Managing Your Belongings: A Systematic Approach

A systematic approach to dealing with all the things your family has accumulated over the years simplifies the work, helps you get ready to sell faster and makes moving much easier.

 
When it’s time to put your belongings in order, you’ll find the work easier if you approach it systematically. Here are some guidelines for implementing the plans you made earlier:

• Designate areas where the things that will leave the house can be taken and consolidated, temporarily. 

• Evaluate the contents of storage areas, including shelves, cabinets, desks, drawers and closets.

• Ask the primary owner of the property to assign a category, as follows:

•    Leave as is (until the house is sold)
•    Store elsewhere on-site, like the attic or garage
•    Store off-site
•    Discard
•    Gift
•    Donate to charity
•    Sell

•  Children should participate, if feasible, but limit the scope of their decisions so they’re not overwhelmed.

• Be ready with trash bags. Immediately remove the smaller discards.

• Organize the gifts and donations by recipient. Arrange for pick up or delivery.

• If you plan to sell anything, try to do so in someone else’s garage sale, or on consignment. Remove the items immediately.

• Organize the things you’ll keep and determine what you need now, or in the near future, and what can be stored.

• Remove and store as much as possible, especially seasonal clothing and all non-essential furniture and household items. Arrange off-site storage, if necessary.

• Label and number cartons going to storage. Note the contents and storage location in a log or computer spreadsheet. Consider a color coding system for the labels, with a color for each person or destination room.

• Organize the things that will be stored in the house so that the garage, attic, closets, shelves and other storage areas look clean, neat and spacious.

•  Don’t overcrowd shelves.

• Keep closet floors clear. Remove empty coat hangers.

• Consolidate small items in boxes.

• In the garage, store things by category, such as garden, paint and chemicals, sports equipment, tools, toys, etc. Use hooks and hangers and install simple shelves, as needed.

• Check with your accountant and attorney to confirm what records you must retain. Shred the rest.

• Organize and store family photographs you’ll keep.

• Repurpose, recycle or compost.

Smart Selling Tip:
A systematic approach to organizing and editing your family's belongings simplifies the work, helps you get ready to sell faster and makes moving much easier.