Have you seen the TV show Hoarders?  They say there are 10 degrees of hoarders….where do you fall.  De cluttering your home is the first step. If you are contemplating selling your home it is an important step.

If you’re thinking about moving to a new home in the future, whether it’s larger or smaller, then it’s important to de-clutter your existing home and get rid of the stuff that you don’t want, need or use. By doing this you will be able to make moving easier, but you’ll also be able to make your home look cleaner!  I know this sounds easy but the hoarder in you will fight you.

Although it can be difficult getting rid of things that you’ve been holding onto for a while, it is very much worth it. After all, what’s the point of saving all of the things that just sit in boxes never to be seen? Below you’ll find some tips for making the cleanup process easier and as stress free as possible.

Getting Started

The first step in the de-cluttering process is to have a friend who is good at cleaning up come over and help you. This is the best friend you ever had.  It’s important to have someone that will give you an honest opinion of the things you really should keep (your blender) versus things you should let go of (those 6 inch heels you can’t stand in).

Start in a room that you have been avoiding, and have a fresh cup of coffee in hand to give you energy. As you go through, have different areas that are designated as “keep”, “toss” and “charity”. That way you can keep everything organized and minimized the amount of work you have to do once you’re done going through everything.

As you progress through tossing or keeping things, make sure you are really thinking about whether or not they are useful. If you haven’t used or worn something in over a year, then it’s probably best to get rid of it. This doesn’t mean you have to throw it away, as you can easily give it to a friend or family member. You might want to even consider selling things online, as it’s very easy to do, and will ensure you get some money for things that you never use. It’s also important to think of ways to consolidate your belongings, and to find unique storage pieces that store items you want to keep more effectively.

Achieving Less Clutter

Once you are done with one area of the house, go onto the other or take a break and continue on the next day. You want to go to all rooms of your home so that you can clean up, get rid of junk and minimize the “things” that you have. One important tip to keep in mind is that you should make sure members of your household agree with the things you are getting rid of, as you don’t want to toss out someone’s favorite shirt or pair of jeans. Once everyone is on board with the things that are going, take the appropriate actions to actually get the things out of your home (there are a lot of junk removal services that will come and get things for FREE).

In the end you’re going to be left with a home that is simplified, cleaner and that has a whole lot less clutter. You’ll especially notice this when you move, because there will be a lot less things that you have to move from one place to another. So, take a look at the housing market and then at your own home so you can get rid of things you don’t need.

Reward yourself when you complete an area.  Time to CELEBRATE!!