1,052,211
Feng Shui thing: 5 clearing processes for the elements: Remove what doesn't serve any purpose; remove what wastes space; remove what you no longer love or doesn't beautify you; remove what is in your way; remove what is broken or obsolete. Repeat process in each room.
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Michael J. Perry
Lancaster, PA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
3,988,007
I keep my closets cleaned out by keeping an empty sack (at least it starts out that way) in my closet and when I come across something I have not worn or don't want to wear anymore, it goes in the sack. When it is full another empty bag replaces it and the full bag is donated.
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Eve Alexander
Tampa, FL
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Carol Wilson
Toronto, ON
1,026,993
There is a great challenge called 40 Bags in 40 Days. It worked wonders for me when we were moving last summer.
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
2,781,173
I have done well on this starting with my closet and dresser drawers. Over time, I have reduced everything to function
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
1,452,869
I remove 1 item a day. It gets tossed, donated, whatever as long as it is gone from my home.
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
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Susan Emo
Kingston, ON
290,969
Being 'in the mood' is the tip for me, and this happens every few years, and I am very religious when I start, to finish! Last year I went through clothes and drawers in the master bedroom, and a garage cabinet - got rid of 5 boxes/bags. Probably will not do that this year, though I do have a second bedroom closet to go through Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor. We have a small house, and I cannot 'add' anything without 'removing' something - HA!
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
5,104,931
I am not a "clutterer" so it's not a big issue for me, but when I get into a cleaning mode, it's one room at a time.
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
23,254
I LOVE getting rid of stuff. It is fun. I love garbage day and knowing that clutter is gone. Goodwill knows me when I pull up because I donate all the time. I sell the things I know are worth selling. I dislike how cheap people are and I will never have a garage sale again. I would much rather donate than do that again. One area at a time for sure. Usually starting with my girls rooms or the playroom.
I had misread this question and wrote this - leaving it because it was fun to tell! Two clients worth mentioning just for fun! - I have 2 that stand out in my mind of extreme in need of decluttering, they qualified for their own tv show episode of hoarders. Ok, maybe not that bad... maybe a show called "Almost Hoarders!" My husband and I actually took hefty bags of trash out of a townhouse I was selling because the seller wouldn't do it. Although she lived there. This was a home with bathtubs full of still water with trash floating in them kind of gross. (This was my 1st listing ever). It was disgusting, it reeked of cats. Thankfully it sold immediately due to location. The second that stands out in my mind is a home that had shelves floor to ceiling of Japanese animae figures. Wow, that was a sight to be seen! Not a free spot on a single wall in the whole condo. Consistantly awful feedback. No one could look past them. The seller loved them and refused to budge on moving them to storage or let alone out of sight. The absolute last day of our listing contract a neighbor bought it to own as a rental. Woohoo. Happy day selling that place :)
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Becca Rasmussen
Highlands Ranch, CO
2,707,721
The gradual process wasn't doing it Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor I had to start getting ruthless and clearing things by the carton! Four trips to Goodwill and counting...
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
1,374,473
I have found that one room at a time works best for me. Donating to charity also works better than garage sales.
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
823,579
Just finished reading "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering by Marie Kondo. She provided me the how, why and spiritual reasons for decluttering your home and how it improves your life. A good read!
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
989,652
Oh, I need these answers!
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Jessie Cochran
Panama City, FL
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
97,816
Hi Thomas, for me the answer to your question is "it depends". For many years, I was absolutely hopeless at removing clutter. I could move it from room to room, but had no idea what to keep and what could go. This only began to clear as I healed childhood traumas and upsets. The more I healed, the more deeply I could shed. So if you are an incurable pack-rat, the clutter is most likely a symptom rather than the actual problem, and people like this who lose everything generally replace what they have lost with "new" clutter fairly quickly. In other words, drastic measures may not actually help, and could be harmful.
I found I cleared my clutter in waves. It is very freeing to let go of all the school note-books and textbooks. It is very freeing to leave behind the photos and memorabilia of people I don't like or who were unhealthy for me, even family members. (Not the socially accepted attitude, but I took a stand for my health and well-being, and it was worth it. I kept one photo of each parent and they went into an attractive woven grass box of other "treasures" where I can look at them if I feel the need--but I never do.)
It is freeing to shed the clothing that I no longer fit. If you really love it and hope to lose weight, try giving yourself six months and make it a conscious project, but know this: weight is a kind of clutter...no, that is not accurate. In my observation, both weight and clutter are defenses of the mind against things that bother us. If the real bother isn't addressed, it is very unlikely you will shed the weight or the clutter.
And then there is the partner & or child(ren) with whom we live, and they have their own contribution to the clutter. We do our interactions with them in patterns that become predictable. Sometimes clutter is revenge for disrespect, or simply a reflection of low self worth. Some re-negotiation of your interactions can be very helpful. Looking for ways to add respect can make a big difference...respect for yourself and respect for the others.
