Less is More: Ideas for Re-homing Your Stuff

August 2022

You may remember that last month we started a discussion about Roadblocks in decluttering and organizing. We suggested strategies to make Getting Started in your home a little easier.

The next common roadblock in getting organized is What To Do with the Things You Don’t Want. That’s probably my favorite part of the decluttering process.

So what do you do with your unwanted stuff?? Here are a few ideas to make it easier and more enjoyable:

1. Some families create a Facebook page or group chat to post the items they no longer want, and family members can communicate what they want. Parents regularly say they are surprised by what their kids want and don’t want. (There really is an article called ”Your kids don’t want your brown furniture.”) If no one responds by the deadline, you have every right to move ahead and let items go.
2. Some families have an open house and invite family and friends to take what they want. No planning involved other than issuing invitations and warning people that your house is a mess because of the important work you are doing. (No one needs to know that your house may always be a mess… Irrelevant to the process!)
3. There are many, many good causes out there, and you items will be put to good use. My favorite is Vietnam Veterans of America because they have a website, pickupplease.org, where you can sign up for regular pickups at your front door. I also love gogreendrop.com because they have trailers set up on parking lots, and the worker will help unload your car. Again, there are many places — a quick Google search will lead you to places that will accept your items. WHEN YOU RESONATE WITH A CAUSE, IT MAKES THE LETTING GO PART MUCH EASIER.
4. Furniture can be tricky. Many of the online pick up places will not accept furniture, but there are organizations that will. In Baltimore, secondchanceinc.org and ReStore will come to your home at no charge to pick up furniture, but it must be in good condition.
5. If you have items that are damaged, there are many, many junk haulers that are happy to come and pick up anything you have. Again, a google search works wonders!
6. If you are a Facebook user, you can try selling items on Marketplace — it’s very easy, and as long as long as you don’t fall prety to a scammer, you can move items quickly if they are priced right. There are also “Buy Nothing” groups, and you can offer your items free of charge and meet wonderful people to gratefully pick the items up.
7. There are auction houses who will also take items out of your home and auction them… You may have to pay to transport, and you won’t have control of what you get for your items, but you will meet the goal of getting them out of your house.
8. If you have tons of paper to go through and want some shredded, there are shred companies who will come to your home, and you can watch your papers get shredded on the truck. My favorite shredder in the Baltimore area is theshredmillmd.com, who is reasonably priced and super nice. They will go to neighboring counties. But again, a quick google search in your area for “residential paper shredded” will give you resources. You can always bring your shredding to a Fed Ex office or Staples… But that involves you lugging it in.

Of course, the list of resources is endless. If you are making good process, BRAVO! If you are not making progress and would like a hand, please let us know. the Aim 4 Order team is ready, willing and able to make your stuff go away! Why wait until you move to have more space? Enjoy your home while you’re still in there. Less stuff means more time and energy!

Happy Decluttering!

Declutter Challenge Club – Join the Fun in 2022!

The Declutter Club is now in its second year and some of our members have signed up again as they are not quite finished with getting through the whole house. We are a small and cozy community where you can get a healthy dose of support, understanding, guidance and laughter, too.
The Declutter Club is a cost effective way to deal with your ‘stuff’ in a fun and welcoming setting. The daily emails are short and sweet and the twice monthly Zoom calls are on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm for an hour.
Membership is open to all, you can start today or whenever you want. Would love to see you there!
If you’re ready to join the Club, sign up HERE. 
Please email me if you have any questions or need additional information.

“Helping Baby Boomers and their Parents Lighten their Loads”

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your home, contact me. Together, we can transform your home into a happy, tidy place where you can feel at peace. We can also get you ready for your next move… more enjoyably, faster and easier. We specialize in senior moves and helping families find new homes for the things they no longer have room to keep. We can also take care of clearing out homes that need to be listed quickly for resale. Contact me to schedule an appointment.