10 Tips On How To Purge Like A PRO Before Selling Your Home

 Tanya LaRose  0comments  03.05.2021

1. Create A Plan Of Attack – Before beginning the physical purge of items in your home, write down a list of every room in your home. Consider the items in each room and what needs to be done to them to create more space by then noting bullet points check off. For example, you will need to go through all the cabinets in the kitchen, closets or vanities in the bedrooms, and shelves in the garage.
2. Piles On Piles – It has taken many years to accumulate all of your belongings so you will have to be very organized to sort through them in a day or so. The first step is to start with the smaller items of your home like clothing and accessories. Create three piles on the floor: a “YES” pile, a “NO” pile, a “MAYBE” pile, and a “DONATE” pile. Set aside an afternoon to focus all your time and energy into rapidly distributing all your personal belongings into one of these piles.
3. Phantom Needs – Often times when we are torn between whether an item is a “YES” or “NO” we are thinking “well, what if this happens, then I will need it”. The truth is, if you have not used the item in a year or more you probably do not need it and that fictional scenario you have created in your head will never happen. Throw it in the “NO” pile!
4. Emotional Needs – Another reason an item might end up in the “MAYBE” pile is that somehow you have developed an emotional attachment to it. Dive deeper into that item and ask yourself if it is a positive emotional attachment or a negative emotional attachment. If it is positive, set it aside for storage. If it is negative, throw it in the “NO” pile – it is time to purge emotional baggage too!
5. Recycle, Re-Use, Re-Purpose – Almost anything that ends up in the “NO” and “MAYBE” pile has the potential to be of value to someone else. Research different second-hand resources in your community and decide which ones you would like to support with your “DONATE” pile. For example, https://www.crystalsgift.ca/home/ accepts gently used household items to help vulnerable single mothers in need. While https://habitat.ca/en/restore accepts anything from doorknobs to old cabinets which not only helps those with housing needs in the community, but it also helps reduce waste. Almost all communities have a homeless shelter which can be your source for taking clothing and more personal belongings. Donations help make our world a better place!
6. Tackle The Trinkets – While we want to do our part in giving back to the community, we realize that financial needs are real as well and that some items have to be sold to recoup certain expenditures. You can post those items on popular marketplace websites or host a garage sale, depending on what you have the capability of doing.
7. Storage Boxes – If your “YES” pile has items that do not improve the appearance of your décor, grab some storage boxes (recyclable, if possible!) and put them away in your storage room. If your home does not have a storage room, you can stack these boxes in the garage or shed.
8. Large Furniture Items – Sometimes we outgrow furniture, or it outgrows us (like when the kids head off to college). Regardless of the circumstances, this is a great time to take inventory of your furniture. Does it serve a purpose? Is it functional? Does it flow with the rest of your furniture? Forget the piles here, stamp each piece of furniture with a Post-It sticky note that says “STORAGE” or “DONATE”. Having difficulty deciding on furniture? Contact an interior designer for an in-home consult, they can also advise on staging the furniture you keep.
9. Storage Lockers – Now for that couch that has your body shape outlined into it from countless Saturday afternoon naps, it may not be aesthetically pleasing anymore but you are taking it to your new home, you will want to arrange for it to be transferred to a storage unit. You can add any other larger items from your home as well that do not show well in terms of attractive décor.
10. Take Out The Trash – Finally for those items that are irreparably damaged, ensure you dispose of them in the appropriate category. Metals, plastics, and soiled trash are just a few aspects to consider.