I've sorted - now what?

Hi, everyone!  It's been a few weeks since I've posted.  I've been working hard on my course work.  For those who don't know, I"m working on obtaining my Interior Design degree so that I can add that to my services... can't wait to be able to do that.  In the meantime, back to what I wanted to write about tonight ...

I think I wrote about the steps to organizing in one of my first posts: remove garbage, sort items into piles (remain in this space, belongs somewhere else, or get rid of), clean and organize. When you are working through the process, you'll have that pile of stuff that just needs to go away. The really important next step is difficult for some - you have to actually REMOVE the items from your home or business.  Ok - remove the stuff where, right?  You have a couple of options and it depends on how much time you have, or even how important it is to immediately get the extra items out.  

Option 1:  (and probably the "easiest") donate to charity.  This can be as simple as bagging everything up and dropping your donation at the nearest Goodwill (or whatever charitable organization you prefer).  However, I would encourage you to document your items sufficiently so that you can potentially deduct the donation from your income taxes.  Some tax software actually has tools to help you figure out how much each item is worth.  Even if you don't use this sort of software, it's important to keep detailed records so that you can justify the amount that you claim as a deduction.   Don't use garage sale prices - use the price you'd expect to pay in a resale shop, or on eBay.  If I help you organize your space, I can help you keep the list of donated items and assign values for your tax records.

Option 2: I just mentioned this - garage or rummage sale.  This takes time and commitment from you.  Well, at least for a week or two.  You'll need to spend a bit of time and money up front (advertising and pricing supplies), but often, you'll recoup what you spend from your sales.  This is great if you have the time and follow-through to actually have the sale.  Keep in mind that not everything will sell - so you'll probably be making a donation list and taking the remaining items to a donation center.  Don't leave it sitting after your sale, or you'll end up with a cluttered space.

Option 3: eBay or consignment. This is best when you have some nicer or higher value items - but not a lot of them.  The key to de-clutter is to be able to quickly get rid of the items that don't belong in the space.  So, if you have a lot of stuff, you probably should elect to go with one of the faster methods of removal.  Incidentally, I can also sell items for you on eBay as part of my organizing services.

Call me today for your free consultation.  I'm sure I can help you make the best use of your space!