Fall Decluttering Strategies

With colder weather settling in, we’re all spending more time indoors at home. Some of us may be getting ready to list our homes for sale and others might be settling into new homes after a successful real estate purchase.

If you’re in the first category and getting ready to sell your home, a decluttering campaign should be on your to-do list prior to listing your home. A decluttered home is easier to keep clean, which is important for home viewings and open houses. Rooms that are free of clutter let buyers really see your home’s features, not your belongings. Finally, decluttering can make it easier and less costly to move. You’d only be packing the items you want to keep.

Choose Your Decluttering Method

The internet is full of advice about decluttering. Marie Kondo suggests decluttering by category—for example, by clothes, books, papers, sentimental items, and miscellaneous items.

Joshua Becker focuses on a room-by-room method starting with the most lived-in areas first.

The Fly Lady approach breaks decluttering into 15-minute sprints during which you sort items by “give away,” “throw away,” and “put away.”

Choose the method that works best for you. It might be a mix-and-match approach or one that involves family members. Or it might be just you and a big cup of coffee.

Set a Start Date

Decluttering can seem like one of those tasks that never ends. But you have to start the process first. Set a date to begin your decluttering project. Don’t schedule anything else for that day. Before the big day arrives, stock up on any supplies you might need—such as boxes, markers, and trash bags.

On decluttering start day, treat yourself to a good breakfast. No matter what you accomplish in that one day, celebrate your progress and make a pledge to keep going.

List Unwanted Items for Sale

One challenge that decluttering presents is what to do with items and belongings you no longer want or need. Selling is one option. List items on Craigslist or eBay, have a garage sale, or use Facebook Marketplace to find buyers for your items. Selling items through a consignment shop, antique dealer, or estate buyer may be additional options to consider.

If you price them right, most useable household belongings will sell. But consider other factors such as seasonality. You’ll have a better chance of selling ski equipment, for example, if you list in the fall than during the spring or summer.

Take advantage of your smartphone to photograph and list your items. Ebay has an app you can download for your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone.

Donate Items to Charity

Items in good, usable condition can be donated to your local thrift store or nonprofit charity organization. If you itemize deductions on your federal tax return, you may be entitled to claim a charitable deduction for your donated household goods.

Check to make sure your household belongings will be accepted. Goodwill Industries in Massachusetts, for example, does not accept car seats, cribs, large pieces of furniture, bed frames, exercise equipment, and non flat-screen TVs. Get a complete list of what they do and don’t accept here.

Getting rid of unwanted computers and other technology, including cords and cables, can be a challenge. Goodwill Industries partners with Dell in a program called Dell Reconnect, in which computers and parts are responsibly recycled within the United States. Best practice: remove all personal data from your devices before donating. Dell Reconnect accepts everything from computers, phones, tablets, cords, cables, monitors, printers, software, and even ink and toner cartridge, full or empty.

If you have LEGO bricks no longer in use, donate them to the LEGO Replay project. Collect any loose Lego bricks, sets, or accessories you no longer want, put them into a cardboard box, and visit LEGO Replay to print out a free UPS shipping label. The package will be sent to the Give Back Box facility, where your toy donation will be sorted, inspected and cleaned. Then LEGO will pack them up to be donated to either Teach for America or to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston.

Give Away Items

Many communities have created localized Facebook Groups where residents can give away or “freecyle” household items for free. Contactless pickup can be arranged by putting items on a porch or driveway. All you need is a photo and a brief description.

Freecycling can be a hit-or-miss method, however. It’s sometimes astonishing what people want and what they don’t. One recent lister in metro Boston offered rolls of plastic fencing that had been taking up space in a basement. Over a dozen people immediately wanted them. These groups operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Pickup arrangements are made through Facebook Messaging.

Give Items to Family Members

Are you hanging on to items like fine china that you hope to give to your children or grandchildren someday? Why not give these items now, while you can see your loved ones enjoying them? By passing your belongings down now, they can stay in the family without taking up space in your home.

There’s a big caveat that comes with passing down belongings, however. Be sure your family members want the items you are offering. Try not to be upset or offended if they say “No, thank you.”

Find a time to have a candid conversation about what your relatives would want to acquire. You might be pleasantly surprised by their responses. If family members decline to accept certain items, however, that leaves you free to sell or donate them.