Where Do I Start?
Just about everyone needs to declutter and organize their home at some point. While you can take care of a lot of the process on your own, there’s a time to bring in professionals.
Your motivation for cleanout can vary: just want to get organized, excited to downsize, saddened by the death of a family member. You could be the homeowner, a family member, or a real estate professional. You can be challenged by a life changing event: lifestyle change, relocation, debt, divorce, or most commonly, the death of a family member or parent.
With the average house size at 2,500 square feet, your home is likely full of furniture, appliances, household goods, mementos and items with intangible value to you and your family. In many cases, folks don’t want to part with items they have accumulated, causing belongings to fill basements, attics, garages and even storage units to the brim. Separating and cleaning out all that you or a loved one has acquired can overwhelm the best of us! Here are some thoughts to get you in the right mindset.
Mine! Mine! Mine!
Communication with family members is the place to begin. No one wants to make a challenging and emotional situation even more difficult by having family members fight over who wants what, or who has to take care of what. If you have special items that you want to go to certain family members or friends, make a list that you give to a trusted contact “just in case.” If you’re the family member without specific instructions, have your relatives make a list of items they may want from the estate. Establish that no one should remove items from the estate until together you have settled where each item will go. Sometimes, conflicts arise that require the services of a mediator or legal help. It happens.
Hide and Seek
People can hide things in the most unusual places. You or your loved one may have tucked something of value on a high shelf, in a coat pocket or in the back of a drawer. Be thorough and take the time to look through everything before it goes anywhere.
Smile!
Family photos have no value to folks outside your family but can be priceless and irreplaceable for you and your loved ones. Track down the albums and scrapbooks. You can easily make copies of photos to share the most important links to your past with more than one family member.
Is it Vintage?
Unless the clothing or accessory comes from a high-end brand, or is vintage (typically 1960s or earlier), used clothing has little or no value. Some consignment shops will take on-trend current brands, but most used clothing can be donated or recycled. Sorting through closets can be tedious; a friend with discerning taste may be able to help you get started in whittling down your closet. And don’t forget to check those pockets before donating!
Safe and Secure
Store all your important documents in a fire safe with a trusted contact who can access them if you cannot. Wills, trusts, savings bonds, life insurance policies and statements, real estate deeds and titles, and other financial records can be found among decades old utility bills or in a box of old newspapers. Take time to sort through documents carefully. Those dusty old boxes may have something very important and/or valuable.
Just breathe
Yes, it can be overwhelming, but it’s a process. You can’t snap your fingers and have it all magically done. But there are resources available to make this journey easier. Give us a call and we can help guide you through these first steps and so much more. Don’t mutter the clutter!.
