Ready? Here’s how it goes. You get a phone call. Friends are dropping by for a few minutes, so you toss everything into the closet – toys, coats and whatever. When your guests leave, you swear you will get to it tomorrow. Sometimes, tomorrow never comes. After a while, it becomes hard to close the door and you do not remember what is in there. It is now time to de-clutter and de-stress.
It is not going to go away by itself, so take time to tackle it head on and get organized. Allow lots of time for this task. You probably won’t be able to get through it in a day or even a weekend. Remember, it took you a long time to accumulate these items. You cannot expect to clean them all out in a few hours. You might want to tackle this chore in chunks of time, allowing a few weekends to get totally through the process.”
You will find yourself thinking through many decisions. The rule is, if you haven’t worn it for 2 years, toss it. If it is a gift that Aunt Emma gave you 5 years ago and something you will never use, get rid of it. “Just don’t tell Aunt Emma,” added Danny with a grin. “Pretend you are moving to smaller quarters, and you can only take the things you truly love. If you are having trouble, enlist the help of a friend who can be relentless.”
Lee suggested, “Begin with clothing and shoes. Most of us keep favorites around far too long. I’m sure I can get back into that dress soon. It only takes up valuable space in your home. Donate it to a charity. There is someone out there who will put your items to good use.”
Jennifer Darby Metzger, Broker Co-owner said, “Toys and seasonal items are a little more difficult. If the kids have outgrown those old skates, pass them down to a friend. Holiday decorations can tug at your heartstrings, but if they are broken or no longer hold their luster, out they should go. If you cannot bear to part with them, pack them in a storage box. By the time the de-cluttering is finished you should have room left over. Books, toys and clothing that are going to a charity should be boxed up or placed in plastic bags. If you are considering a yard sale, try to tag as you go along.
When you start sorting through paperwork, promise yourself to handle each piece only once. Papers that belong to other family members should be sorted and then handed over to that individual. Control newspaper and magazine pile-up by vowing to discard each issue by the time the next one arrives. On Sunday, Saturday’s paper goes out whether or not it has been read. The same thing goes for magazines. Some offices or charities are happy to have them, especially hospital waiting rooms. As for regular bills, they can be organized with a portable file box.”
“There is a difference in real estate companies,” Lee continued, “Presenting consumer information, we believe, is in order to exceed sellers expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, as we don’t offer just the basics. In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard. Our sellers have put their thoughts in writing. We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of nearly 800 quotes and reviews from our sellers and buyers. No other area real estate firm can offer that. Are we proud? Absolutely!”