Sorting Your Stuff: Our Best Tips and Hints

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Wayforth- FL

Posted on

Feb 07, 2022

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Florida - Sarasota, Bradenton & Charlotte Counties , Florida - Southwest

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Whether your'e getting ready to move or just want to do a major purge of your closets, basement and attic, it helps to have a plan of attack. You want to be both efficient and effective as you pull, sort and donate. So, we've organized some of our best tips to help you make the most of your time and your items.

USE THE FOUR-PILE METHOD TO SORT
This process consists of dividing everything into four giant piles: things to keep, to donate, to throw away, and to sell. For this method to work, you need a large, empty staging area such as a basement, garage or even the front yard. Make a plan in advance for each individual pile such as contacting charities or exploring re-sale shops. Here are some tips for the four piles:

Keep
Friends, neighbors and family may have expressed interest in an item, so these go into the keep pile. Hold furniture, books, mementos and other items for a limited time, until the recipients have decided if they truly want them. Family members should pick up the items by a specified date and time (be firm!).
Sell
If you have time, you can plan to hold an estate or garage sale and get some money for your possessions. You can always try a local consignment shop or specialty antique dealer. If you don't have the time, energy or resources, you can sell large collections of items at online auctions. An auction house will remove the items from the house, photograph them, estimate a value, list them online, and sell them quickly.
Donate
At WayForth, we find that a lot of our clients would rather donate items than throw them away. For items that can be donated, look for specialty donation centers, such as charity that gives suits to needy job seekers or delivers furniture to new immigrants.
Trash
Even the smallest of homes can generate trash when you're downsizing or cleaning out. Be ready for a lot of trips to the garbage. You can also rent a small dumpster or designate a pickup truck to be emptied daily. If you plan to recycle, follow the guidelines for your areas sorting and pickup. And don't forget that hazardous items such as medicines, paint cans or even fireworks may need special attention.

FOUR WAYS TO HELP DONATED CLOTHES AVOID THE LANDFILL
About 85 percent of the clothing that Americans donate or throw away end up in landfills. To make sure you're optimizing your donations, try these avenues first:

Sell them
Contemporary and designer clothing if its in good shape can fetch top dollar. Local consignment shops are one option, but Internet sites, such as Poshmark, Thred Up, and eBay, have made finding willing buyers for single items easier than ever.
Target your donations
Specialty attire such as prom gowns/evening gowns or business clothing can find a second life with the right organization. Local schools often collect gowns for girls who may not have the means to get a new one for a big dance. And many non-profits gather work-appropriate clothing to share with clients who are looking for a new job.
Search for resources
It may take a few phone calls, but there are groups who help homeless people or recent immigrants find clothing. If your clothes are in wearable shape with no stains, tears or holes, you can be helping someone who may really need what you no longer want.
Give old clothes a new purpose
If you have clothing that's torn, stained or threadbare, you may still be able to donate it or re-use them. Collection organization may use old textiles as industrial wipes, upholstery stuffing, carpet pads or even fibers for making new clothes. Or if youre handy with a sewing machine, you might be able to re-work an old dress into an apron or use a worn shirt for a painting smock.

If you need any assistance with sorting or moving, were here for you!

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