| If you find yourself with a home that's currently on the | | | | sweater, or baby's outfit, grab your camera and take a |
| market, or you're just about to take the plunge and | | | | photo, then add your photo to your scrapbook. Again, |
| face the property market head on, then it's quite | | | | write a few lines to help you, and those close to you |
| possible that you've at least considered have a good | | | | to remember that time. |
| clean out and cutting down on some of your 'stuff'. But, | | | | If you've got a lot of small, decorative items to display, |
| even if you aren't selling up, a good cleanout is hugely | | | | avoid showing them off all at once. That's like looking |
| therapeutic and well worth any effort put into doing it. | | | | at a needle in a haystack. By rotating them, say, with |
| Oh, you won't hear any argument from me; tips on | | | | the season, there are fewer things around to discract |
| decluttering your home are a dime a dozen. A quick | | | | the eye, which allows you and others to see your |
| search of any of the major search engines will bring | | | | pieces much more clearly and to appreciate them all |
| up thousands of results. Usually the information is fairly | | | | more. |
| standard. Cleaning, deciding where to start, what to | | | | And for the things you've collected because you |
| keep, what to throw out, give away, what to put it in | | | | thought you'd have a use for it down the track, ask |
| and then, where to put. I'm sure you know what I | | | | yourself how long you've had it. If it's more than 2 -3 |
| mean. | | | | months, and you've still not had a reason to put it to |
| Stick with them; I dare say you'll need them sooner or | | | | good use, it really is time to let go. |
| later. I'm hoping to get you to think about this process | | | | 3. When to Declutter? (Let's call this one clutter |
| from a different angle than you're perhaps used to. | | | | psychology #2) |
| We aren't going to be talking about the nuts and bolts | | | | We're talking about the 'P' word - procrastination. |
| so much here. It's more along the lines of the in's and | | | | Putting off today what can be done tomorrow. Only |
| out's. We'll be talking quite a bit about the relationship | | | | tomorrow never comes. Usually that comes down to |
| you have with your clutter. | | | | feeling overwhelmed. This is where planning comes |
| I won't promise you that it's going to be pretty; I will | | | | into it. Break it down into smaller chunks (see our next |
| promise you, that it's going to be completely necessary | | | | tip), and then get some help from family or friends. |
| if you are to come out the other side of the | | | | 4. What are your immediate needs? |
| decluttering process with a sense of satisfaction and | | | | Think about how much available space you have and |
| pride, rather than a sense of sadness and regret. | | | | your immediate needs for that space. How would you |
| First things first. | | | | like to use the room? If you're planning to sell, give |
| 1. Define your clutter (Called 'clutter physiology') | | | | serious thought to what the buyer is expecting to see |
| Clutter means different things to different people. To a | | | | in the space. Let's take the kitchen as an example. |
| real estate buyer for example, the term generally | | | | You'll of course need food on hand, and some food |
| refers to the years of accumulated 'odds and ends' | | | | preparation and cooking equipment, along with some |
| that home owners tend to have around them. You can | | | | serving ware. Buyers of an occupied home expect to |
| bet that these things are of little use to anyone, but the | | | | see these things in a kitchen, and they like to know |
| people who live there. For example; clothing that | | | | how they fit into the space. This leaves things like out |
| doesn't fit, collectibles of any kind (yes, I do mean | | | | of date food, 15 different pots and serving dishes, 7 |
| sporting memorabilia and the porcelain rooster | | | | dinner sets, umpteen drinking glasses, personal papers |
| collection), books, magazines, toys, videos, DVDs, craft | | | | and anything else rarely used in this room to be thrown |
| 'bits', old birthday cards, presents you have no use for, | | | | out, donated, or packed up until you move. Take this |
| 100's of photos, old baby clothes, old shoes, tools and | | | | similar 'what are my immediate needs?' or 'what will |
| so the list goes on and on. Yet, far too many home | | | | buyers expect to see?' approach to the other rooms |
| owners insist on hanging on to this kind of stuff - even | | | | in your house. |
| at sale time. The end results is house hunters or even | | | | 5. The time factor - tear through like a hurricane or |
| your visitors, feel claustrophobic and stressed. | | | | flow like a gentle breeze? |
| 2. What's with the clutter? (Called 'clutter psychology' | | | | If you intend to sell, then you may have to prepare |
| #1) | | | | yourself for the most frenzied de-cluttering weekend |
| Ever wondered why you're hanging on to the things | | | | you've ever had. You might even proper to do it this |
| you hang on to? For most people there's some kind of | | | | way to get it over and done with. The decluttering |
| emotional connection. Guilt is a very common reason | | | | frenzy can feel a bit like a hurricane in that sense; |
| to hang on to things well passed the used by date. | | | | really intense, but thankfully short. Just remember your |
| Maybe it's a sense of whimsy. In any case, the very | | | | plan and get all the help you can possibly muster. If |
| thought of throwing something away causes you | | | | you're the procrastinating type, then the 'gentle breeze' |
| anxiety as you imagine part of yourself being lost with | | | | approach may be the best and least painful way to |
| that 'special' piece. | | | | go. Go room by room or even drawer by drawer if it |
| For the things that are very special to you, consider | | | | helps. Take your camera with you as you work |
| starting up a scrapbook, journal or keepsake box. For | | | | through each space and try to make the most of it. |
| things like cards and letters you can paste those | | | | And put a time limit on the process, so that you're able |
| straight into your scrapbook and make a few notes | | | | to get a real sense of the final result. |
| about that time as you go. For things like a favourite | | | | |