Sometimes just keeping ONE small shelf clean and free of clutter with something beautiful on it is all we can manage, but if we are doing it as a stand for our own worth, that is a statement worth making and a stand worth taking.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Becca Rasmussen
Highlands Ranch, CO
3,986,258
For every bag you bring into the house you take 1 and 1/2 out
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
2,684,109
One file cabinet, chest of drawers, or closet at a time.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
1,157,785
Set realistic small goals and you will ultimately achieve the ultimate goal.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
1,239,901
remove half of photos, pictures off the cluttered wall. Put less furniture away to storage... Start donating un-needed items.
I went into this house. There were chain saws in the living room. All in all she had five lawn mowers outside and in the garage. Three wheel barrels, tools... She told me her husband divorced her two years earlier. She was used to the gardener tools all her previous marriage.
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
5,049,466
A room at a time. But I need to start with my garage first...and my kids stuff we still have. Hate garage sales so any other way I can get rid of things...
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
5,772,575
Thomas,
Ron is better than I am at it. We regularly clean out our closets, and our offices. I like Candice A. Donofrio Feng Shui thoughts. A
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
921,504
After 30 years of good intentions, the homeowner was still in possession of all the stuff. The pain of staying the same was not great enough.
"I think you need to move to lighten your load." Works like a charm. "The contents of any box not opened within the year you do not need,"
There's a great agent on AR in La Jolla who can help you out.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
2,220,654
start taking out stuff you don't use and go from there
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
846,475
My best tip is not to clutter it up in the first place. Candice A. Donofrio has some solid advice.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,622,432
I'm still working on it. But even I regularly declutter, clean, donate, trash, give away staff, a new one somehow magically appear again. As they say: build the storage and trash will come.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
2,224,473
I have to be in a mood to do this. Then I go to town, and get stuff done.
I'm also one of these people that does see spring as a time to renew, and the season puts me in the mood to get things done and decluttered.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
4,250
One room at a time.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
4,457,314
As a pack-rat it is the hardest thing for me to do, usually it takes a move to do it for me. Diane secretly throws stuff away and often a couple years later I ask "where is this?" and the answer in her face tells me she threw it away:))Endre
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
321,564
When the mood strikes or maybe a rainy day. One room at a time. Usually leads to a mess in another room unless I load the unwanted items in my truck. We have a place close to here that I drop off my stuff.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
1,090,922
I don't do gradual...it's all or nothing!
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Allie Angeloni
Oro Valley, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
634,482
Tackle one category rather than just one drawer or one room. Example, make one project decluttering ALL of your clothers. Your closet but also items you store elsewhere.
Get rid of whatever you don't really need or that doesn't look and feel great on you now.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
1,712,676
We take ours to the Goodwill. Last yeat we wrote off $6500 which beats the pain of a garage sale. More to come this year.
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,683,912
One at a time
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Lisa Von Domek
Dallas, TX
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,280,748
Start with a single room or a closet or cabinets. Sort out. Keep, trash, donate, recycle.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
4,936,705
If I do not use something in a year, it goes to good will
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
5,868,554
I keep mine decluttered, can't stand too much stuff hanging around.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
77,119
Begin by removing family photos. Kitchen counters are the next to declutter. Have a garage sale or donate unwanted items in the garage. I could go on and on but I know you get the message.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
3,345,091
A room at a time. Last week I had 18 boxes of old files shredded. Once things make their way to the garage ... it is time to donate and be done with it. I know I can sell a lot of stuff ... but I choose to donate all of it.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,502,998
When I get annoyed by the clutter, I block off a day and tackle it with a vengence.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
3,727,873
Doesn't work. I"ve been "gradually" decluttering my house forever, and the clutter just comes back! I think the blitz approach is the only one that really works.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
4,800,082
Don't know. For me it's an on-going process that I'm currently losing.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
7,836,419
The work is in progress. My closet needs some attention.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
4,572,283
I think the concept of gradually removing clutter is likely to lead to more clutter. If someone is serious about it, they likely need professional help.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
2,182,552
We really aren't as paperless as we claim !
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
3,416,038
Room by room, 1 room at a time
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
2,178,603
I have been purging for 4 years. My first commitment was to FILL my garbage can every week. I have purged lots of clothes... donated to a church. I constantly have a donation pile going in the garage of non-clothes items. I have sold all my big furniture and replaced it with smaller furniture, opening up my living space and it feels way less cluttered. Lots of little things add up.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,725,996
3,071,489
232,019
I can't - I'm an impulsive buyer - soon to be a hoarder ;)
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,844,301
According to the clutter patrol, room by room. Do not leave until one room is completed before going on to another.
Sold my dad's house last year & it was torture getting him to throw anything out! When I got home from his house everyday, I would immediately start throwing stuff out in my garage, bedroom, whatever. I did not want to get nuts like him. Clean reaction?
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
4,434,127
It is easy if we do it throughout the year. Unfortuantely we do not do it.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
5,216,409
Do as the wife and I are doing, move long distance! Once you get a quote for moving, all non-essentials you could not do without, are history!
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
4,319,419
Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor - one room at a time and in a room, one area at a time...
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
6,393,609
On declutter days I set out larger garbage cans and donation boxes.
After walking past these a few times people will start to fill them.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,771,867
Knock it out, do it all at once.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA