Happy New Year, Kansas City! It’s time to make resolutions regarding your health, happiness—and house? That’s right, we’re just your friendly neighborhood real estate agents reminding you to set some goals for your home. Because, let’s be honest, we all have a basement, closet or bedroom that hasn’t been visited in years. January is the perfect time to rid yourself of all the extra stuff weighing you down. You could literally lose 100 pounds in one clean sweep!
We know it’s a lot easier said than done. That’s why we’re going to provide three options for organizing your junk—err valued treasures. So go ahead and crank Frozen’s “Let it go” (that song is about sorting your house, right?) and study your decluttering options below.
1. Store it
Did your house sell faster than you could start your “dream house” board on Pinterest? Congrats! That’s what we like to hear, but this might send you into a packing frenzy. If you plan on staying in an apartment or with a family member while searching for your next home, chances are you’re going to need a place to store some of your stuff. Fortunately, there are many self-storage options in the Johnson County and Kansas City areas.
On average, the smallest 5’ x 5’ units run from about $30 to $60. The largest units, 10’ x 30’, range from $155 to $270. You can use this self-storage finder to see how the competition stacks up.
Here are a few questions to ask before you choose your storage facility:
– What are the hours of operation? (Some units come with 24/7 access, others are only open at specific times.)
– Is the space climate-controlled? (Survey your belongings and decide whether this needs to be a priority or if you stuff can stand the cold or heat.)
-How secure is the facility? (Are the units gated or fenced in? Are there surveillance camera in use 24/7? Also, find out if your unit comes with a light. You don’t want to be left in the dark on these issues!)
Or maybe you’d rather opt for Portable On Demand Storage, more commonly known as PODS. This operation is all about the convenience factor. The POD is delivered to your driveway, you pack it at your leisure and then call the PODS people when you’re ready for them to pick it up and drive it to your new location. Or they can store the unit for you. Get a quote or find a location near you at: http://www.pods.com.
2. Donate it
You probably already know you can drop off donations at your local Salvation Army, Goodwill, Savers, and various thrift stores, like TurnStyles in Overland Park. However, did you know that all of these organizations offer pick up services for your larger items? Many times they will come to your house for free or for a suggested donation of $20. Check their websites to schedule a pick up—now you have no excuse not to donate your gently used sofa or cabinet.
If you don’t want to make a trip to the store for some of your clothing items, you can find donation bins in your area that might be on your way home. Just make sure you examine the bin carefully and look for a name you recognize and a clear mission statement describing what will be done with the clothing donated.
3. Trash it
Now what do you do with the leftover items that you don’t want and no one else wants either? The cheapest (it’s free!) and easiest way to purge the big items, is to wait for your city’s large item pickup day. In some cities this momentous occasion is called Tidy Town. These days vary by location so keep an eye on your city’s homepage. In the meantime you can start sorting that stuff.
What’s your favorite place to make a donation? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Happy cleaning!
