Autumn Purge

Rutherford’s annual town-wide yard sale is Saturday, September 21st. This means it is the ideal time to declutter!

“Whether you are looking to sell your house soon, or just get a handle on the overwhelm,” says Kristen Davis, Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty, “An annual purge is great for the mind, body and soul.”

“We always recommend that our clients purge their homes before listing,” says Jennifer Darby Metzger, Broker/Owner at ERA Justin Realty, “Buyers want to be able to envision themselves in your space and they can’t do that if your clutter is everywhere. But on top of that, decluttering is good for a seller’s mental outlook. Out with the old, in with the new.”

Decluttering doesn’t mean your entire home needs to be immaculate immediately. It can be done in small steps. Some people start by removing one or two items a day.

“Don’t look at your house as a whole. Break it down room by room, surface by surface if you have to,” says Davis. Delegate different sections of the house to different family members. 

It is up to you to decide what stays and what goes. The best way to do this is to make three piles: Keep, Trash, and Sell/Donate. Start by going through your house with a garbage bag and focus on trash first. “This will make a noticeable dent in your clutter pretty much right away,” says Metzger. 

Next walk around with a laundry basket picking up things that are out of place and put them back where they belong. “Don’t put things away one at a time, unless you’re just looking to up your step count! Collect it all in a basket then go room to room.”

Your final pile is for things you want to sell. “The Rutherford town-wide yard sale is an ideal time to put out things you no longer want and make some money while you’re at it,” says Davis. “Just don’t bring things that don’t sell back into your house. Leave them on your porch and call a donation organization like the Vietnam Vets, who will come pick it up.”

Bottom Line

Decluttering is a great way to make room in your life for new things to enjoy, whether it be a new home, a new couch or a new neater outlook on life. If you would like help paring down, Kristen Davis or any of the agents at ERA Justin can help connect you with a professional organizer. Give us a call at (201) 939-7500 or email us at info@ERAJustin.com.