Cutting Down on Clutter

Where Did All This Stuff Come Fromu2026?

Whether or not youu2019re planning to sell your house any time soon, it never hurts to get things in order.u00a0 Even the tidiest homeowners are amazed by how quickly houses can become inundated by the clutter and items they accumulate.
Here are some easy tips toward consistently maintaining order and balance in your home, and ensuring that come sale time you donu2019t find yourself waging the war against disorder for the first time.

You Need Discipline and a Game Plan

• Instead of dabbling and making gradual improvements here and there throughout the home, focus your efforts on one room at a time.u00a0 Donu2019t move onto another room until the task at hand has been thoroughly completed.
• Force yourself to stay disciplined, and adopt the u201cin and outu201d approach.u00a0 For every new item you add to a room, remove an older one.
• If you have kids, make the cleaning process fun for them (yes, it is possible).u00a0 Whether itu2019s by giving them incentives to keep their rooms tidy and their personal belongings out of public spaces, or showing them how rewarding the result can be give them a tangible reason(reward, privilege, bribe)u00a0 to observe these rules even when they havenu2019t been reminded to.
• Have a vision of what the room SHOULD look like before you tackle it.
• Use hangers to sort the clothes you wear the most from the ones you break out only on special occasions.u00a0 Needless to say, garments that are out of season should be kept separately (a sealed, moth-proof rack for your hangers can be a crucial investment for your basement/attic space).
• When considering whether or not to retire an item, force yourself to decide whether you really, REALLY need it.u00a0 If you have a hard time deciding, you know what to do.
• Treat your kitchen as a sacred area: the real estate that includes your stove, sink, refrigerator and countertops should be occupied by useful items only.

When it comes time to sell your house fast, you will be more than rewarded for the work you have done on the front end. Of course, if you do decide to sell your house in the Maryland, Washington DC or Virginia area, give us a call. We can help.