Category: Downsizing Your Home

How to Know if it is Time for you to Downsize

4/11/2019

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Many of us grow up dreaming about the big, beautiful home we are going to have with our spouse and future children. We drive through neighborhoods in our hometowns thinking about what our ideal home would look like and fantasize about each family member having their own bathroom!

However, there comes a point in time where we reconsider what we truly want. Is a big home really what we still want later in life? It is normal to think maybe it is time to downsize once all the kids are grown, but it is also hard to let go of the house we have a sentimental attachment to and where sweet memories were created.

Though it can be emotionally confusing, downsizing may be a great decision for you. Sage Organizing Co. is here to give you a few ways to know if downsizing is right for you.

1. You're struggling to keep up with the maintenance and necessary repairs

Whether it be financially, physically, or emotionally, if keeping up with home maintenance and repairs is difficult, it may be time for you to consider downsizing. It can be terribly frustrating when it feels like there is ALWAYS something to be fixed in your house. Right when you're done fixing and paying for one repair, another thing breaks! Not only is this frustrating but constant repairs and maintenance is time-consuming and expensive. The smaller the house you live in, the fewer things there are to break and keep up with.

2. You're planning on retiring soon and live far from family

Many people decide to downsize once they retire as this leaves more flexibility in retirement income. Additionally, it gives you more time to focus on your health and happiness. Many people who plan on retiring soon decide on a smaller home without steps that will be hassle-free. Downsizing is also a perfect opportunity for retirees to move close to children and grandchildren who can help in the future.

3. You feel overwhelmed with all of your "stuff"

We often feel a need to fill all the empty space once we move into a big house. As time passes, "stuff" accumulates. Sometimes you look around the house and don't even realize all the things you own! Other times we prefer to live in denial and never open the forbidden cabinets that have an unknown number of items in them. Once you've truly accepted that less really is more, it may be time for you to downsize. A smaller home will force you to reduce the stuff you have and really focus on what you truly need.

4. You feel "house poor" and sacrifice dreams because of it

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If housing costs are preventing you from traveling and enjoying life's luxuries, downsizing is probably a good option for you. Moving into a smaller home or even an apartment/condo/townhome requires little maintenance which makes it possible for you to travel for longer periods and have the money to do so! Even if traveling isn't your thing, downsizing frees up money that can be spent on the things you are really wanting to try.

Even if you now see that downsizing is right for you, you may be worried about the stress and complication of the process.
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Not only do you have to move your things, you also have to decide what you want to keep and what you want to discard. THEN, you have to figure out the best way to discard your unwanted things.⠀
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Skip the stress and call Sage! Sage Organizing Co. will help you organize your valuables, pack them, and donate your unwanted items to local charities. ♻️⠀Comment below with any questions!
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Let Sage make your downsize go smoothly and put your unwanted things to good use around the community. Contact us for more information!

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

Related Articles:
HOW TO BEAUTIFULLY STAGE YOUR HOME SO IT SELLS IN A FLASH
5 STEPS TO SELL YOUR STUFF ONLINE (WITH PRINTABLE CHEAT SHEET)
HOW TO SORT LIKE A PRO: ADVICE FROM A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER

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How to Beautifully Stage your Home so it Sells in a Flash

10/7/2018

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If you want to stage your home so it sells in a flash, 93% of Realtors highly recommend that you declutter and organize the house first. Having a house that potential buyers can imagine themselves living in takes some work, but it pays off in higher sale prices and shorter time on market.

In this article, we'll be sharing ideas for organizing and staging the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen, so you you can sell you house faster. AreaReal Estate professional Leigh Bryant, of The Temple Team at Keller Williams, will also share some of the tricks of the trade with our readers.

Source: National Association of Realtors 2017 Profile of Home Staging

Here are 9 home staging ideas to sell your house quickly...

Living Room

Paint your walls a neutral color: now is NOT the time to show your personality through color. Potential buyers want to be able to envision themselves living in the home; it's tough if they are distracted by blazing lime green walls. Freshen the space up with a new coat of a soothing, neutral color.
DECLUTTER: this is the number one piece of advice Realtors give to their sellers. Warning: Do NOT "hide" the excess clutter in closets....buyers look in closets, too. Remove excess clutter, box it up and put into storage.
Help buyers imagine living there. Create "cozy" vignettes, like a quiet reading nook in the corner.

Pro tip from Real Estate professional Leigh Bryant of The Temple Team at Keller Williams: The day the house is photographed for the online listing is the most important day of the selling process. The house should be perfectly staged for photos: those pictures are what cause buyers to want to visit your home...or not.

Need help Decluttering?

Master bEDROOM

Remove all personal items. Yes: even your wedding photos, photos of your children, and any religious icons. Same goes for any clothing, personal care items (like perfume bottles), and artwork. There should be no evidence of the people that live in the home.
Stage the closets, too. Buyers are always thinking about storage space; show case the available space in the closets. Real Estate professional Leigh Bryant suggests that clients "channel Martha Stewart" whenorganizing their closets before photographs and showings. A good suggestion is to have the closets 50% empty.
Make the room calming and spa-like. The room should be well-lit, be spotlessly clean, and smells pleasing. Creating vignettes, like a reading area or a window seat, helps the buyers envision how they would use the space.

Pro Tip from Professional Organizer Candi Ruppert of Sage Organizing Co.: to make your closet appear larger, use hangers of the same color throughout the whole closet. Organize the shortest garments at the front of the closet and the longer items toward the back.

