Tag Archives: donating

Just Do It: De-own It and Donate It

Just Do It: De-own It and Donate It

Leave a comment

Yes, it’s all the rage right now to be a minimalist. Don’t worry. I am not here to say that you should become one, but I did point out in my last blog some great minimalist ideas for getting out the old. When getting a home ready for sale, we do need to be mindful of what we can take with us and if we really need to, as well.

This time I would like to add in the importance of donating instead of dumping items we once loved. Donating to thrift store and charities not only keeps our local landfills from overflowing, it gives another person the chance to love our gently used item as much as we did. Many times, the biggest obstacle is where to take our goodies to share. Below is a list of charities looking to make our old items someone else’s new treasure.

Vietnam Veterans of America

Just Do It: De-own It and Donate ItVietnam Veterans of America (VVA) will pick up your used clothing, household items and even cars right from your home in the Prince William County area. Just label your boxes for pick up by the VVA and set them out for pick up. VVA notes that clothing is always a huge need, as well as clothing accessories, shoes (all kinds), baby items, house and glassware, all linens and kitchenware.

Goodwill of Greater Washington

Goodwill of Greater Washington is open seven days a week for your donations. They also have a pack and ship program that allows you to ship donated items for free! Their website provides a detailed breakdown of all the items they can accept. Currently, they need household items, toys and books.

The Donation Place

If you are heading for the landfill and don’t want to make another trip out in to town, just separate your gently loved items from the broken ones. The Donation Place at the Prince William County landfill is a brilliant space used to collect items that are still usable and in need of a new a home. The Donation Place is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Habitat for Humanity

Just Do It: De-own It and Donate ItHabitat for Humanity’s ReStore takes your building materials, appliances, furniture, tools and more and then sells them to the general public at forty to ninety percent off retail prices. All proceeds support adequate housing initiatives and home repairs in partnership with local families in need. Hours vary, so visit the website.

Taking the time to donate items not only gives your closets a much needed pare-down, but also gives your home a great start toward a look that will sell!

Thank You for Being Awesome

I love sharing these ideas with you on the blog as well as when preparing you to buy or sell a home. I sincerely enjoy working with my incredible clients and am so glad to be able to help:

“Our listing and selling process with Belinda was outstanding! From the original evaluation, to contract decisions, to staging the home professionally, everything was well thought out and handled superbly by her. Her marketing resources and materials were very professional. The open houses proved to be beneficial. Belinda was very responsive to all of our communications and we appreciated her immediate action on everything. We would highly recommend Belinda for your real estate needs. Her expertise made the sale of our home a quick and smooth process.” ~ J. Wilkins

Thank you to the Wilkins Family for the privilege of working with them. If you are ready to experience the Jacobson advantage, please contact Belinda Jacobson-Loehle at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging today.

1,844 total views, 1 views today

Declutter Your Home, Declutter Your Life: Choose a Strategy

Declutter Your Home, Declutter Your Life: Choose a Strategy

Leave a comment

Are you looking around the house and thinking, “Where in the world did all of this stuff come from?” Hey, no judgement here, everybody has been deluged by more stuff than they need. And many times, things need replacing or updating, and we are not quite sure what to do with the old once we bring in the new.

This also works with household updates as well. Many times, we are ready to do some much-needed changes to our home, but we know the clutter will remain if we don’t come up with a plan to trade out the new for the old. What are some of the secrets that uber-organized people use to obtain and maintain organized spaces?

Old Out First

Some people throw out the old right away. Before even going to the store to purchase a new needed or wanted item, they cruise by the local thrift store to donate the old item or drop off a broken item at the waste management area. They may have to go without an item for a day or so, but they are not trying to work around the old item while bringing in the new. These same people prefer to make donations before Christmas to make room for the new stuff!

Two for One

Rumor has it, this is the Zen way of handling clutter. For every item, you bring into the house you make a promise with yourself you will donate or throw away two. From shoes to televisions, this strategy does not have to be a straight across trade, but can clean up some of the more stacked-up areas of a home, such as the back-entry way or the laundry room. If a new front door is in the works, you can always count the old front door and the squeaky screen door that is not really needed as your two old pieces for one new. Simply maintaining this mindset a portion of the time can keep you on track for constant decluttering.

Six and Out

Try the “six and out” game. Go around the house and look for clothes, gadgets or other items that nobody has paid attention to in 6 months. If they have no seasonal use and are just collecting dust or getting in the way, pack them up and take them to a local charity. Another variation of this game is great for considering the replacement of larger ticket items or updating your home’s interior. Have you had trouble with a bathroom sink more than once in the last six months? Have you noticed fading paint or a balding carpet for more than six months? Maybe it is time to look at getting those areas of your home updated.

Photograph and Move Out

Declutter Your Home, Declutter Your Life: Choose a StrategyIf de-cluttering is a priority, super-motivated folks will use the “shoot and move-out” method to get the job done. It’s simple. Take a photo of the personal memorabilia, keep in a digital file on any or all devices, and then move the stuff out of your house. It’s quick, it’s easy and the memories made are not forgotten. And the best part, your house is cleaner and more organized faster!

When it comes down to it, a cleaner, less cluttered house makes it easier to care for all of your belongings. And when the time comes for you to move on to better things, not only does an uncluttered, updated home look great to a new buyer, it may mean a better sales price and a much easier move for you!

If you’re interested in learning more about tips for buying or selling a home let us help. We can help you stage your property for the best market price ad help you find the perfect home to move up to. Contact Belinda Jacobson-Loehle at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging today.

1,697 total views, 1 views today