You’ve Decluttered, Now What?
Home Organizing Experts and Professional Home Stagers agree whether you are getting your house ready for the market or not, the vast majority of us need to reduce the amount of stuff we have.
There are two approaches to getting rid of clutter. One is the ripping off the band aid approach, doing it all fast and furiously over the course of a long weekend or week (depending on how much stuff you have). The other is to carefully and methodically pick around the edges and gently, slowly pull it off.
No matter which way you go, you still have to figure out an exit plan for all that stuff and that’s what this helpful blog is about.
So go ahead and be ruthless with letting go, and for the exit strategies to get rid of your stuff, consider making four piles.
The Return Pile
You have borrowed a tennis racket, wagon, and a mixer from neighbors over the past few weeks. TAKE THEM BACK – along with a note saying how much you appreciate the loan. Secondly, if you have items that still have price tags on them, take them back as well. Even without a receipt, you will be shocked just how many stores will at the very least give you a store credit. However, DON’T buy anything else with the store credit, unless it’s a gift you plan on giving within the month.
The Give it Away/Donate Pile
First look at each item and decide within 5 minutes if you know of someone personally that can use what you are about to otherwise get rid of. Have a lot of dress up clothes or dance costumes? Then drop them off at a nearby dance studio, or day care for playtime. Here are links to some great organizations. Several of this offer free pick up. For larger items, call two to
three weeks in advance.
Here are some local to Charitable Organizations in North Atlanta located in Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell.
North Fulton Community Charities https://nfcchelp.org/
Salvation Army https://satruck.org/
Goodwill https://goodwillng.org/locations/north-milton-donation-center-30004/
Hope House https://www.hope-house.org/donate/
Kidney Foundation Veterans
http://www.wepickup.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_OzrBRDmARIsAAIdQ_LdGH-
0W26aLLgN7E960lhQcKBvVwc7Ta0Kamfsu6pk3ueEgFZHW80aAsbCEALw_wcB
The Sell It Pile
Your first notion may be to have a garage sale or sell your stuff on Craigslist or eBay. Wait just a second! Do you truly have the time and energy to sell things in the next week? If not, move on to other options. After a successful cleanse, you don't want a spare room filled with things you’ll sell someday.
Join Marketplace on Facebook for your geographical radius, and post items you want cash for. Offer the item a one third the purchase price only if it is in very good condition. Post with any and all defects so buyers know what they are buying and aren’t disappointed when they come to pick up. TIP: Try to schedule all your pickups for the same day to minimize the time investment. TIP; Give yourself a FIRM deadline of say one month, and schedule a pick up for that very day. What doesn’t sell goes.
Resources & Helpful Links
The Freecycle Network is a massive collection of nonprofit groups. The group is free to join. You can create an electronic form to publish with your detailing your items to the group.
Visit CharityNavigator.org for detailed evaluations of thousands of charities in the United States and abroad. You’ll also find links to charities in your area and info on how donating affects your taxes. Visit DonationTown.org to find local charities that will pick up your donations and supply you with all the relevant tax paperwork.
Visit Earth911.org to find your best places to get rid of hard to get rid of items.
Contact Karen today for any and all questions on preparing your home to list. Karen just downsized herself so she can guide and encourage you every step of the way.
