Fall Cleaning - Getting Rid of "Stuff"

September 8, 2011


As someone who has managed the selling of parents' homes and as a real estate agent has watched folks sort through the accumulation of "stuff", I know that it is difficult to decide what to keep and what to let go of.


Choosing how to dispose of your "stuff" is also a big decision. Do you hold a garage sale? Do you put it on Craigslist? Do you put it in the local Green Sheet?


Do you call a family gathering and have a "give-away" party?


Sorting and cleaning on an annual basis can alleviate some of the stress of a major all-at-once disposal.


Folks who move frequently are more into the "don't save" mode. However, folks who have remained in the same home for 20 years or more have more of a challenge.


In a way, sorting and cleaning and disposing is like solving a puzzle. This pile goes to charity. This pile goes to the junkyard. This pile goes to hazardous waste. This pile is for the family to sort.


It can be useful to have a reseller or appraiser check out some of your "stuff". They can let you know approximate values so you don't dispose of "stuff" that could be sold.


Sooner or later the sorting will need to be done. Why not begin this fall?