When decluttering your home, there are four ways you can get rid of items you no longer need.
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Today I want to give you some ideas on how to declutter by selling, donating, recycling, or disposing of your unwanted items. We all have items in our home that we no longer want. Perhaps it’s a consequence of living in a society where speed and efficiency are of the essence. Everything has to be quick so we can try and grab some relaxing time. This is perhaps why the trend of decluttering has become so popular—it’s a response to the acknowledgment that we tend to own too many things. Decluttering is good for both you and your home for a variety of reasons, but the foremost is that it gives you the chance to use everything you own. There’s no point worrying about storage for items you have no use for, so getting rid of them gives you access to more room in your house for the things you actually will use. However, this isn’t just another blog post about how to declutter your home. Instead, we’re going to focus on what happens with the “not needed” pile that you have decided can exit your home. What can you do with these things? You have four options: 1. Sell. For the items that are still in a usable condition but also just a surplus to your requirements, you can sell them. There are a variety of different ways to sell, but here are a few ideas:
- Use auction websites like eBay. Clear photographs and a well-written description will catch people’s eye, so spend time creating your listing where necessary. The more effort you put in, the more likely you’ll find a buyer.
- Consignment stores. If you don’t want to go through auction websites, these stores sell items on your behalf and then give you a cut of the profit, usually at a 50:50 ratio. You might not get as much, but it’s still easier than selling yourself.
- Sell items on social media sites like Facebook. Join local groups and explain what you have to offer—there are lots of options for hosting a virtual stoop sale!
- Hold a garage sale
It’s always worth spending the time thinking about these things, as it helps to clarify the way you organize your life from this point on.
2. Donate. Some people have the wrong impression of what donations actually entail. They round up all of their unwanted items, dump it at the door of a charity shop, and tell themselves they have done their part. If you want to donate, then it’s important you avoid this.
Charities want these items, but they need to be usable items. This means you need to wash any clothes you donate and make sure anything you hand over is fit for purpose. What you give away will hopefully be sold at a profit to the charity. Donate items that have a real second-hand value and find another method of disposal (such as listed below) for everything else.
3. Recycle. If you no longer use an item, it might still have a use in some capacity. Recycling items into separate containers and finding somewhere to take them can be time-consuming. If you’re as pressed for time as most of us are, then consider using a home organizer for the project. Be thorough if you have small amounts that you can sort through yourself. Clothes can be recycled or reused. As for furniture, it’s worth a cheap online ad to see if there’s anyone who is interested in buying it.
4. Repurpose. For example, if you have an old set of shelves that no longer works with your decor, rather than removing them from your home, you could find a new purpose for them. Perhaps you could move them into the garden to hold pots of plants or be chopped down to create wall shelving? Finding ways to repurpose old items is a trend, often referred to as “upcycling.” You’ll have to dedicate the time, but you could give a new lease of life to an item otherwise destined for a landfill.
Hopefully, by following one of the above options, you will find a solution that works for you. It’s always worth spending the time thinking about these things, as it helps to clarify the way you organize your life from this point on. Unless you want to have to run through these decisions again in a few months’ time, perhaps it will be worth focusing on what you bring into your home and make sure it’s something you really need!
If you are going to start the process of selling things online, I have several ideas for websites that you might want to consider, so do not hesitate to email and ask about a specific need. If you’re thinking of buying a home, we have a team of qualified, experienced listing partners and buyers specialists who are ready to work with you to make your transaction a positive experience.
If you have any real estate needs or questions, feel free to give us a call today at 717-695-3177, email us at info@joydaniels.com or you can visit us online at www.joydaniels.com.
Charities want these items, but they need to be usable items. This means you need to wash any clothes you donate and make sure anything you hand over is fit for purpose. What you give away will hopefully be sold at a profit to the charity. Donate items that have a real second-hand value and find another method of disposal (such as listed below) for everything else.
3. Recycle. If you no longer use an item, it might still have a use in some capacity. Recycling items into separate containers and finding somewhere to take them can be time-consuming. If you’re as pressed for time as most of us are, then consider using a home organizer for the project. Be thorough if you have small amounts that you can sort through yourself. Clothes can be recycled or reused. As for furniture, it’s worth a cheap online ad to see if there’s anyone who is interested in buying it.
4. Repurpose. For example, if you have an old set of shelves that no longer works with your decor, rather than removing them from your home, you could find a new purpose for them. Perhaps you could move them into the garden to hold pots of plants or be chopped down to create wall shelving? Finding ways to repurpose old items is a trend, often referred to as “upcycling.” You’ll have to dedicate the time, but you could give a new lease of life to an item otherwise destined for a landfill.
Hopefully, by following one of the above options, you will find a solution that works for you. It’s always worth spending the time thinking about these things, as it helps to clarify the way you organize your life from this point on. Unless you want to have to run through these decisions again in a few months’ time, perhaps it will be worth focusing on what you bring into your home and make sure it’s something you really need!
If you are going to start the process of selling things online, I have several ideas for websites that you might want to consider, so do not hesitate to email and ask about a specific need. If you’re thinking of buying a home, we have a team of qualified, experienced listing partners and buyers specialists who are ready to work with you to make your transaction a positive experience.
If you have any real estate needs or questions, feel free to give us a call today at 717-695-3177, email us at info@joydaniels.com or you can visit us online at www.joydaniels.com.