Related Articles:

4 Kitchen Organizing Secrets That Will Blow Your Mind

KITCHEN

Pay special attention to decluttering and organizing the cabinets and drawers. Home buyers can and will look inside your cabinets to assess the storage space. Cabinets and drawers should be 50% empty, clean and look like a Crate and Barrel display. Box up and put your excess kitchen items in storage.
Only leave 2 appliances on the counter-top, at the most. A coffee-maker is acceptable, but make every effort to not have anything else on the counter. Your counters should be clean, empty, and showcase the space.
Create a pretty scene at the sink. Your sink should be spotlessly clean and smell like heaven (run lemons through the disposal if odor is an issue). Have a pretty dishtowel, some fancy dish soap and a new washcloth/sponge laid out.

Pro Tip from Real Estate Professional Leigh Bryant: Don't let the decision of whether to hire a staging expert come down to money. 90% of the time, the cost of hiring a stager is recouped in a higher sale price or shorter time on market.

get help decluttering and organizing

Related Articles:

Ready, set, Stage!

Using these 9 tips and ideas will help you beautifully stage your home so it sells in a flash!

Leigh Bryant is the Director of Sales and Expansion Partner for The Temple Team in Charlotte, NC. Contact her here.

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4 Kitchen Organizing Secrets That Will Blow Your Mind

9/25/2018

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Whether you are moving and unpacking a kitchen, or just want to reorganize, your mind will be blown by these 4 kitchen organizing secrets.!

Ready to learn the Kitchen Organizing Tips that will amaze you? Read on...

Secret #1: Organize Your Kitchen Into Work Zones

The most efficient way to set up your kitchen is to have “zones” for each function of the room. Take into consideration where you want things located, what will go there, and why it makes sense.

Ideas for kitchen work zones:
Dishwasher and Sink
What: Cleaning products, dish towels, everyday plates, bowls, silverware and glasses.
Why: Keep items closest to where they are most frequently used. Choose cabinets, shelves, and drawers near the dishwasher to make unloading efficient and easy.
Cooking and Stove
What: Pots, pans, bake ware, and cooking utensils, and frequently used spices/oils.
Why: Reduce the movement needed when cooking hot foods. Choose deep cabinets for pots and pans. Store bake ware near oven.
Food Prep Zone
What: Cutting boards, mixing bowls, Tupperware, knife block, often-used counter top appliances.
Why: Keep everything you need to prep your meals within arms reach. Keep appliances that are used daily on the counter top; everything else should be stored in cupboards and drawers
Food Storage Zone
What: Shelf stable foods and food wraps. Usually stored on pantry shelves.
Why: Keeping all food in the same area allows you to see when you’re out or running low. Organize foods by category (e.g. all baking items together, all canned goods, snacks, etc.)

The Rest
What: Everything else should be filled in in the remaining available spaces.
Why: All the often-used items have been put away. Now put the rest away in the high, low and tough-to-get to spots.

Want help organizing your kitchen? Click Here!

Secret #2: The Countertop is Prime Real Estate

There is only so much counter space to go around, so items have to “earn” their spot.

For example, if you’re a daily coffee drinker, your coffeemaker should be on the counter top. (Pro tip: store your coffee mugs, coffee, and filters in the cabinet directly above the coffee maker for easy access). Same thing goes for a toaster: if you enjoy toast daily, leave the toaster on the counter top and store the butter dish in the cabinet above it.

The counters around the kitchen sink deserve some counter space, since many items are used all day long. Dish soap, hand soap, and paper towels all belong right next to the sink. Keeping neatly folded dish towels in a small basket near the sink is another option.

Be honest with how often you really use small appliances. Just because you make a panini once a month does not warrant a space on the counter for the Breville. If you make smoothies only on the weekend, do not leave the blender on the counter all week. Store your lesser-used appliances in cabinets and pantry shelves.

Secret #3: Allow Yourself a “Junk Drawer”, but organize it!

The kitchen becomes a dumping ground for nearly everything. Rather than fight it (and lose), allow yourself one “junk drawer”. Caution: do not let it get out of hand. Purchase small drawer organizers to keep like items together.

Frequently used “junk drawer” items ideas:

Stamps
Pens, pencils, rubber bands, paper clips and twist ties
Batteries
Notepads and post-its
Gum, mints, and ChapStik
Scissors and tape
Chargers and earbuds
Loose change
Birthday candles and matches
Small hand tools, nails and screws
Flashlights

And One More Secret: Enough with all the Duplicate Items!

Probably the best advice, and the hardest for people to follow, is to eliminate duplicate items when organizing or unpacking a kitchen. Chances are that you only use one set of silverware, one set of everyday dishes, and the same few drinking glasses daily.

What about items that are used once a year (e.g. only pulled out at Thanksgiving)? Ask yourself if you really use the item...or just used it once and not-so-much anymore. Be ruthless!

Have more than one actively-used set of these items? Consider boxing it up and donating to a good local charity.

Kitchen utensils (e.g. spatulas, old paring knives, corkscrews)
Glassware and coffee mugs.
Tupperware and disposable plastic ware
Pots and pans
Old appliances that have have been replaced (e.g. your old 1980’s crock pot with the flowers on it).

You can Organize your kitchen!!

It's easy to organize your kitchen while you unpack by using these 4 secrets.

What's your favorite kitchen organization tip?

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

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How to Sort like a Pro: Advice from a Professional Organizer

7/7/2018

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Whether you are organizing one room in your house or decluttering a home full of stuff, knowing how to efficiently sort is crucial to your success. Professional Organizers use the tips and tricks on this checklist to help clients, and now I'm sharing those hacks with you.

Ready to learn a professional organizer's tips for Sorting? Read on...

