Declutter Has Become My Least Favorite Word In The English Language

Our house goes on the market in two weeks.  Two weeks.  We have done all the big projects our Realtor recommended (except for new windows because I would also like to eat thank you very little) and now we are on the declutter phase.  Declutter?  With a 4 year old?  And two sets of grandparents who believe their role is to single handedly buy out Target and Toys R Us?

We have rented a Pod.  We are packing boxes.  My answer to Doug every time he asks me do we need this is throw it out without even looking up.  Because if he is asking me that question we are clearly not using the item very much.  I better not be invited to any formal events this summer because all my fancy dresses and shoes and handbags are in the Pod.  All of our winter coats are in the Pod.  All of our servings pieces and good china and all things Thanksgiving related are in the Pod.  So we are either moved into a new house by Thanksgiving or someone else is on call for Turkey day next year.  (Hi Mom and Dad!)

I really wanted to pass the Bar after law school.  I really wanted to have a baby.  I cannot imagine the last thing I wanted as much as I want this house to just sell.  I almost don't care what we get for it.  Almost.  I just need enough to buy a new house.  That's it.

And how come every person I tell I am getting ready to put my house on the market tells me I have to watch HGTV.  I don't even know what channel that is.  Isn't this why I have a Realtor?  I have hours upon hours of tivoed shows I have no time to watch because I am too busy decluttering.  What makes you think I can add more television?

I am seriously hoping packing and moving boxes counts as exercise.  Because all of this decluttering is really cutting into my gym time as well.

Comments

[Beth Fish]

It will sell - it has a great floorplan and a great location. It will sell.

[aimee]

Ugh. This is why I may never move! Good luck! It will all be worth it when you're in your dream house!!

[Violet]

Don't worry - I watch HGTV like an addict, and the main thing they tell you is to declutter, so you're fine! My advice is to get some of those boxes that slide under the bed, and frantically throw all the toys in there before any open houses. Because what I see on the shows is that 1) people look in your closets, 2) if people see boxes or piles around they think there isn't enough closet space, and 3) people who are house-hunting are really, really whiny and obnoxious brats. Good luck!!

[Janna]

I hate the selling process. (That is why we haven't tried to sell ours in the past two years.) Good luck, I'm hoping for a fast sell for you!

PS- Designed to sell on HGTV. I love that show.

[Mom]

We will be happy to host Thanksgiving. If your house has sold by then, which I am sure it will, and it is just too much for you guys after the big move we will still be happy to host Thanksgiving, Love, Mom

[Sarah]

Our house is on the market currently and we moved out a ton of furniture, toys, clothes, etc. and put them into storage. After a while you really get used to living more minimalistically. In fact, if we ever do sell this half I think I'll be tossing or selling half of our possessions we haven't used in the past few months. It is very hard to keep the house in show condition all the time with two kids though. Ugh.

[Angela]

The Pod was our best friend when we moved. What I should have done, though, was to toss everything we shoved into that pod. I didn't, and now I might as well not have a garage or a basement. Because they're chock full of useless furniture and boxes that I don't have room for. Anyone want a piano? Free to good home.

[Stacy]

I always thought your home was really cozy -- which is what you don't want anymore. I hear you want buyers to walk in and "imagine themselves and their stuff there" and you want them to think (even though townhouses are freaking tiny) that they'll have "tons of room to grow".

I'll bring the wine, just tell me when to come over and we can pack some stuff away.

You house will sell -- I am super optimistic because I absolutely cannot imagine moving myself right now! But for you! Yeah! MOVING! WooHoo!!!

[FishyGirl]

We've been working on decluttering ourselves. In fact, today I had 2 whole hours of kid-free time in which I tossed a full huge green trash bag full of crappy toys and set aside the largest rubbermaid bin full of other stuff to donate or sell at a yard sale. It was delicious. We don't need any of that crap.

Your house should sell quickly, 1 because it's a great house in a killer location and 2 because townhouses always sell faster anyway. As for us, we know we can't sell ours while we live in it, so we are looking to finagle some sort of rent-to-own thing and if we can't, to move to a rental for a year til this one is fixed up and sold. I live in terror.

[Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama]

Packing and moving absolutely counts as exercise! Running around and shoving stuff in boxes is cardio and hoisting them into your Pod is your strength training. Now stop feeling guilty about the gym and pack so that house can sell! Good luck!

[kim/hormone-colored days]

I am on a major decluttering mission as well. I'm in a similar boat about exercise. I'm spending 1-2 a day clearing, sorting, running with items to our local charity resale shop.I think all the lifting and bending must have some positive effect.

My husband doesn't quite understand why my nightstand is still a mess, but I'm sorting through every item in a basement closet that nobody sees.

We might be moving and if/when we try to sell the house, I'm going to need those empty closets to shove all my nightstand crap into.

I don't watch HGTV either, so I appreciated Violet's comments above. I'm on the right track.

I just heard about someone who sold her house in less than two weeks (after much decluttering), so there are still buyers out there.
Good luck!

[DemMom]

I watch all those shows too, and they just tell you to declutter and neutralize. We sold our house early last summer, surprisingly fast. Our realtor brought in someone to recommend paint colors, and a "stager." I was skeptical, but I believe it worked and sold our house in 3 weeks! Luckily we found our new house the same day we got an offer. Otherwise we would have been without a home!

[Laura]

Decluttering is key. Countertops should be cleared off, personal photos should be put away, and furniture should be arranged in such a way that makes the rooms look as open as possible. Our realtor gave us great advice about staging that we used in the new house, too. And, you get so used to living without all that stuff you've packed away that you almost don't remember what you put in the boxes by the time you are unpacking in the new house. Also, Goodwill is your friend. Take a few loads over each weekend. If in doubt, get rid of it. If you don't, you will be so mad you spent time packing it, and paying someone to move it for you only to get rid of it once you move. After living in the house while it was on the market, I've decided I always want my house to look like it could be shown by a realtor at any point, so I try my best to clean up every night. It's not quite the same, but clutter stresses me out so the less, the better.

Also, with all the packing, standing, and carrying boxes, you never have a free hand to snack, so that alone will help you lose weight. Who needs a gym?