Friday, January 16, 2009

Start Packing

Your great grandmother’s hope chest that is stored in your attic was as much a treasure to her as was Uncle Lou’s collection of railroad ties was to him. You can hardly remember how long ago it was that you permitted him to store his precious lumber under your deck, but there it all is attracting as many pests as a home inspector can find.

Your son’s enormous collection of yellowed Marvel Superheroes Comic Books, that he could not bear to part with, are still in your basement although he has long since moved away. The box is stacked with many others that are filled to capacity with old Halloween costumes, his first pair of skates, her doll collection and they are propped up against the wall by the speed bike with the broken chain.

No children ever had more toys than yours and no children or ancestors ever left more belongings than yours all over your packed closets, storage bins, garage, basement, attic, crawl spaces, cabinets, drawers....and then there are your belongings.

You’re a chip off the old block. You can not bear to think about discarding Valentine’s Day cards, although you can’t place faces to the names of some of your past admirers. You have the very first potholder you ever made at summer camp. You have every holiday decoration ever given or left to you and unless you have an evergreen tree farm in your backyard, you can never display them all.

Those who have gone before you left everything to the one they loved...you, and now you must make choices that impact your ability to move through your own life changes, or forever be part of the collection.

If you want to sell your home, or if you’re scheduled to close on the home you have sold, the home must be delivered in what is referred to as broom swept condition, that is, empty. Take a deep breath. It can and will be done. Here are some tips:

1. Call the former owners of all that has been left behind and tell them that the deadline for discarding is no later than a date certain. If they have not claimed their treasures, by that date, it will be assumed that they are of no value and they will be removed from the house.

2. Go through your home with a different eye. Take a deep breath and start early. What you do not use, wear, play with, need, want, enjoy, or derive MUCH pleasure from, is hampering your ability to move forward and belongs somewhere else.

3. Sort things. Put stickers on piles to identify valuables from throw aways. You’ll be surprised how many “valuable” stickers will be replaced by “throw aways” as you go through this process.

4. Start early. Pace yourself. Pack a box a day. It works wonders.

5. Call for a dumpster. These huge containers come in all sizes and are delivered when you want them and removed when you are through with them.

6. Ask for help. Have a pizza party and start filling that dumpster.

7. Call your local church or charity and ask how your possessions may impact someone else’s life. You’ll feel a whole lot better about your choices when you know you've made a difference.

Good luck with the changes you are making. Let your Realtor help you every step of the way. We've been there too.

You may call Janet Hilton for a confidential "Sellers' Anonymous" consultation if you can not bear to part with that old dog collar. She can help you get a hold of yourself. RE/ MAX Country Crossroads Realty 144 Newburyport Turnpike, Suite A8, Rowley, MA 01969; Tel. 978-948-5333.

No comments:

Post a Comment