February is a great time to get organized.  The holidays are over, but we are all still somewhat housebound.   It’s the perfect time to get the house/closets/garage/basement/attic cleaned out.

Let’s get started!

1. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.  One room at a time

It can be overwhelming to think about cleaning out your entire house.  Start with a drawer – that drawer in the kitchen where everyone in your house throws everything.  One drawer and cabinet at a time.  Build up to an entire room.  You. Can. Do. This.

2. Donate unwanted stuff

Things the kids have outgrown, clothes you don’t wear anymore, old computers, iPhones, books.  Garages, basements and attics have a way of accumulating stuff that is no longer needed.  Take a day and go through it and purge.  How about your closet?  Do you have clothes you have not worn in a few years? (decades?)  Maybe you can’t/won’t/shouldn’t wear it anymore.  Donate it or consign it and give it a new life.  (Then go buy yourself something fun!)

3. Ebay, auction house or yard sale

Have things that may be sale-able?  eBay, Craig’s List, your local listserv, local auction houses or a yard sale are all good options.  Need recommendations?  Contact us here.

4.  And those boxes of photos…

Most of us have boxes of old photos from before the digital camera age.  It is really tough to part with photos.  One option is to divide them into groups – some to keep for yourself, and others to give to your kids and grandkids.  Maybe put your favorites in albums.  There are also companies that will scan and digitize old photos.  It is a better way of preserving the pictures, and takes up less space.

5. Organize Shelves

Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.  Take everything out of disorganized cabinets or bookshelves, wipe down the shelves, and only put back what really belongs there and what you really use and love to look at.

6. Deep clean

Clean areas that may be overlooked like high shelves, tops of cabinets, kitchen drawers, ceiling fans, air conditioning/heating vents.

 7.  Rearrange

Tired of the layout in your living room or bedrooms? Change the furniture around to add flow and a fresh look to your home.  My personal favorite is a fresh coat of paint.  It does wonders!

8. Address Deferred Maintenance

Have a minor fix that you haven’t gotten around to correcting yet? Maybe it’s the burnt-out lightbulb in your bathroom or squeaky door to your closet.  Change the filter in your furnace.  Make those tiny repairs now and your home will start to feel new again.

 9. Refresh your front entrance

If you have planters in front of your home, fill them with seasonal plants.  Get rid of any nasty old welcome mat that is probably doing more harm than good at this point.  Does your front door need a fresh coat of paint?  How about new hardware?  Both make a huge difference in your curb appeal.

Decluttering Works Well During Home Staging, Too

These home organization tips can work wonders when you sell your home, since the foundation of home staging includes decluttering and cleaning to give buyers the best first impression. If you are considering selling your Great Falls or McLean home, we can recommend other home staging tips and resources to help you sell your home quickly and for top dollar.

If you need recommendations for local organizers, estate sale companies, auction houses, photo digitizers, painters or handymen, we’d be happy to share our favorite vendors.  Contact Jennifer or Ginny at info@yourHBHomes.com

Other posts that might interest you:  Paint Colors We Love for Selling and Living