January is here in full force complete with snowy, cold days and hearts full of New Year’s resolutions. It is also a good time to do some indoor activities that have been waiting all year – decluttering.
If you are trying to get your house up for sale and just don’t have a clue about where to start, here is some help on what can stay and what can go. If you are a fan of the international sensation Marie Kondo or not, you sometimes have to let go of some of your personal stuff and really toss or give it away. Let’s take a look at how you can get started.
First, the rule of 3.
Separate three piles of your belongings into: toss, donate and keep.
- Are you currently using the item? If you haven’t used something in a year chances are you need to get rid of it.
- Are the thoughts of wasting money drifting in your mind? Sometimes, it is just better to move forward and declutter.
- If you have clothing that you haven’t worn for a long time but was given to you, you might want to donate as opposed to throwing out.
- Do you have multiples? If you have 2 toasters and 2 coffeemakers and 5 whisks, you need to keep your favourites and donate the rest. Keeping multiples of items takes up space and by donating you might make someone who needs it happier.
- Are you moving to a new house? This is one of the best ways to declutter. Think about that new home. Do you want to add all the previous clutter from your former house or do you want to start anew with a more minimalist approach?
What can you toss without thought?
- Old prescriptions (pharmacies will take your dated prescriptions, supplements, etc.)
- Old coupons
- Expired spices and pantry items
- Chipped dishes and mugs – nobody will want these
- Plastic bags
- Soiled and torn linens
- Old cosmetics and fragrances
We hope this guide can give you that jolt you need to roll up your sleeves and declutter. If you are still stuck on how you want your home to look when you sell, don’t forget our Anne Winch Ottawa Real Estate Team can help you to get your home staged for free and on the market quickly.
Did we mention we also help by getting you started with a free packing kit when you list your home with us? So, roll up your sleeves and let’s get started. Remember Spring is just around the corner and you want to see that sold sign on your lawn!