This last week has just flown by for me. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, I love being surrounded by family and friends…and of course food! During Thanksgiving my sister came and stayed the week and she helped me (let’s pretend I didn’t say that though) battle thru some clutter issues I am fighting in my home.

I know as a stager you think I would have the whole “less is more” figured out and applied in my own home…NOT SO folks, especially since a sweet little boy named Daniel entered the picture a year ago. Who knew such a tiny thing could take up soooo much space?!

Have you ever seen TLC’s Hoarders? Oh my heavens when I watch that my heart palpitates, I can’t handle it! Clutter for me causes stress. I hate walking into a room and it feeling unorganized, my soul needs things to have a place. Guess what?! Most buyers are the same way too! An unorganized room screams TOO SMALL to your potential buyer, not exactly what you are going for.

So how can we tackle the clutter? Room by room. Start small, devote 15-30 minutes a day working on a space. Set up a devoted area to house large boxes or totes for your SELL/DONATE, TRASH, KEEP, and STORE piles. I mainly recommend a STORE box/tote if you are planning to sell or are selling your home.

Keep in mind, if you are putting your home on the market you are going to move…not a question of IF, but WHEN. Boxing items and storing them now is going to save you time on packing later. So if you don’t need it, stow it!

When you come to an item ask yourself this:

• Do I love it?
• Do I use it?
• Is this piece worth it? (it here being the space, time, energy and cost to maintain)

The key is not to get overwhelmed, do what you can handle and when you’ve had enough…walk away. If you get burnt out on it you are less likely to return, and we want the BATTLE OF CLUTTER to be done and WON!

Now, go turn on some jams–preferable 80’s or 90’s (or “Let It Go” on repeat…haha), crank it up and get to organizing! We can do this!