Whether you already have a new home waiting for you, or you are just thinking about putting your home on the market, right now is the perfect time to clean your home in preparation! Here are a few do’s and don’ts for you to keep in mind by Professional Organizer, Violetta Reum, of Reum Organizing.
Don’t just clean the house before showings or appraisals.
Do get rid of visual clutter that would be distracting to realtors and potential buyers.
It is extremely challenging for new potential home buyers to see themselves in your home when your space is too personal to you and your family. It is also very difficult for buyers to notice all of the sweet detail, amazing features and beautiful views, if they are distracted by the visual clutter in your home. “But we still have to live here!” you might say and I promise, the solution is so much easier than you think! Simply hide your everyday visual clutter behind closed doors, in oversized baskets and useful storage bins.
If all of your storage spaces are filled to the max and you aren’t able to do this, then you have to declutter. Sadly, there is no way around that. When decluttering, empty each space fully, get rid of things you don’t use or love and then get bins and other organizational products to make sure everything fits back in. If it doesn’t, challenge yourself to purge even more or relocate something that you don’t use daily or weekly (ex: Relocate a labelled bin of hair tools you rarely use from your bathroom to the garage.)
Don’t just move your old bins and untouched boxes to the new home.
Do actually look through what you have in your storage areas and reevaluate.
I know it’s so tempting to just take your boxes full of memorabilia or old clothes that you aren’t ready to deal with, and simply transfer them to the new home. However, this means that you are simply postponing your decisions until 3 or 4 years from now or until you move again. Do you really want to move the same useless things from one house to the next? Plus, this can be dangerous as you might be unknowingly moving mold, bugs, or possibly broken items into your new home.
Don’t just pack everything mindlessly!
Do clean out the stuff you are not in love with, things that bring you shame or items that stir up feelings of guilt and only move things that are intentionally saying yes to, into your new home.
Believe me, you do not want to invite this kind of bad juju into your new home. You are leaving the old home behind and getting excited about new possibilities and memories that you will make in the future place! This is an opportunity for a clean start. And no, I am not saying you should buy all new things; but I am suggesting getting rid of things that are not emotionally positive or at least objective. So don’t drag your emotional baggage with you into your new space; declutter now!
I hope you have found these tips helpful and informative! I have more blogs on moving and decluttering on my website, www.organizethrive.com or you can check out my Instagram (@reum_organizing) for daily tips and tricks when it comes to decluttering and organizing your home.
If you are still feeling very overwhelmed and anxious, it is absolutely okay to ask for help! Go to www.organizethrive.com and check out our moving and in-home organization services. Don’t forget to submit an inquiry for a free in-home consultation.
Thank you Violetta! 🙂 – The Meadows Realty Family