If you live in a good portion of the US, you might find yourself a little down this time of year. Christmas is long past, and spring still seems far away, and yet winter still looms.
If you have a house on the market, chances are that showings have slowed, and prospects for a sale any time soon seem dim.
But that doesn’t mean that this time of year can’t be productive.
Here are a few things that will both lighten your load [who among us hasn’t accumulated a little bit too much stuff?!], and possibly brighten your mood.
Start with one room [or closet, or drawer] at a time, and go thru your belongings. This is a good time to both organize it, and get rid of things that you no longer want, need, or use. Separating into piles can be helpful. I generally use these guidelines: keep [put away, fix, or put away elsewhere], donate [to friends, to secondhand stores], and throw away. I’ve found it much easier to be pretty brutal when going though stuff, not giving myself more than a few seconds to decide if I’ll keep something or not. Admittedly, I’ve had a few times where I’ve gotten rid of something I’d later wished I’d kept, but for the most part, I feel good about having a less cluttered house and life.
Another thing to keep in mind if you’re donating items is that you can get a receipt and claim donations on your taxes if you itemize.
Winter is also a good time to do repairs and cleaning that you might not want to do when the weather is nice and you want to be outside. I like to go through paperwork during the winter, organize the pantry, and clean things like light switches, fans, walls, and baseboards.
Lastly, take note of and repair any drafts in your house. They’ll be harder to spot in the spring and summer, and your wallet, and comfort level will thank you!
These are all things that can be done cheaply [or free!], and they’ll both make it easier to sell your house, and easier to move when you do!