Set yourself up for success

Before starting any organizing or decluttering job, make sure you have all the supplies you need before you get started.
Tools/ Supplies Needed:

Post-it notes (consider the heavy ones) and/or painters tape
Color coded dots (for larger jobs)
Sturdy boxes/Packing materials/Packing tape
Sharpies
Trash Bags (preferably heavy duty)
Sturdy Step Stool
Work gloves

Logistics to Consider:

Work when not hungry or tired
Set small attainable goals
Make work area safe (trip hazards, pets, temperature, pests)
Clean as you go or do regular spot clean-ups

Keep

The first step is to sort your "keepers" into a pile or one area. Keep items that you love and actively use. Items that aren't actively used should be moved into a long term storage area, such as a basement or attic.
Tools/ Supplies Needed:

archival photo boxes and vital document storage
long term storage solutions (like large Rubbermaid bins)
short term storage solutions to sort into

Logistics to Consider:
*available space in actively used items
*temperature variation in for long term solutions
*transporting “keepers” to new location, if applicable

Sell

Don't love it, but you'd like to make a little money from it? Consider selling online or offline.
Tools/Supplies Needed:

Internet connection

Logistics to Consider:

Selling online? Think about packaging and shipping costs for the item.
Consigning locally? Research how to transport items to the shop, the details of the contract, and how unsold items are disposed of.
Safety first! Use caution when meeting strangers and exchanging money.

Donate

Have items that don't need to live with you anymore, but are still in great condition? Give to a local charity.
Tools Needed:

Post-its or colored dots
Bags or sturdy boxes to transport the itmes

Logistics to Consider:

Document, document, document. Itemize your donations if giving a large amount. Check outhow to easily keep track of donations here.
Whenever possible, schedule a pick-up for items at your home.
No pick-ups available? Immediately put the donations in your trunk and drop off on your next round of errands.

Discard

Some things just need to be discarded. If the items can't be sold or donated, its time for the trash/ recycling bin.
Tools Needed:

heavy duty trash bags
floor protections for larger jobs (spills and scrapes)
broom/dustpan and vacuum
recycling bins

Logistics to Consider:

Household hazardous waste disposal
City trash + recycling pick-up and standards
Rental of a dumpster
Bulky item collection

Related Articles
Estate Sales Aren't Always the Answer: Why Estate Clearing Might Better Fit Your Needs
4 Smart Ideas to Sell Your Stuff Offline and 1 Really Dumb One
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5 Tips to Sell Your Stuff Online
with free printable How to Sell Items Online Cheat Sheet

YOU'RE ready to sort like a pro!

Using this checklist, you now have the tools to Keep, Sell, Donate or Discard when you are decluttering and organizing.

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

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Sometimes You Can’t Do it on Your Own: When it’s Time to Throw in the Towel and Hire an Estate Clearing Professional to Help you Finish the Job.

4/16/2018

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Sometimes you can't do it on your own:

WHEN IT’S TIME TO THROW IN THE TOWEL AND HIRE AN ESTATE CLEARING PROFESSIONAL TO HELP YOU FINISH THE JOB.

There are 2 times when families are faced with trying to figure out how to clear out an entire homes’ worth of possessions, usually within a fairly quick time frame.

When a family member moves into senior care, leaving behind nearly 80% of possessions in the house that has been lived in for decades. The Power of Attorney (or similar authority) often takes on the responsibility of getting the remaining home cleared out and ready for market.
After a family member passes away and the estate is ready to be cleared out. The Executor then is charged with emptying the home.

If the Executor / Power of Attorney lives near the home in question, they can easily rally other family members to help with the massive project on nights, weekends, and holidays. This works for families who have the time, willingness, and physical strength to get the job done.

But sometimes that doesn’t work. Sometimes, you can’t do it on your own.

That’s when you need to consider an Estate Clearing Professional to finish the job for you.

Estate Clearing Professionals can step in at any stage and take care of all the details for you.

An experienced Estate Clearing Professional will

Learn how you want all of the items in the house handled, then carry out your wishes for you.
Arrange for appraisers, movers, shredding companies, waste disposal, cleaning companies, city services, and much more.
Suggest local charitable groups to benefit from items your family chooses to donate. You’ll know your items are helping others in need.
Provide you with itemized donations reports, which could save you thousands on your tax returns.

Learn more about estate clearing here.

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

Don’t struggle through getting the house cleared out on your own. Contactan Estate Clearing Professional to help you.

I can help you: I'm an Estate Clearing Pro

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Estate Sales Aren't Always the Answer: Why Estate Clearing Might Better Fit Your Needs

Nobody Want the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When it Happens to You
with free Declutter +Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan

Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
with printable Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap

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5 steps to sell your stuff online (with printable cheat sheet)

4/10/2018

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5 tips to sell your stuff online with printable cheat Estate, Clearing, Cleaning, Out, Professional, Organizer, Deceased, Death, Parents, Mom, Mother, Dad, Father, Family, Service, Sell, Late, House, Home, Prepare, Sale, Hoarding, Help, Stuff, Possessions, Items, Loved One, After, Dispose, Elderly, Need Help, How to, Overwhelming, NAPO, Full Service, Do it Yourself, Family Meeting, Estimate, Evaluation, Charlotte, North Carolina, Free Resources, Executor, Administrator, Power of Attorney sheet

When you are ready to declutter your home and start selling some of your items online, you’ll want to do a little bit of research, have a flexible timeline, and have a basic amount of technical savvy.

Today we are sharing our top 5 tips for selling your stuff online, and as a bonus, we’ve created a free download of How to Sell Your Items Online Cheat Sheet.

Are you Ready to Learn How to Sell Your Stuff Online? Read On.

Just for our readers, we’ve created this nifty How to Sell Your Items Online Cheat Sheet. Download and enjoy!

Step One: Google “How to Sell xxx Online”

The first and easiest way to figure out how to sell your stuff online is to simply Google it.

