Whether you’re considering a move to a more manageable home or thinking about aging in place, decluttering is often one of the largest emotional hurdles my clients face when approaching a real estate transaction, not the actual real estate decision.
You might feel hesitant to have a realtor come into your home to evaluate it and provide suggestions on what needs to be done to prepare it for the market. You need to understand the importance of starting the process as early as possible.
My job as your realtor is to come in and assess your home, come up with a strategy, and make suggestions that will increase the home’s value.
The good news is decluttering doesn’t have to be extreme, stressful, or rushed. It can be done strategically, at your own pace, and with a clear purpose.
In this blog, I’m going to share some tips that will get you moving forward.
1) Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Decluttering can be an emotional process. Your tendency might be to reach out to a family member, such as an adult child. They might be well-intentioned, but sometimes, because of the emotional connection, they could unintentionally add pressure to the situation and create conflict.
This is where you might want to consider engaging a professional home organizer, estate specialist, or downsizing specialist to help. The right support will keep things calm, respectful, and focused on your goals.
2) Think About Your Future
The decision to declutter shouldn’t wait until you’re ready to move. Think of it as planning your future. You should ask yourself if certain items you’re considering keeping are going to be part of your lifestyle in the next 5-10 years. If you were to downsize, is it coming with you? Do you want your family dealing with it later? Decluttering isn’t about loss; it’s about clarity and taking control.
Searching for blogs related to downsizing? Explore these related blogs next!
- Condo vs. House – What’s Better For Seniors?
- What Seniors Need to Know About Downsizing for Retirement
- Can Downsizing Actually Save Me Money?
3) Take It One Step At A Time
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is trying to tackle everything all at once. This is where most people get overwhelmed and exhausted.
Instead, I suggest you start with an attainable goal: one drawer, one closet, or one corner of a room. Completing a task is a win that creates momentum for you. Once you complete the first room, you will have more confidence taking on the next space.
4) Categorize Everything (No Maybes)
Decision fatigue is real, especially when you’re dealing with items you have an emotional connection to. I recommend 5 simple categories:
- Keep- Items you actively use. Have you used it in the past year? How many times? If not, it probably belongs in one of the other categories.
- Donate- Items in good condition that someone else can use.
- Gift- Items meant for family and friends.
- Sell- Valuable items you no longer need.
- Trash- Items that are broken or unusable need to be discarded.
Pro tip: Avoid having “the maybe later” pile. This is procrastination in disguise.
Create a deadline for disposing of your non-keep categories: they’ll just turn into more clutter piles. If your gift items don’t get picked up by the deadline, they shift into one of the others and are disposed of accordingly.
5) Set A Dealine For Yourself
A realistic timeline usually takes a few months, not a few weekends. You can expect the starting point to take 1-2 weeks. This is for setting goals, gathering supplies, and choosing a comfortable pace.
Over the next 3-6 weeks, you want to begin with the low-emotional areas, such as bathrooms, linen closets, and kitchen cabinets, before moving into the living/dining rooms. Bedrooms, storage areas and clothing will take another 2-3 weeks.
Once decluttering is complete, usually around the 8-12 week mark, most people make their decision to stay, age in place, or proceed with downsizing and moving to their next home.
Pro Tip: In my experience, most people work best when they give themselves a deadline. They feel the deadline keeps them motivated and on track. Also note, when it comes to gifting items, you need to give the person receiving the gift a specific pick-up date. They might not have the same urgency as you do. Not being structured will impact your timeline.
Helping a loved one downsize their house? You may find these blog posts helpful!
- When Should Seniors Sell Their Home?
- Preventing Family Conflict When Selling Your Parents’ Home
- How to Sell Your Parents’ Home With Your Siblings
Decluttering In Action: A Case Study
I recently worked with a retired person who wanted to downsize his house to a condo. When we met and discussed his goals, I found it interesting how clear he was about what he wanted in a home. Very thorough and detailed; he even knew the floor plan, the view, and the condo’s amenities. He was motivated to move.
The challenge was that we had to sell the existing house first. He was beating himself up because his current home wasn’t anywhere near ready to show to buyers. He knew what had to be done in terms of decluttering, but couldn’t find the focus to do it on his own.
I was engaged to evaluate the home and provide recommendations. One of my first questions was the timeline he was considering for moving. He wanted to move quickly because he had his eye on an apartment that had been on the market for a month.
My recommendation was to bring in a professional to assist with decluttering. It wasn’t realistic to expect him to do it on his own. He had been procrastinating for the last couple of years with no progress. I referred a professional I regularly work with, who was a good match. Everything was done within a few weeks, including home repairs, staging, and listing the property within a month.
Downsizing? Give Me A Call
If you’re starting to think about decluttering, downsizing, or simply making your home easier to live in, I’m always happy to talk it through. Sometimes all it takes is a thoughtful conversation to bring clarity and confidence to your next chapter.
Ready to downsize? I’m here to help! Reach out to 647.283.2127 or email stuart@stuartnodell.com to start a conversation.
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