Parade of Homes featuring the best of new homes in Manitoba, Canada
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1087907
If you use something regularly, it goes into the "keep" box. If it's destined for the trash or recycling bin, send it out. "You need to ask yourself: If you haven't used it in years, why not?" she says. "Why are you keeping it? Could somebody else use it? Is there a family member that might want it?" Once you're equipped for sorting, it's go time. "Just pick a room," Slator says. "My suggestion is to start in your bathroom because the bathroom is an easy job. We have so many of bottles of shampoo that we didn't finish and that sort of thing, and you can clean that up easily. "And when you see a finished product happen quickly, then you don't mind moving on to another job." The linen closet is next. "Everything has to be folded up and nothing can be on the floor — nothing can be on the floor in any closet in your home." Tidy closets not only look cleaner, they look larger to potential buyers. So if it's spring and the hall closet is crammed with winter coats, pack them up and store them elsewhere. "The other thing I suggest is that people buy and label baskets for inside the closets," Slator says. "The baskets are for things like seasonal outerwear, so when you open the closet and throw your hats in, they have a place to go." You must tackle the kitchen. Take everything out of the cupboards and deal with items that are chipped, broken or unused. And clear out that kitchen junk drawer. "Some people turn every drawer into a junk drawer," says Slator. "When you're selling the house, this is what that new mother is going to be looking at and if this is not organized, this kitchen is not going to be beautiful to her." Sometimes, we have items that are not in use but they are kept for sentimental reasons. And that's OK. "If an item is emotional for somebody then it just needs to be packed up to go with them," Slator says. Just remember, decluttering saves on moving costs by reducing the number of boxes you must move. If you are showing and selling your house, send your packed, labelled boxes to the basement — and try to avoid cluttering it up. "Stack them as high as you can so that you don't have things all over." TURN THE PAGE FOR PART 2 JUST PICK A ROOM. MY SUGGESTION IS TO START IN YOUR BATHROOM BECAUSE THE BATHROOM IS AN EASY JOB. Parade of Homes Spring 2019 49