It’s rare to find someone who doesn’t struggle with downsizing things in their home. For many people, it can be a stressful event, which it’s not supposed to be the case. However, the minimalist approach always seems the best solution when you live in or move to a smaller home. Regardless of whether you live in a small or large home, at one point in time, you’ll need to declutter your space and make the tough decision on whether to keep, donate or sell your old items. If you’re currently in this dilemma, this guide is for you.

Picture Yourself as a First Time Visitor 

If you look at your home with the eyes of a visitor, then the first impression it gives you will help you decide on the changes you need to make in your home. Visitors are never biased on what they see, and they will give their honest opinion on the same. Therefore, if you’re having a hard time doing this, try and visualize yourself as a first-time visitor. Then, with a clear visual presentation in mind, you can set up a checklist of clutter items vs. what has emotional value in your home.

Set a Timeline

A timeline is essential to help you focus and prioritize when planning anything in life. For example, if your bedroom is the most cluttered, you should pick a day and a set time to do a thorough cleanup and sort out everything in your closet. Concentrating on one room at a time makes the whole process easier, less tedious, and undivided attention until the entire process is done. 

Get Help If Need Be

At times, deciding what to keep or sell is not as easy as it sounds. In most cases, it’s easier if you’ve already outgrown the things in question, especially clothes or old gadgets. However, if it’s been long before you sort out the items in your home, getting people close to you to help you through all these items will be necessary. Helping you out streamlines the process since they are not attached to things, and they’ll give an honest opinion. 

Alternatively, you can hire a junk removal service to help you make these choices. Unlike your family and friends, these professionals are likely first-time visitors to your home. Therefore, they give you all the facts without being biased and help you clean out your space seamlessly within no time. Additionally, a good professional will be understanding if an object has sentimental value for you. 

Are the Items of Sentimental Value?

You may be holding onto something because you may have received them from someone special, or they symbolize an unforgettable event in your life. In such scenarios, your emotional attachment to the item will be too strong to let it go, but would you pass the same thing on to your loved one when you think about it critically? 

Using a sorting system such as the Four-Container Method may help you sort out the items much faster. However, if it’s still hard to determine what you should keep and what you should sell, ask your family members if they want the items in question. Don’t assume they will want to inherit them. Alternatively, do your research online or contact a dealer who will offer free advice on the item in question, especially when dealing with antiques. They will advise you on whether a resale of the item in question is a worthy bargain instead of keeping it. It will not be too hard to know what to keep or sell if you’re candid with yourself. 

Set Realistic Expectations to the Resale Items 

Everyone appreciates the value of something if it’s been well-kept and packaged, however old it looks. However, keep in mind that tastes and preferences change over time. Therefore, you wouldn’t expect the items to sell at the original price that you paid for them. 

For example, if you’re a car enthusiast, I’m sure you’ve spotted an old Mercedes Benz on the road. It does not lose its stature despite the number of years it’s been on the road, as long as it’s been well-maintained; however, its resale value will not be the same. This principle also applies to items in your home, especially antiques. Any knowledgeable buyer will notice the fine details, but you must set a fair market value if you need them sold faster. In the long run, ask yourself if you’d rather sell the item despite the emotional attachment you have to it or keep it. 

Set Rules

Clearing things that you do not need in your home is not a serious affair, but we agree that doing it can be tedious. Also, these skills don’t come naturally to everyone, but we agree that we all love an organized home. Therefore, setting some ground rules would undoubtedly help you maintain that clutter-free home to the style you and your family want. 

Don’t take too long before checking every room to declutter quickly. For example, doing this at the end of every quarter will surely save you an extensive and draining declutter process and keep you accountable whenever you want to add anything to your space. 

It’s incredible how fast things can accumulate in your home without you noticing. However, we need to be intentional about what we allow into our space. Also, a clutter-free home equates to a stress-free home. Sure, it can be tricky getting rid of items in your home, especially antiques, but with these tips, I’m sure you now have a clear idea of how to decide what you’ll keep or sell, regardless of the item in question. Don’t be in a rush, especially if you’re doing this for the first time. Take your time and take advantage of some possible money makers just sitting around your home.

Declutter The Budget

Don’t forget that your budget can use decluttering every now and then too. Use CalendarBudget to identify those areas that you tend to overspend on or areas that aren’t getting enough attention to make space for the future you want. Use your categories to decide what you need to be more frugal on and where you can save more money to pay down debt faster or increase your savings. As you make your financial plans for your future on CalendarBudget’s calendar layout, take the time to notice how today’s purchases will affect your financial goals. Much like decluttering your house, sometimes you’ll meet with some tough decisions that are well worth the choice to see your goals come to life. For those really tough decisions, remember to reach out to your financial advisor to take the best actions for the best results.

Veronica Baxter, Legal Assistant and Blogger

Guest Post: About the Author

Roni Davis is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area.