You want to list your item on the site that has the biggest audience of potential buyers. For instance, if you were selling a set of golf clubs online, Ebay may be the best bet. But if you were selling custom hand-embroidered tea towels, Etsy is where you want to be. Selling antiques and collectibles often is easier on sites dedicated to those items.

The Big Guys: Ebay and Amazon

It will come as no surprise that selling your stuff online on Ebay and Amazon are popular methods.

Both platforms have incredibly large audiences, thereby increasing your chances of selling your item quickly. There are fees associated with using both services, so be sure you are aware of what you are agreeing to before listing your items.

Related Articles:
Nobody Want the Family Heirlooms
With Declutter +Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan
4 Smart Ideas to Sell Your Stuff Offline and 1 Really Dumb One
With How To Sell Items Offline Cheat Sheet
Sometimes You Can’t Do it on Your Own: When it’s Time to Throw in the Towel and Hire an Estate Clearing Professional to Help you Finish the Job.

Lesser Known: Ebid, Bonanza, Etsy, Collectors.com

As mentioned above, Etsy is a great site for selling handmade and craft items online. If you have beads, buttons, fabrics, and vintage items to sell, be sure to give Etsy a look.

Ebid is a site that is similar to Ebay, but doesn’t have the same amount of traffic. If you’re selling on Ebid, you’ll want to market your items elsewhere, too. On the plus side, however, EBid has lower fees than the big guys.

Bonanza is a great option for selling more unique and quirky items. Bonanza has a large audience, has no listing fee, and a low commission percentage compared to Ebay.

Collectors.com is a great option to sell your collectibles online.

Local Options: Craigslist or Facebook Groups

The best thing about selling your stuff online locally is that you pay zero fees for listing and selling.

If you live in an area that has an active Craigslist community, try listing your item there. Photos are key to selling your items. Use common sense and caution when meeting with buyers: only accept cash and meet in public places.

If you live in a community without a lot of Craiglist action, selling your stuff in Facebook Groups is a great option. Find local Facebook groups to list your items and be sure to follow all the rules. You’ll keep all the profits of selling via Facebook

Related Articles:
Estate Sales Aren't Always the Answer: Why Estate Clearing Might Better Fit Your Needs
5 Steps to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter
With Declutter + Downsize Sentimental Items Game Plan
Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
With Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap

Apps to Consider: Letgo, Offerup, Etc.

There are several apps that let you create accounts and list your items for other members to see.

Apps like LetGo, OfferUp, and 5Miles, etc. are certainly options, however, many users complain about spammers, failure to show up to buy, etc. Be sure to read reviews from users before signing up for an app.

You Can Sell Your Stuff Online!

Learning how to sell your items online takes a little bit of research, a flexible timeline, and some technical savvy, but it also can get you the best price. If you are ready to declutter your home and make a little money in the process, try one of our five steps above.

Leave a comment to let us know how your sale went!

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

Related Articles:
Assess the Mess: How to Plan out Downsizing a Home
With Room-by-Room Checklist

Download your free How to Sell Items Online Cheat Sheet here.

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4 smart ideas to sell your stuff offline...and 1 really dumb one (with free printable cheat sheet)

3/5/2018

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Sell Stuff Items Offline Garage Sale Estate Sale Yard Tag Estate Clean Out Clearing Professional Organizer Charlotte NC

Whatever you reasons are for selling offline, we are here to share our 4 smart ideas for selling your stuff offline...and one really dumb one.

There are several reasons why you may choose to sell you stuff offline instead of online.

Maybe you have a huge amount of items to sell and don't want to deal with managing 100's of online sales. Perhaps the items, like furniture and antiques, are difficult to pack and ship. Or maybe the seller isn't comfortable with the technology of selling online.

READY TO LEARN THE 4 SMART IDEAS FOR SELLING YOUR STUFF OFFLINE? READ ON!

We are also sharing our How To Sell Items Offline Cheat Sheet with you today. Just click here to download.

Professional Organizer Charlotte NC Estate Clearing Clean Out

1: Consider COnsignment Shops

Contacting local consignment shops about selling your items is a great option, but there are some drawbacks.

Consignment shops generally are interested in good-condition furniture, antiques, and home décor. Always call the shop before hauling your items there to see if they are accepting new product. Sending pictures ahead of time is highly recommended.

If you enter into a contract with the consignment shop, they will handle the set-up, pricing and (usually) the remnants. You will receive your payment from them anywhere from 90-120 days.

Some drawbacks you may want to consider:

You may have to haul the item to them.
Most shops take a 40-50% commission on the item
You may have to pick items up that don’t sell

Bottom line: Consignment shops are a great option for some of your items, but be sure you understand every aspect of the contract before you sign.

2: Think about Yard or garage sales

If you have a lot of items (of varied quality) to sell, having a yard sale may be right for you. The biggest benefit of a yard sale is that you keep 100% of the profits.

There are a couple key points to having a successful yard sale:

Advertise, advertise, advertise. Get the word out!
Make your sale easy to shop. Organize like items together and display things neatly. No one likes to dig through boxes.

On the downside, yard sales can be a tremendous amount of set-up and tear-down work. Be ready to haggle: negotiating is part of the yard-sale culture. Be sure you have an “exit strategy” to discard or donate items that don’t sell.

Related Articles:
Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When It Happens to You
with free Declutter +Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan
5 Steps to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter
including free printable game plan

3: HOw about an estate sale

If you have an entire house (and garage, attic and/or basement) of things to sell, running your own weekend-long estate sale is an option.

Just like yard sales, it is vitally important to advertise as much as possible. The more traffic you have at your sale, the better your chances of selling things are.

Items should be displayed in an easy-to-shop way and clearly priced. Be ready to help customers haul their purchases out of the house.

