Starting the downsizing process well in advance of a move or de-cluttering your home early can save time, headaches, stress, and dollars later. Do you really need that much stuff in your home? More stuff equals more stress. More clutter equals more dust. Getting rid of the excess stuff and clutter can make your house easier to clean, create a healthier environment for you, and save you money on costs. Do you have a storage unit? Why? When is the last time you took anything out?
Before we talk bucket list, let’s talk about why we keep things too long. The most common reasons are:
But I have to keep it…..
1. It is a family heirloom
2. It was given to me as a gift
3. I might need it someday
4. I paid a lot of money for it
All very valid. Give it to another family member who may even cherish the treasure more. Give it as a gift to a charity. Now pick a room to start in! Begin in one corner and go clockwise around the room (or counter-clockwise, whichever keeps you going). Look in every nook, cranny, and storage unit. Use the OHIO rule. Only Handle It Once. If you touch it, it belongs in a “bucket”.
Here is your bucket list so you can start living your real Bucket List:
1. Keep it and/or move it. These are your treasures and you have reason to keep them.
2. Give it to family. We have many ideas to help facilitate this. Give us a call.
3. Sell it. Craigslist, eBay, Amazon, or estate sale? All are valid options. We can help you decide which method is best.
4. Donate it. There are many charities who would love to have your excess stuff. Some will pick up and some will not. Some will take electronics and mattresses, some will not. We have relationships with many charities near and far and can help expedite the excess treasures to new homes.
5. Recycle and dispose. Sort through all of that paper. Only keep what is really important, shred what is sensitive, and recycle what is left. Depending on the amount remaining after filling all the other buckets, you may be able to fill a garbage can or a large dumpster.
A Senior Move Manager (a trademarked term through the NASMM) can provide guidance, encouragement, and hands-on help to help you STAY in your home. Working closely with a senior move manager that you can rely on and trust may give you great peace of mind. Most importantly, allowing a senior move manager to help with the move frees up time so that you can spend quality time with your family rather than focusing on all the action items. You can go through cherished memories and create new ones, while the senior move manager takes care of all of the details and the worry.
Article Provided By:
Soft Ladings for Seniors
503-893-4252
www.SoftLandingsforSeniors.com