Clearing out your home can be enjoyable, it can be liberating, and it can be downright exhausting as well.
It is the kind of task a lot of people like to think about, but when the time comes to break out the donation boxes and trash bags, the situation’s far less enticing!
And to really pile on the pressure here, it is important to remember that there are a few unexpected things that can happen during a clear out as well.
If you have a full home makeover in mind, running into problems in every room will wipe you out before you make any real changes!
Being prepared for them before you get started means you will have all the right tools (and the time!) to deal with them if they occur. Let us get into these issues below.
You Create More Mess
The opposite thing you wanted to happen! But it is true, a lot of home clear outs end up making more mess than they get rid of.
Because when you are pulling everything out of the cupboards and closets, and digging out the attic to see what is taking up all the space, you are just dumping the mess somewhere else.
It either all has to go back where it was, or it needs to be sorted through before the end of the day. And when you are a busy adult and parent, both of these things are unlikely to happen!
So take your time sorting through your home. Go room by room, one at a time, and have a system for what you are saving and what you are throwing away.
You Uncover Pests!
Did you know that over half of households in the US have had a pest issue at some point? That makes this one of the most likely clear out issues to come up, but very few people get ready for an infestation!
First thing’s first, know the signs. Know what pest droppings and eggs look like, know what smells and sounds indicate there’s something in the walls, and keep an eye out for scratches and bite marks around the room.
If you spot anything like this, you will want to call in a pest control professional to take a closer, more thorough look. Best case scenario, there is just a few mites milling around, but it is better to be careful!
You Find Something Valuable
Now this is actually a positive unexpected occurrence, but it can still take a bit of time and energy to deal with.
If you come across something like your grandmother’s old jewelry box (with everything still inside), or even a board game from when you were a kid, there is a chance the items have real value.
But unless you have a trained eye yourself, you are unlikely to know about it! Run anything that feels significant by an Ebay price check. Tap in the name to see if other people have it listed, and check what it is going for.
Planning a clear out? Get ready for some problems!