Estate sales generally follow a structured price-reduction schedule (e.g. full price Friday and Saturday afternoon, 25% off Saturday night, 50%-75% on Sunday.). Be sure your customers are aware of how your sale is running to avoid problems.

Visit our diy estate sale board

4: Try contacting Jeweler or certified appraiser

Don’t assume jewelry, fine collectibles and gold/silver are fakes or junk! You could literally be throwing money in the garbage.

Research reputable jewelers or certified personal property appraisers in your area and have them review the items. They may be able to connect you with buyers for valuable items.

Any fee you pay to an appraiser is worth saving you the heartache of accidentally throwing away a treasure.

Related Articles:
Assess the Mess: How to Plan out Downsizing a Home
includes free printable checklist
Clutter Puts the Rage in Garage: 6 DIY Steps to Organize Your Garage
with Dream Garage Planner

The dumb idea? pawning your valuables

The one advantage of selling your valuables to a pawn shop is that you get cash quickly. However, you pay for that desperation.

Chances are that an item you sell to a pawn shop will only get you 25% of the item’s value. You are far better off selling your items anywhere else. Don’t let reality TV shows give you the idea that you’ll make a great profit at a pawn shop.

Remember, if you sell your item to a pawn shop, they have the right to sell your item.

You are ready to sell your stuff offline!

Selling your stuff offline can be a great idea if you have a large number of things to sell in a relatively short time frame.

Consigning, yard sales, and estate sales are a fair amount of work for you, but you’ll see cash in-hand fairly quickly.

Be sure to have a reputable jeweler or certified appraiser review items before throwing them out.

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

To help you get started selling your stuff offline, we are sharing this handy cheat sheet. Enjoy, and Happy Selling!

Related Articles:
Nobody Want the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When it Happens to You
with Declutter +Downsize Game Plan

Post-Organizing: Detox + Declutter Your Home After the Holidays

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5 Steps to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter, including Free Printable Game Plan

2/9/2018

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Get Rid Sentimental Clutter Estate Clean Out Charlotte NC Professional Organizer

As Americans continue to live in larger and larger homes, we find ourselves able to store a huge amount of sentimental clutter...and we do not get rid of it. Ever.

As an Estate Clearing Professional and Professional Organizer, I see entire rooms, closets, attics, garages, and even cars overflowing with things people can't get rid of for sentimental reasons. People are using their homes as storage facilities instead of places to actively live their lives.

In this post I'll be sharing some of my professional tips to help you get rid of some (but not all) of your sentimental clutter.

To help get you ready to declutter and downsize your sentimental items, I've created this free download. Enjoy!

Ready to get rid of some of your sentimental clutter? Keep Reading…

#1 Mentally Prepare

The first step in getting rid of your sentimental clutter is to mentally prepare yourself.
Take some time to think about why you are holding on to so many sentimental items. Is it because you truly treasure the item? Or does the item remind you of a person?

Remember, a thing is just a thing, not a person. Don't let your love for a Grandfather morph into love of a thing that reminds you of that him.

Ask yourself some questions as you go through items

Does it make me feel happy? Keeping mementos of sad times or events doesn't make your life better. Let it go.
Does my family expect me to keep this? Family expectations can be difficult to manage. Have you become the Keeper of all Historical Photos Since the Beginning of Time, but no one can identify any of the people in those pictures? Let them go.
Is keeping it a joy or a burden? Are you excited that you have this item? Or is it more like “I guess I should keep this”? Let it go.

Give yourself permission to get rid of items that cause, sadness, guilt, burden or zero emotion.

If you decide to let the item go, that is your choice: you do not need to announce it to your family. Just let it go.

Related articles:
Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When It Happens to You
with free Declutter +Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan
Sometimes You Can’t Do it on Your Own: When it’s Time to Throw in the Towel and Hire an Estate Clearing Professional to Help you Finish the Job.

Help Organize Your Aging Parents (While They are Young + Healthy)
with free printable: Two Easy-ish Conversations to Have with Your Aging Parents
Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
with free Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap

#2 Start Small: Get a success or 2 under your belt

Kick off your efforts with small projects like greeting cards or souvenir plastic cups. Do you really need to keep a card with a hastily scrawled signature? How many plastic souvenir cups do you actually use? Getting a taste of success, no matter how small, inspires you to keep getting successes.

Taken care of all the easy little things? Then move on to a little bigger (but not huge) project. Try clearing out your t-shirt drawers of all the shirts you don’t really wear, you just keep because of the sentimental memories.

How about all your old college textbooks, student directories, and papers? You may want to keep the directory, just to see the old photos, but you should be able to feel confident about donating or recycling all the books and papers. I guarantee you are not going to need your essay on post-modern theory in 19th century American literature ever again.

Remember, you don’t need to get rid of ALL your sentimental items. Just weed out the clutter so you have room for the things that truly mean something to you.

Want to work together?

#3 Keep the Best, Lose the Rest

Be choosy about what you let take up space in your home. You do not have to keep every single item in a collection. Keep the best 1-2 items, and let the rest go.

Having a tough time letting the collection go? Photograph the items!

What if you DO have enough room in your house to store all your sentimental clutter? There is still space in the attic! You can shove one more box underneath the stairs? Skip right on to Step #5!

#4 Intentionally Use It One Last time

If you’re struggling with getting rid of a sentimental item, consider giving it a “soft goodbye”.

Let’s say you’ve weeded out 20 old sports or concert t-shirts that you don’t need anymore, but can’t bear to discard or donate. Using the “soft goodbye”, allow yourself to wear it one last time and then instead of washing it, put it into the Goodwill bag. This lets you ease out of owning it without a blunt end.

