INNER WEST DECLUTTERING: WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR STUFF

Decluttering your home can be an emotional process, especially if you are a collector or you’ve been given pieces from friends and family over the years. However, if you are planning on selling and downsizing, or even just need to give yourself more room, decluttering is a great way to free up some space. Let’s face it, if you are selling and moving, you can’t take everything with you, and there’s a good chance you don’t need everything that you’ve stored away.

So what’s the best way to declutter and what can you do with those loved items you no longer need?

How to declutter

There are a few steps you can take to make decluttering your home easier.

1. Start with the things you use the most

Starting with those items you use daily ? clothes, toys, appliances, kitchen items, bathroom items and so on. Any clothes you haven’t worn in six months or toys that your children no longer play with or kitchen items gathering dust, consider donating them to a local charity, giving to friends or selling online.

2. Clear out the junk drawer.

It’s the drawer where everything gets thrown in, and rarely does it get cleaned out. Take all the items out of your junk drawer and pop them onto a countertop or table. Sort through everything, throwing out anything that doesn’t work or is out of date (all those old takeaway menus for example). You will be able to then see and find what you need.

3. General clean-out

If there are items in your home you know you’ll never use, get rid of them. They’re not worth the effort and cost of storing them.

4. Get help.

Consider hiring a professional organiser to help you clean and reorganise your home. This is a great option if you have a lot of items, are feeling too emotional, or you can’t set aside the time needed to get the job done.

Where to get rid of your decluttered belongings

When it comes to getting rid of your belongings when decluttering your Inner West home, there are plenty of options.

Books: Books can either be sold online, sold to secondhand stores or dropped into charity shops. You may also find that you can give them away to family and friends.

Clothing: If you have general clothing that is still in good condition but no longer fits, charity stores are generally quite happy to take them. You could also donate to charities who pass clothing onto homeless people. For special pieces, you could consider selling them online via Facebook marketplace, and for branded children’s clothing, consider selling via second hand online stores like Jumping Jack.

Old linens and towels: Homeless services and charities may take good quality old linen to pass along to their clients. If the linen isn’t good enough for a person to use, reach out to vets, animal shelters or animal rescue groups to see if they can use sheets and blankets for their clients.

Kitchen items: These items are best donated to local charities, or depending on what type of kitchen items you need to find a new home for, local playgroups may be interested in donations for play kitchens.

Furniture: Following COVID-19, many charities don’t have room in their warehouses. If you have good quality furniture, try selling on Facebook marketing, Gumtree or local buy/swap/sell pages. The Inner West Council clean-up service will pick up large items four times a year but you must book.

E-waste: If you cannot take e-waste to the local recycling centre, you could utilise council e-waste drop off events. If you don’t have a car, you may be able to find a retailer who will take e-waste for the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

Plants: Excess plants are best sold online or given away. And we’re pretty sure if you leave good specimens on the street, they won’t last long.

Local organisations that take donations

The Wayside Chapel Op Shop: 269 Bulwara Rd, Ultimo (donation bin?but check as the shop in Kings Cross has closed its donation bin)

Innari Inc: [email protected]

AWCCS: [email protected]

Givit: search on the website for items people need

Always remember when sorting items to donate: “If you wouldn’t give it to a mate, don’t donate.”

Why decluttering before selling is essential

Decluttering your home before selling allows you to present your home in the best possible light. It allows potential buyers to move around your home easier, and get a better idea of storage.

Rooms and cupboards crammed with belongings won’t give that all-important first impression. It also allows you to pack up and move much more easily with fewer items to worry about.

Can we help with your Inner West home?

Whether you’re ready to sell or need help to rent your investment property, we have the experience and local knowledge to make your property journey easier.

Looking for help selling your home or renting your investment property? Our team at Belle Property Balmain support homeowners across Balmain, Balmain East, Birchgrove, Rozelle and Lilyfield. Feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation discussion or property appraisal.