Embracing Minimalism: Decluttering & Real Estate

People tend to accumulate a lot of stuff throughout a lifetime, which can quickly become a source of frustration. I learned this firsthand when I moved into a new house in January 2020, right before the global shutdown. Unlike many others, I didn’t have the opportunity to nest at home and make my new place feel like a haven. Fortunately, I was swamped during the early days of the pandemic, building my online training business, but my office was a complete disaster and my basement was a mess full of unpacked boxes more than a year after I moved in. 

This became a problem in March 2021 when my sewer line trap broke, causing a small backup in my basement. I emptied some boxes and move others out of the way. Well, technically in the way because for months on end, whenever I needed to do laundry, I had to snake my way through those scattered boxes in my basement. I finally got so fed up that I decided something needed to be done. It was just after Thanksgiving 2021 that I felt I had an opportunity to declutter and organize so I could finally enjoy my home and the Christmas season. 

Getting Started with Decluttering 

Before tackling my project, I researched various experts in decluttering & organizing to get a sense of what needed to be done. I binge-watched content by Dawn Madsen from The Minimal Mom, who introduced me to Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean, and Cassandra Aarssen from Clutterbug, all of whom were instrumental in shaping my decluttering  journey. From there, I learned about Courtney Carver’s Project 333, which encourages a 3-month challenge of living with only 33 items in one's wardrobe. I also watched content related to interior design, such as YouTubers Arvin Olano and Nick Lewis, which gave me insight into how to create a pleasing home that reflects my personality.

Once I had a solid idea of tackling the clutter problem, I made a list of rules I’d picked up from my decluttering and organizing gurus: 

• Declutter first, then organize what’s left.
• Put things where you will think to look for them, not where they “should” go. 
• Let things live their best life doing what they’re meant to do. If you cannot offer them their best life, let these items fulfill their purpose with new owners.
• If you haven’t used something in a year, don’t love it, and wouldn’t repurchase it, donate it.
• If you find something you didn’t know you had, can’t think of where you’d look for it, AND can easily replace it, donate it. 
• If you only use a small piece of a set, don’t feel obligated to hang onto the rest. 
• If you have many heirlooms and want to celebrate the people they remind you of, consider keeping one or a few pieces that you can display. Donate the rest. 
• Know what kind of organizer you are. Not everyone organizes the same way. 

With these guiding principles, I began my decluttering journey. Starting with Christmas stuff and winter wear (remember, I began right after Thanksgiving), I moved on from space to space, staying true to my rules. By the end of the year, I’d transformed my home - from an overly decorated space with a basement full of unknown contents to a home where I displayed only my most meaningful possessions and where my eyes could rest easy on my more minimal decor.

What I Gained From My Decluttering Journey 

The immediate benefits of my decluttering journey are obvious. I could actually do my laundry without snaking through the boxes! However, it goes deeper than that. By embracing these new organizational practices, I quickly become a person who makes her bed every day, hand-washes and dries her dishes after every meal, and folds her laundry before returning it to her room. I have adopted many habits I never thought I had the patience for, all while also becoming far more intentional about my purchases going forward. I even found some precious items I thought I had lost forever, from a set of screws I needed to fix a chair to the notes I made for the first draft of my real estate math coloring book! I never intended to develop these habits- they just happened as a natural by-product of decluttering my space and wanting to create a more tidy home.

Getting into cleaning and organization has also been a big help to my career. The decluttering techniques I’ve picked up have proven valuable to my clients, who often stress over the expensive and time-consuming process of packing and moving their belongings to their new homes. Some simple decluttering can make that process feel less daunting. Also, for clients looking to sell their homes, decluttering can be a good way to make their space more appealing to potential buyers. On top of that, I picked up several interior design tips during my research, which have helped me find ways to make a space look more appealing without full-on staging. 

It wasn’t long ago that the “minimalist” lifestyle seemed far removed from anything I was used to. However, I have transformed my life by decluttering and reevaluating my relationship with my belongings! I have created many new, fantastic habits and feel capable of getting more done than ever. So even if you’ve been hesitant to try it out, I’d recommend sitting down, making a plan, and starting your decluttering journey today. 

The Closet

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