Related Articles:
Mom, We Have to Talk: 5 Ways to Discuss Downsizing with your Aging Parents
with free Discussion Cheat Sheet
Assess the Mess: How to Plan Out Downsizing a Home
includes free Room-by-Room Checklist
4 Smart Ideas for Selling Your Stuff Offline...and 1 Really Dumb One
with free cheat sheet

#5 Display, Use or Honor what you keep

Think about it: are you treating your sentimental items like you care about them? Or are they boxed up and shoved in the attic, basement, or back of the guest room closet, creating clutter?? If you care about something enough to keep it, shouldn’t you give it the respect it deserves?

Have tons of photos? Scan them in and set them as a slideshow on your computer. How fun is it to randomly see your 8th grade graduation photo? Put them in a pretty bowl on your coffee table for guests and family to look through and change the pictures out every couple of months.

Honor items that truly have a place in your heart by displaying them in your home. Have a ceramic bowl you made in art class in 3rd grade? Pull it out of storage and use it as a change bowl. Keeping you child's baby blanket they came home from the hospital in? Cut it into dish towels so you can use and enjoy seeing it everyday!

YOu are ready to get rid of (some, but not all) of your sentimental clutter.

The keys to successfully getting rid of your sentimental clutter are mentally preparing, breaking the project down into small steps, and giving yourself permission to let things go. Think about the things you allow to take up space in your home and display or honor things that truly mean something to you.

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

To get you started on your decluttering journey, we're sharing this Declutter + Downsize Sentimental Items Game Plan. Enjoy...and Good Luck!

Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When It Happens to You
with free Declutter +Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan
Help Organize Your Aging Parents (While They are Young + Healthy)
with free printable: Two Easy-ish Conversations to Have with Your Aging Parents
Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
with free Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap
Mom, We Have to Talk: 5 Ways to Discuss Downsizing with your Aging Parents
with free Discussion Cheat Sheet
Assess the Mess: How to Plan Out Downsizing a Home
includes free Room-by-Room Checklist

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NObody Wants the family heirlooms: what to do when it happens to you.

1/2/2018

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Nobody Wants family Heirlooms Declutter Downsize

When nobody wants the family heirlooms anymore, what can you do?

As more and more of the US population ages, downsizes, and passes away there is a tremendous amount of STUFF flooding the market. Younger generations are faced with inheriting a sizable amount of family heirlooms, but their homes are already full. It seems nobody wants the family heirlooms anymore. So what can you do when it happens to you?

In this article, we'll discuss some options for what to do with the family heirlooms when nobody wants them. As a bonus for readers, we are sharing this free printable Declutter + Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan.

Click here to download the Declutter + Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan.

Want to learn what to do when nobody wants the family heirlooms? Keep Reading.

#1 Manage Family Expectations

Perhaps the toughest thing to deal with is managing expectations about family heirlooms. Items that have been in the family for decades are automatically passed down to the next generation...whether they like it or not.

Obviously, there are many family heirlooms that are truly treasured and gratefully accepted. However, there are also heirlooms that younger generations accept out of a sense of duty, guilt, or without even being asked if they want.

Burden vs. Joy
If you're soon-to-be-inheriting, carefully consider what you honestly want to accept. Accepting a family heirloom should be a joy, not a burden to carry. If you do not have the space for the item, respectfully decline to take it. If the item causes you emotional or financial distress, don't take it. Think of it this way: would your grandmother want you to have to pay for a storage unit so you can keep her dining room table?

The Guilt
Often times, it is guilt that forces us to take things we really don't want. Human beings have the tendency to merge their emotions for a person into the THINGS that person owned. But remember: it is just a THING, not a person. Your love for your great aunt isn't lessened because you don't want her silver tea set. You still love her...you just don't love tea sets.

Things Nobody Ever Wants
There are things that get held onto and passed down that nobody ever wants. Letters written in anger, racist antiques, and ashes of the deceased top the list. If an heirloom makes you feel sad, ashamed, or unjustly burdened, give yourself permission to get rid of it. The things that live in your house should make you feel happy.

Tacky and outdated collections are another thing nobody ever wants. Consider selling or donating items you know you will never even take out of the box.

#2 Intentionally Use It One Last Time

If you have family heirlooms in your home, consider different options for using them. For instance, if you inherited gold rimmed wine glasses, think about using them for your everyday glasses. Sure, the gold will wear off, but if nobody wants to take the glasses in the future, isn't it better to get some use out of them?

Another idea is to frame the heirloom and display it in your house. Baptismal gowns, old letters and recipes, photographs, and military awards all lend themselves to display in shadowboxes. Have items professionally framed to preserve them.

Perhaps one of the best ideas I've come across is giving the item a "Victory Lap". Let's say you've inherited the family wedding china...which has been packed away and sitting in your attic since you got it. Using the Victory Lap concept, you would make an event out of using it one last time.

Unpack the china and set your table with it. Invite as many family members as you can for dinner to use the china, even if it's just takeout pizza. During dinner, reminisce about the family member that owned the china and take lots of photographs. Offer each family member a place setting to take home. Pack up and donate the remaining pieces to charity. Be sure to share the photos with your family.

Nobody wants family heirlooms downsize declutter home

#3 Cut Down Collection Size

If you've inherited a large collection that you do not want or have the space for, think about cutting it down. For instance, if you've come into a large collection of Depression glass, choose 1 or 2 meaningful pieces and sell or donate the rest.

If it is a collection you'll never use or display, give yourself permission to let it go. You may feel guilty for selling or donating am family heirloom collection that a grandparent spent years building, but remember: theses are just THINGS, not a person. You still love your grandparent even if you donated their Depression glass collection.

Struggling? I can do it for you.

