Does your home have a clutter problem? If so, don’t worry, because you are not alone. Many start noting the situation when the warm weather arrives, but many put off doing anything about it. Whether the procrastination comes from denial or just a lack of time, summer is the ideal season to remove clutter and get your living space back into good shape. How?
The secret is to break the chore into manageable pieces. Consider getting started by doing an inventory. Walk through every room, storage sheds, basement, attic, garage, and yards to see how much unneeded junk you own. It’s also important to estimate the cost of dealing with clutter, getting rid of it, and sanitizing areas where it accumulated. The following suggestions can serve as starting points. Don’t forget to leave the cleaning for the second stage of the operation and deal with financing before getting underway.
Invest in the Right Tools and Services
Removing all the clutter from a home can turn into a costly but worthwhile project. Why? Because if you have a lot of built-up stuff in every nook and cranny, it’s likely you’ll need to hire a hauling service, a professional mold remover, an expert service to do a deep clean, and purchase sealed storage containers for whatever’s left over. Plus, most homeowners prefer to repaint the interior of the house after cleaning it out.
What’s the smartest way to pay for the entire project? Most people apply for personal loans to cover some or all of the related expenses. Unless you have a lot of available cash, borrowing to put your house in order is a win-win situation. Not only does a personal loan repaid in a timely manner help boost credit scores, but it also lets you spread payments out over time what could be a considerable expense.
Do a Detailed Initial Assessment
It takes a strong dose of personal honesty to do a walk-through of your own living space and make notes about all the areas that need to be de-cluttered. But, it’s a necessary chore. Note not just the places where junk buildup is the most obvious, but list the kinds of things that need to be removed and how long it will take to clear out each section.
Categorize Everything
Once you get underway, make five piles or categories for everything: for sale, to be donated to charity, trash, keep, and to be given away. Resist the temptation to keep too much stuff or you’ll probably end up doing another round of de-cluttering again in the near future. For donated items, choose a local charity and let them sort out what they want to keep or dispose of. Get receipts for everything donated, making sure the documents list approximate value for tax purposes. Sell good condition items online or in a yard sale. Things destined for the trash should go out immediately. If the amount is huge, hire a hauling service to come pick it up.
Cleaning is Stage Two
After all the junk is gone, begin phase two of the process by cleaning every room, storage shed, yard area, and other spaces. It can be hard to find the motivation to clean your home so don’t overwhelm yourself with work. It’s usually wise to hire a local company and have them do a deep-clean service so that all the areas get fully disinfected and washed out.
Leave a Reply