Do you have a home in the Warner Robins area that you’re hesitant to sell today because of too much stuff? That thought could really keep you up at night. Instead of not getting the rest you need and delaying your sale, why don’t we start going through your stuff and finally prep your home for your homebuyers? You just might need a little of bit sorting ideas to start that engine rolling.
Here’s what you can do:
Tip #1: Do an Inventory
Have you ever tried looking at your home, trying to see through the clutter and not realizing you’ve already spent 100 minutes just staring and figuring out where to start? Well, you can’t really know how and where to start if you don’t know what’s there to sort. So even if doing an inventory can be tedious, it will help you out a lot. Besides, you never know what “treasures” may come up and make your inventory process more enjoyable!
Tip #2: Get Rid of Stuff That Doesn’t Fit in Your Available Storage
Part of your inventory should also be counting and measuring your available storage space. That way, you also get a picture of how much stuff you’ll need to transport out of your house, at least temporarily. If your stuff starts to occupy spaces that aren’t generally intended for them (e.g. books on the floor, blenders on the dining table, toothbrushes on the kitchen cupboard), that’s how you know it’s time to go through your cabinets, drawers, shelves, and other storage spaces.
Sometimes, we don’t always realize we’re not really maximizing our storage spaces for the right things, especially when we’re confessed hoarders. So open that cabinet and try to spot the “odd one out” — or maybe odd ones out with an S — and perhaps you’ll learn that you actually have more storage than you thought!
Tip #3: “Less is More”
While the minimalist lifestyle has become a cult favorite in the last 10 years or so, it arguably has some elements that some people find rather disturbing such as:
- It promotes artificial pressures and;
- Encourages isolation, intensifying mental problems
However, when applied in the right setting, the minimalist mindset can benefit you a lot, such as being able to sort your stuff successfully, efficiently, and without too much stress. If you maintain that “less is more” mindset when sorting, you may be able to go through your stuff faster than you initially thought — more time saved.
Tip #4: Acknowledge Limitations
When you live in a house with other people, each person may have a different view of what to throw out, what to keep, and which ones go where. Before you start your sorting process, it would be best to talk to everyone and find out what they think about your plan. Never assume that you can discard every item in the house, not unless you’ve been granted permission, especially with personal belongings. Setting boundaries with your family and other housemates will make the process less stressful.
Tip #5: Categorize and Sort By Category
Books, office supplies, broken appliances, forgotten DVDs, empty bottles, musty-smelling sweaters, and unopened gift boxes you never realized you had — stuff that could puzzle you more about where to start. Well, don’t worry, there’s always a solution for any clutter. Once you have your inventory, you can identify categories and start working through them one by one.
For example, if you got a category for papers, books, and documents, make sure you sort all of them first regardless of where they are found in the house. Then proceed with the following category until you’ve finished them all.
Tip #6: Allocate A Specific Time for Sorting
At one point in your life, you must have experienced multitasking. While some people find themselves more focused, motivated and accomplished when they multitask, it’s not always the best thing in the world. There’s a reason why you’ve accumulated so much stuff in your home over the years, and a reason could be that you just don’t have the time to organize them regularly.
Hence, find that specific day of the week or month to sort your stuff. Some may find that one day is not enough, but that’s alright — as long as you keep to schedule and try not to mix it with other things to do. While you’re sorting, you might want to consider cleaning after as well.
Tip #7: Follow the 5 Piles Strategy
Professional organizers are paid because they create sorting methods we never knew we needed. One of which is sorting your stuff in five piles:
- Transfer to another room
- Give away/donate randomly
- Give to a particular person
- Throw out
- “Marinate”
The first four are pretty explanatory, while “to marinate” means keeping your stuff for a particular period. If they’re not used in that specific timeframe, that’s when you’ll throw them out. This is particularly applicable to stuff that doesn’t have any use today but will be used in the future. Or stuff that we’re just not sure if we’re ready to give out.
Regardless, if sorting your stuff is just too much for your plate, you can sell your home as-is. At Spire Property Solutions, we buy houses in Warner Robins as they are, even with all the stuff, furniture, clutter, and worn-out condition. If you want to learn more about this solution, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team at (678) 318-1801 or send us a message through the form below.