#4 Donate to a Worthy Cause

Consider the historical significance of family heirlooms or collections and donate items where they will be treasured. For example, wartime memorabilia may be appreciated by the local VFW post. Old sports trophies and yearbooks may be of interest to the local high school. Research local historical societies, museums, universities, and service organizations. Things that nobody in your family wants may be welcomed elsewhere.

#5 Sell Valuables

When selling antiques and family heirlooms, it is important to do your research. Sometimes a simple online search will give you a rough idea whether an items holds any financial value or not.

The best advice is to consult with a reputable certified appraiser. Having a professional appraiser look at your items is worth the reasonable fee they charge. Professionals can keep you from throwing away things your thought were fakes (such as jewelry) and give you an idea of what an item may be worth.

If selling items yourself, use extreme caution. Be sure to only accept cash from buyers, meet at a safe public location, and have another person with you. You can never be too careful.

Related Articles:

Now you have a game plan

When nobody wants the family heirlooms, it can be difficult to figure out what to do. You have several options, from saying "no" to taking the items to selling the items. Weigh your options carefully and make the decision that works best for you, your family, and your circumstance.

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

Grab a free game plan here!

Download our free declutter + downsize FAMILY HEIRLOOMS game plan here.

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Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions

11/14/2017

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Downsizing your home can be a tough emotional road.

When you decide that you’re ready to downsize your family home, you’ll need to mentally prepare for the emotions that will bubble up. You’ll be faced with boxes of memories, souvenirs, and heirlooms. It’s not the stuff in the house that brings up all the emotions: it’s the stories attached to the stuff. Clearing out a home for a downsizing or after the death of a loved one is a rite of passage.

In this post, I’ll be sharing the 4 tips for controlling your emotions before, during and after you downsize your home. As a bonus for my subscribers, I’m sharing this Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap.

Get mentally prepared: let’s talk about the emotional impact of downsizing your home. Keep Reading.

#1 You’re Going to Feel Guilty, but let it go

First things first: just accept the fact that you are going to feel guilty about downsizing your home. It is totally normal to feel guilty about letting things go. A lot of times, this is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome when downsizing.

Whether you put the guilt on yourself or somebody else is guilt-tripping you, it still feels pretty rotten, right?

Some common guilt-isms:

My Mom (or whoever) gave this to me, so I have to keep it.
It was expensive, so I should get my money's worth.
It doesn't fit anymore, but one day it might.

Remember, WHEN THE GUILT SETS IN IT IS OK TO LET IT GO. Giving yourself permission to get rid of the guilt is liberating, y'all.

#2 You’re Going to Feel Wasteful: you are not.

Many of our parents were the children of Depression-era parents, so they grew up with the "I might need it someday" mindset. As a Professional Organizer, I see people save things "they might need" in literally 100% of the homes I work in. (Note: I'm including myself in this category. For me it's gift bags.)

It was/is considered wasteful to throw things out for ANY reason. Broken appliance? It can be fixed. Leftover Cool Whip containers? Save them to store leftovers. Whole mess of gift bags after a birthday? Save them and re-use. (See...I told you).

And let's not even get started on too small/slightly damaged clothes. Oy vey.

What I'm saying is IT ISN'T WASTEFUL TO LET SOMETHING GO IF YOU FIND A GOOD HOME FOR IT. Let someone else benefit from the things you don't use or need.

Recycle and re-use things. But think about when it makes more sense to let it go.
Save hand-me-down clothing for a friend or neighbor. And then get it out of your house. Those size 4 jeans you'll never fit in again could make a difference in someone else's life.
Call a homeless shelter or a battered women's shelter or an animal shelter or a food bank and ask what they need. Chances are you have things in your house right now that could be doing good for others.

Related articles:
Mom, We Have to Talk: 5 Ways to Discuss Downsizing with Your Aging Parents
With free Discussion Cheat Sheet
Assess the Mess: How to Plan Out Downsizing Your Home
With free Room-by-Room Checklist
Help Organize Your Aging Parents (While They are Still Young and Healthy)
With free Conversation Guide

#3 You’re Going to Feel Cold-Hearted, but remember you're still a good person

This is where your heart is going to get you in trouble. People transfer their love for a person into an object they associate with that person. It's science, y'all.
But think about it: you are letting go of a THING, not your love for the person who gave it to you.

Just because I donated the encyclopedia set that I got from my Grandmother to Goodwill, it does not mean I don't love my Grandma. I kept one of the books and let the rest go. And I still think about my Grandma every day when I see that one encyclopedia volume on my office shelves. Win-win.

Same goes with emotional souvenirs from our youth. You don't need to keep every t-shirt from every sports team and vacation and event you went to. Those are THINGS. You will still have the memories even if you don't have bins of yellow t-shirts in the attic.

Helpful tip: if you struggle to let sentimental items go, keep one or two, then photograph the rest and put the pictures in an album.

Remember, you want to separate the object from the person when you are downsizing your house.

Lets work together on this

#4 You’re Going to Feel Angry, which is super normal

At some point during the downsizing process, you're going to get mad. Like, ready-to-scream-mad.

Mad at yourself. Why didn't I start downsizing sooner? Why did I waste my money on this? I'm such an awful person for being mad (#guilt).

Mad at your parents. Why did they leave all this for me to deal with? What in the Hell were they thinking?

Mad at your spouse, siblings and/or kids. Why aren't they pulling their weight in helping me? Why am I doing all this?

IT IS COMPLETELY NORMAL TO FEEL ANGER. Moving (including downsizing) is one of the most stressful things you can do. It is normal and healthy to feel upset. Accept that anger is going to be a part of the process and make a plan in advance for how to handle it.

