TEN TIPS to CLEAR the CLUTTER
When staging your home for sale you want to wow the public with show-home style.
Step one: Clear the clutter!
- Paper is our biggest clutter-bug. When you bring the mail in make the decision to handle it only once. Immediately sort junk mail into the recycle bin, file bills into appropriate dossiers, and shred any identifying items to prevent identity theft.
- Recycle outdated phone books, magazines, catalogues, and newspapers.
- Set up a binder with monthly dividers to organize receipts, warranties, recipes, and special interest articles such as school newsletters.
- File business cards right into your telephone directory with 2-way tape.
- Donate, donate, donate. There are many organizations which would be so grateful to retail your unused items. Go through all your kitchen cupboards and toss out the expired goods but pass along that utensil, juicer, pasta-maker, etc. that you've only used once since the wedding!
- Clean out the closets! Donate clothes that haven't been worn in over a year. Make sure the bedrooms have a chair for laying out the clothes which are too dirty to hang up but too clean to put in the wash yet.
- Invest in clear plastic containers for storing seasonal wear, art and craft supplies, pet toys, etc. It's easy to hide things away when they're not being used if you have such storage bins! Easier to retrieve when needed again!
- A plastic garbage can makes a great bottles recycle bin under the sink until recycle day.
- Seek out a cool shoe storage unit for your entrance way to leave a wide swath of welcome for prospective buyers, not to mention friends and family too!
- Develop the habit of tidying as you leave a room thereby avoiding build-up of chores before your home is being shown. Then on your day off you'll find you have time to smell the roses!
