on your way to cleaning up your living space:

· Toss It. Even in the neatest of homes, things break and sometimes we don’t get around to fixing them. So if you have anything lying around that isn’t functional and you aren’t likely to fix it, get rid of it. The same goes for anything that is not a keepsake and that you don’t actively use. If you’re not in the mood for a trip to the local landfill, consider renting a Dumpster that can sit on your driveway or lawn for several days while you fill it with worn-out appliances and furniture, trash from your lawn, attic, and basement, and anything else you can’t give away. It can feel very liberating to see all that junk hauled off, never to be dealt with again. Just make sure that you dispose of hazardous materials like paint and batteries in the proper manner; many communities have regular events designed to dispose of toxic or dangerous materials.

· Recycle It. Recycling isn’t just for cans and bottles. You can recycle cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, and other materials. If your community doesn’t have curbside recycling, research the nearest recycling centers in your area and find out just which items they are willing to take off your hands.

· Store It. Family mementos, photographs, trophies, and other memorabilia is important to you – but your home needs to be a blank canvas on which potential buyers can imagine their personal stamp. So store away all of your personal treasures. Orderly bins in an attic, garage, or basement are unlikely to be obtrusive to buyers, but better yet if you can remove these items from your property and store them at the home of a friend or relative. Or consider renting a storage unit for a short period of time until your home sells.

· Donate It. You can donate everything from clothes to toys to household goods, furniture, and appliances. You can even donate your used car! Donating certain larger items might result in a tax benefit for you if you obtain appropriate documentation. There is no shortage of organizations where you can donate – from churches to the Salvation Army to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Some of these charitable entities will even arrange curbside pick-up.

· Keep It. When you’ve culled all the excess, you’re left with your basic living necessities. Make sure these are neatly arranged, whether they are furnishings that adorn your rooms or belongings stored in closets. Remember that when your home is on the market, prospective buyers will scrutinize every inch of your property, so make sure everything is ship-shape.

Doesn’t it feel good to divest yourself of all of your accumulated stuff? Now your home is ready to stage for sale –your real estate agent can help with this. And as a bonus, all of your current belongings are items that you know you’ll really want and need once you move into your new home.

Would you like to find out more? Visit www.hansbrings.com for more information.