Increase your home’s appeal for yourself or for buyers on the market with these organizational tips.
Decide what’s working in your home and what’s not.
Take stock of items in your home and how they are organized. What spaces work for you, and which ones feel overwhelming or inconvenient? Do you have too many items stored in a space that is too small? Go room by room and evaluate your closets and drawers. Ask yourself, “What do I like about this current organizational set-up? What should change?” Take notes.
Come up with a plan
After evaluating your current system, come up with a new plan. Get rid of items that you no longer need or have space to keep—remember, the fewer things you have, the less time and space you will need to keep them nice. After decluttering, organize your items using bins, shelves, racks, or other systems
for separation. Your system will work best if the objects you use most are easy to access without bending or reaching.
Take a “step-by-step” approach
Avoid burnout by breaking up tasks and starting small. For example, you could start with a closet that you can reorganize in a day, or you could sort through old clothes to give to charity. Once you are done, take a break before moving on to the next project.
Ask for help
Some labor-intensive tasks are hard to do alone. When needed, do not be afraid to ask for help. Larger projects likely require the help of family, community members, or hired professionals. Talk with people in your network, including your SRES® professional, for recommendations for qualified professional organizers, cleaners, or movers in your area.
TIPS FOR GETTING RID OF EXCESS “THINGS”
Toss duplicate items:
If you have more sets of work clothes or measuring cups than you need, consider giving
away what is extra.
Sort items into four piles:
One for things to keep, one for things to donate, one for things to throw away, and one
for valuables to appraise and/ or sell.
Pass on belongings:
If there are items you no longer need, or keepsakes you would like to go to a certain person, gift them personally now.
Count on an SRES® to guide you through the process of buying or selling your home, making the transaction less stressful and more successful. The Seniors Real Estate Specialist ® (SRES®) designation is awarded by the SRES® Council, a subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). To learn more about SRES® and access various consumer resources, please visit seniorsresource.realtor.