Tips On Decluttering And Downsizing Your Home In St. Louis

Downsizing and decluttering can often evoke feelings of dread and fear. However, there are numerous benefits to embracing this process. By downsizing, you can save money on a smaller home and reduce utility bills. It also offers an opportunity to embark on a new chapter in life while cherishing old memories. But don’t rush into it without a plan. Online resources and articles can provide helpful guidance for this journey.

As Alexander Graham Bell once said, “Preparation is the key to success.” So, take the time to meticulously declutter every area, including the attic, basement, and garage. To assist you in this endeavor, we have compiled some valuable suggestions for your plan.

Find An Unbiased Friend To Help You Make Decisions.

If you find yourself struggling to make decisions about letting go of items that have accumulated in your home over the years, we recommend seeking guidance from a trusted friend. A friend can assist you in asking the right questions to determine whether to keep or let go of certain belongings. They can provide a different perspective and gently encourage you to part with items that you may have held onto for too long.

Use Four Major Categories for Sorting Your Things

1. Keep – These items deserve your attention and should find a place in your new home.
2. Donate – Donating items that still hold value and can benefit a charitable cause.
3. Sell – These are the items that hold value and are worth your time to list on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, or other similar sites.
4. Trash – Acquire large, heavy-duty construction-grade garbage bags and proceed to fill them.

Start By Downsizing And Dealing With The Big Stuff

When furnishing your new home, prioritize items like sofas, bedroom sets, large tables, and recliners. These pieces typically occupy the most space. If you intend to keep them, that’s fantastic! However, if you’ve been longing for a new sofa and this is the perfect opportunity, consider selling or donating it to start Once again.

Make Good Choices Regarding The Smaller Things

It is advisable to keep anything that is in good condition and currently in use, as well as items that hold sentimental value or serve a useful purpose, even if they are only used occasionally. However, it is important to be discerning when it comes to belongings that have not been used for months or years. When moving, take advantage of the opportunity to declutter by parting ways with baby items, outdated toys, or pregnancy clothing if you no longer need them and your children have outgrown them. Donating these items to local Goodwill or other charitable organizations is a wonderful way to give back to the community.

Be Careful With The Keepsakes – Use Alternative Ways Of Preserving Memories

It may seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Take a moment to consider how many boxes of “keepsakes” you have that haven’t been opened in ages. Before mindlessly moving them around, take the time to go through their contents. You’ll find that children’s artwork, photos, cards, and scrapbooks stored in boxes can be digitized by scanning and condensed. Even nostalgic items like that concert t-shirt from 1983 can easily be captured in a photograph. By having a digital picture on your smartphone, you’ll likely get to see these items more frequently and share the memories with others, rather than leaving them hidden away in a basement box.

Making smart decisions about keepsakes can help you create valuable space in your new home, while still preserving memories and sharing them digitally with friends and family through pictures and PDF files. If you haven’t opened those boxes in a while, chances are there are items you’re not aware of and won’t truly miss in the long run.

Appliances, Electrical Equipment, And Tools – Use The Rule of One Year

It can be tempting to hold onto items that were once frequently used but are no longer in use, especially those that we anticipate using again in the future. However, it’s important to consider that if something has gone unused in the past year, the likelihood of using it in the coming year is significantly lower. This suggests that it might be time to part ways with certain possessions like a pizza oven, sewing machine, old craft project paintbrushes, or exercise gear. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Exercise caution when parting with items that are extremely expensive, hold sentimental value, or serve a specific purpose.

Digitize Old Financial Records

Did you know that you can digitize all your important documents and store them in the cloud or on a hard drive to free up physical space? While it’s advisable to keep physical copies of certain documents like birth certificates, you can easily scan and store other financial or personal papers. Services like Google Drive or Dropbox allow you to transfer them to the cloud as secure PDF files. Just remember to securely dispose of any physical documents containing personal information after digitizing them. Forbes has a helpful article on which documents to keep and which to discard, with the general rule of thumb being to retain financial documents that are less than seven years old.

Feeling Overwhelmed Already With The Clutter In Your House?

If you find that your house, or perhaps your parent’s house, is too overwhelming to handle, there are options available. What can you do if the task is too large or if your time is too valuable for such a massive project? Consider organizing an estate sale. You can find professionals who will come to your house, assess your belongings, set prices, and host the sale. They will take a portion of the proceeds for their time and effort. Once the sale is complete, you might want to explore the possibility of a cash sale for the house and any remaining items.

Professional Home Buyers Can Help You Declutter And Sell Your Home For Cash

Fast Lane Real Estate, a professional home buying company, offers you a convenient solution. Receive a cash offer for your property in St. Louis or any other city in Missouri. Say goodbye to clutter, necessary repairs, and piles of junk, and walk away with cash in hand. If you’re ready to sell your property and leave behind the hassle, we’re here to provide you with a no-obligation cash offer today. We purchase houses throughout Missouri, including areas like St. Peters, Fenton, St. Charles, and more.

You have the freedom to declutter as much as you want or need, and we’ll take care of the rest. This enables you to finalize the deal much faster compared to a traditional sale, which can take months due to repairs, cleaning, and leaving an empty house.

Our dedicated team is ready to assist you in quickly selling your home for cash, allowing you to free yourself from the clutter and excess belongings that occupy your basement, attic, and storage spaces. Discover more about our streamlined process by clicking here.

To speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable experts, call us today at 314-310-8338. Within 24 hours, we can provide you with a no-obligation quote. If you accept our offer, we can close the sale and put cash in your hands in as little as one week. Rest assured, there are no fees, commissions, or closing costs involved. We genuinely wish you the best and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you believe we can be of assistance.