Related article:
Clutter Puts the Rage in Garage: 6 Steps to DIY the Garage of Your Dreams.
With free Garage Organization Planner.
4 Smart Ideas for Selling Your Stuff Offline...and 1 Really Dumb One

#5 BUT EVENTUALLY, You’re Going to Feel So Much Lighter

After all the guilt and the anger, you will eventually feel so much better. Even if you aren't planning on leaving this Earth anytime soon, downsizing your own home will remove an albatross from around your neck. It's like the weight of the world being removed.

Downsizing makes your feel happier because you know that you've lessened the burden on your family in the future.

Downsizing your home makes you proud because you've helped others in your community by donating things you don't need or use.

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

YOu are mentally prepared to downsize your home.

You know that in addition to being a tough task physically, downsizing your home is emotionally taxing. You now have your head in the game and know what to expect when it comes to the feelings you'll have.

To help you on your journey, I've created this Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap just for you! Feel free to download it now.

What emotions have you experienced when moving or downsizing? Leave me a note in the comments section!

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​IT'S TIME! YOU'RE READY TO

ORGANIZE YOUR HOME +​YOUR LIFE

1. You're struggling to keep up with the maintenance and necessary repairs

2. You're planning on retiring soon and live far from family

3. You feel overwhelmed with all of your "stuff"

4. You feel "house poor" and sacrifice dreams because of it

Here are 9 home staging ideas to sell your house quickly...

Living Room

Master bEDROOM

KITCHEN

Ready, set, Stage!

Ready to learn the Kitchen Organizing Tips that will amaze you? Read on...

​Secret #1: Organize Your Kitchen Into Work Zones

Secret #2: The Countertop is Prime Real Estate

​Secret #3: Allow Yourself a “Junk Drawer”, but organize it!

And One More Secret: Enough with all the Duplicate Items!

You can Organize your kitchen!!

Ready to learn a professional organizer's tips for Sorting? Read on...

Set yourself up for success

Keep

Sell

Donate

Discard

YOU'RE ready to sort like a pro!

Sometimes you can't do it on your own:

WHEN IT’S TIME TO THROW IN THE TOWEL AND HIRE AN ESTATE CLEARING PROFESSIONAL TO HELP YOU FINISH THE JOB.

Estate Clearing Professionals can step in at any stage and take care of all the details for you. ​

Are you Ready to Learn How to Sell Your Stuff Online? Read On.

​Step One: Google “How to Sell xxx Online”

The Big Guys: Ebay and Amazon ​

Lesser Known: Ebid, Bonanza, Etsy, Collectors.com ​

Local Options: Craigslist or Facebook Groups

Apps to Consider: Letgo, Offerup, Etc. ​

You Can Sell Your Stuff Online!

READY TO LEARN THE 4 SMART IDEAS FOR SELLING YOUR STUFF OFFLINE? READ ON!

1: Consider COnsignment Shops

2: Think about Yard or garage sales

3: HOw about an estate sale

4: Try contacting Jeweler or certified appraiser

The dumb idea? pawning your valuables

You are ready to sell your stuff offline!

Ready to get rid of some of your sentimental clutter? Keep Reading…

#1 Mentally Prepare ​

#2 Start Small: Get a success or 2 under your belt ​

#3 Keep the Best, Lose the Rest ​

#4 Intentionally Use It One Last time ​

#5 Display, Use or Honor what you keep ​

YOu are ready to get rid of (some, but not all) of your sentimental clutter.

Related Articles

Want to learn what to do when nobody wants the family heirlooms? Keep Reading.

#1 Manage Family Expectations ​

#2 Intentionally Use It One Last Time ​

#3 Cut Down Collection Size ​

#4 Donate to a Worthy Cause ​

#5 Sell Valuables ​

Now you have a game plan

Grab a free game plan here!

Downsizing your home can be a tough emotional road.

​Get mentally prepared: let’s talk about the emotional impact of downsizing your home. Keep Reading.

#1 You’re Going to Feel Guilty, but let it go ​

#2 You’re Going to Feel Wasteful: you are not. ​

#3 You’re Going to Feel Cold-Hearted, but remember you're still a good person ​

#4 You’re Going to Feel Angry, which is super normal ​

#5 BUT EVENTUALLY, You’re Going to Feel So Much Lighter ​

YOu are mentally prepared to downsize your home.

Hey There!​I'm Candi.

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IT'S TIME! YOU'RE READY TO

ORGANIZE YOUR HOME +
YOUR LIFE

Secret #1: Organize Your Kitchen Into Work Zones

Secret #3: Allow Yourself a “Junk Drawer”, but organize it!

Estate Clearing Professionals can step in at any stage and take care of all the details for you.

Step One: Google “How to Sell xxx Online”

The Big Guys: Ebay and Amazon

Lesser Known: Ebid, Bonanza, Etsy, Collectors.com

Apps to Consider: Letgo, Offerup, Etc.

#1 Mentally Prepare

#2 Start Small: Get a success or 2 under your belt

#3 Keep the Best, Lose the Rest

#4 Intentionally Use It One Last time

#5 Display, Use or Honor what you keep

#1 Manage Family Expectations

#2 Intentionally Use It One Last Time

#3 Cut Down Collection Size

#4 Donate to a Worthy Cause

#5 Sell Valuables

Get mentally prepared: let’s talk about the emotional impact of downsizing your home. Keep Reading.

#1 You’re Going to Feel Guilty, but let it go

#2 You’re Going to Feel Wasteful: you are not.

#3 You’re Going to Feel Cold-Hearted, but remember you're still a good person

#4 You’re Going to Feel Angry, which is super normal

#5 BUT EVENTUALLY, You’re Going to Feel So Much Lighter

Hey There!
I'm Candi.

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Support