Are clutter and disorganization ruining your life? While this might sound like an extreme question, you should know that an abundance of stuff you do not need might actually cause a decline in your overall health, jeopardize your relationships, and even derail a fruitful career. Even if things are not as bad as all that, there are still plenty of mental and monetary benefits to having a clean and organized home. Not only will your stress level go down, your home value may even go up if you make updates that Buyers find attractive.
[For more information, visit article links below by Kelly Grant, Residential / Commercial / Rural REALTOR® at MaxWell POLARIS]:
(1). Important Seller Advice in Preparation for Viewings and Property Turnover
(2). Deciding When to Renovate vs. Selling Property 'As-Is'
First, Know What You Need and What You Do Not
Before you can begin any decluttering endeavor, you have to be honest with yourself about what you have versus what you want versus what you need. According to the Simple Dollar, people really only need things like a roof, food, water, clothing, and a few other basics, like health and hygiene and a way to pay the bills. Everything else is optional.
Decluttering and cleaning require not just patience but time as well. Find ways to free up some of your schedule, such as outsourcing more time-consuming tasks. This includes your workday as well. Finding and bringing on a virtual assistant, if even on a part-time basis, can be very beneficial. Virtual assistants handle a wide range of tasks, like coordinating meetings, research, project management, even typing. When so much administrative work is off your shoulders you’re able to devote the freed-up time to declutter at your own pace.
Start with a Spare Bedroom
If you have a spare bedroom or unused den, that is a great place to start your cleaning endeavors. Look around; there are probably many things you do not need and, worse, do not use. Create a pile of items you are willing to part with and then take them to a donation center. Some organizations will even pick up your household goods and clothing to save you the trip.
Keep It Going
When you have your first area tackled, keep up the pace by going room to room. Keep in mind that, depending on how many rooms you have and how much stuff you have to get rid of, it might be wise to hire a junk removal service if you have an abundance of trash that you need to get out of the way. If you have large items, such as furniture that you may be moving to storage, connect with local furniture movers. Before hiring a moving company, familiarize yourself with their services by reading reviews and ratings from past customers.
Make Cleaning a Daily Priority
Once you get rid of the excess stuff, you can get to work cleaning all of those neglected nooks and crannies. Unless you live alone, there’s no reason to tackle this job by yourself. Make cleaning a team effort, and don’t be shy about assigning duties. Housewife How-To’s notes that you can print a cleaning checklist and pass them out to each member of your family. Also, make sure to incorporate cleaning into each day, even if it is only something as simple as emptying and reloading the dishwasher after dinner.
For Children, Make It a Game
Tidying up is not a chore that should be relegated just to the oldest members of your family. Even toddlers can pitch in, and having them do so can take a ton of strain off of you. Make cleaning a game where your kids can earn points and perks for going above and beyond. For example, if your little one sorts their own laundry and then puts it away without prompting, perhaps they can earn the opportunity to choose dinner for that night.
Overhaul Your Walls
You can create the illusion of space by revamping your walls. Simply painting your ceiling a lighter color can make a room seem larger. Instead of painting, you can enhance your indoor spaces with wallpaper. Today many adhesive options are repositionable and removable so you can adjust your wallpaper whenever you like.
Remember Your Reasons
Remember when we mentioned that clutter can cause health and home problems? Try to keep that in mind with each passing day. Avoid the temptation to fall back into bad habits, such as buying two of everything and not taking the trash out when needed. Do not lose track of the fact that a clean home is a home that perpetuates health and happiness.
Get Creative with Your Storage and Displays
There is no getting around that you will add things to your home. The trick is to get creative in how you store them. Sometimes, this means displaying things you might otherwise tuck into a drawer. Children’s artwork, pots and pans, and old family photos are all great examples of items you can hang on the wall to free up cabinet space.
Banish clutter and you will feel like a rock star. You will also enjoy less stress, a streamlined cleaning routine, and a healthier home. Remember: if initial efforts fail, there is no shame in calling in a professional organizer to put you on the right track.
Article Written and ©2021 by Alice Robertson at TidyHome; Image via Pexels.
Residential / Commercial / Rural REALTOR® Kelly Grant of MaxWell POLARIS has over 18 years of quality experience and is one of the top-producing real estate professionals in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Contact Kelly today! 780-414-6100 (pager); 780-717-9290 (text); or by email: SOLD@KellyGrant.ca .
