With the season of fresh growth on it’s way, now is the time to get started on your Spring cleaning.  For many it can be quite a job to go through closets, garages, junk drawers and those catch-all rooms.  The easy option is to just trash these things, but why not donate those items to someone who could use them?  Remember, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure!

Donating these items can not only give you a tax write-off, but it can also make a difference in the life of someone you may never meet.  Not to mention it will help give our ever-growing landfills a break.  This article gives some great ideas on where to donate specific items.  With the economy we live in today, now more than ever, we need to look out for each other and help out when we can.  Why not make a tedious task an act of giving for your family this Spring?!

Get The Job Done in Only A Few Short Steps…. 

For many people it seems too overwhelming a task to go through their belongings and furniture with the goal of getting rid of some of it. Unfortunately when moving to a smaller house, it often becomes absolutely necessary to do this. Here are some ways to make the process more manageable.

• Plan Ahead – Don’t wait to start clearing old items until a family has agreed to purchase the home you have had on the market. This could leave you with as little as a couple of weeks to sort through decades of belongings. Start going through your things and getting rid of stuff a month or two before you even put your home on the market. Not only will this give you ample time to decide what you really cherish and want to keep, but it will make your home more appealing to potential buyers.
• Include the entire family – Certain objects and possessions mean different things to different family members. Holding onto an old piano that no one ever plays, only means more moving cost and excess unwanted furniture in your new home.
• Photos – Give yourself plenty of time for the task of digitizing all of your family’s photos. Since they are one of our most valued possessions, why not take them out of those giant boxes, scan them and make a CD? This will cut down on a tremendous amount of clutter and it will keep family memories safe forever.
• Shedding basement objects first- Many people put things away in their basements, attics and sheds assuming that someday they may find a need for it again. Seriously consider which items you can live without and start getting rid of them by donating them to your local area shelter or having a yard sale.
• “First Point of Entry” – The buyer first impression is critical, and shapes their impression through the entire showing process. Clean, paint and eliminate carpet stains, and dirty spots through out the house. Each room should be sparsely furnished to appear larger and lighter. Be wary of too many personal items and photographs thay may be distracting for buyers. Open window blinds and leave on table lamps for pleasant lighting.
• Front Yard – Make sure the yard is mowed and edged, remove toys, junk piles, empty flower pots, etc. Declutter flower beds, trim or remove overgrown shrubs, remove dead plants or trees.

Let The Mullinax Team give you more great ideas on getting your home sold in todays market. Visit us at www.mullinaxteam.com for more information.