From KonMari To 20/20: 5 Expert Decluttering Methods To Try For A Tidier Home
For many, the start of the year is a wonderful opportunity to refresh their living spaces. Aside from cleaning your home, tidying and decluttering might also be at the top of your list. Decluttering, albeit a daunting task, can be very rewarding. Letting go of items you no longer need or no longer serve their purpose frees up space in your home and your mind, leaving you feeling lighter and happier. If you feel like decluttering is such a chore, it might be because you haven't found a method that works well for you. Understand that there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” decluttering solution. Tidying up your space will always depend on your time, energy, or interest, so you don’t have to follow only one rule. Here we’ve rounded up five of the most popular and expert decluttering approaches to owning less, hopefully to make the task a little easier for you. Whether you want to experiment with these methods to see what works best for you, or you already have a favorite approach but want to try a new one, the results will remain the same: your remaining items will have more meaning and you’ll also have the chance to help others when you donate the ones you no longer need. What is the KonMari Method™?The KonMari Method™ is probably one of the most famous decluttering methods, introduced by Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo in her 2014 bestselling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” She also starred in her own Netflix show, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.”The core principle of the KonMari method is simple — choosing what sparks joy. Instead of choosing what to discard, you are choosing to keep only the items that speak to your heart. Kondo recommends tidying by category and not by location, starting with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. To get started, collect every single item you own in a particular category and put them in a big pile. Gather all your clothes, for example, and then start the process of deciding what to keep. As you go through your belongings, Kondo suggests that you thank your items for their service before throwing or donating them.This method is also an effective way to make a lot of progress decluttering in specific categories across multiple areas of the house at once.Who is it for?People who love mindfulness and intentional living can greatly identify with this approach. Any drawbacks?The KonMari method can be time-consuming since you will be sorting through your entire stuff instead of focusing on a particular room or space. Additionally, this is not entirely a minimalist method as it can also encourage hoarders and pack rats to continue keeping things they don't need, just because they think these items still spark joy in their lives. What is the one-in, one-out technique?This simple rule means that in each category, you can't add another item until you remove or donate one you already have. This can apply to books, clothes, shoes, sets of glassware, cutlery, and kitchen tools, among others. If you follow this method properly, you’ll never accumulate more than you should and can keep the volume of your belongings constant.Who is it for?Perfect for impulsive buyers, especially those who always love to shop for clothes and other personal items. Keeping this in mind can help you avoid unnecessary purchases and teach you how to be less materialistic. Before buying an item, it will make you stop and think first: “Do I really need this item?” “Do I have a similar item that serves the same purpose?” “Is there something I am willing to let go of in return?” Homeowners who want to try a strict approach this year can follow this one, especially if you’ve just finished decluttering or are in the process of it.Any drawbacks?Things can get out of hand when you use this rule as an excuse to purchase new items and bring more things into your home. If you continue to buy and just tell yourself that you’ll get rid of something in its place, it can eventually lead to a never-ending cycle of buying and decluttering. What is the 20/20 rule?This rule is simple: If you are unsure about an item but it costs under $20 and could be replaced within 20 minutes, you can declutter it.Who is it for?For those who need a low-commitment push to get started on their decluttering journey, especially if they have a nice pile of things that haven't been used for months or years.Perfect for those “I-could-use-it-one-day” or “just in case” items, such as when purging your kitchen or junk drawersAny drawbacks?You may not be able to apply this tactic to a lot of sentimental items, since if they are really sentimental, then they can’t be replaced for less than $20 in 20 minutes. What is the Swedish Death Cleaning method?While this decluttering idea sounds morbid, the intention is important and meaningful. Swedish Death Cleaning was first introduced by Margareta Magnusson in her book Dostadning: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Dostadning, or the art of death cleaning, is a Swedish phenomenon by which the elderly and their families set their affairs in order. This method of decluttering is designed for those later in life and involves removing all non-essential items to ease the process for your loved ones once you've passed on. It’s a wide-scale method to declutter your home, with suggestions that include dealing with larger items then moving down to smaller items (junk drawer, wardrobe), and then saving sentimental things for last. It allows you to keep the more precious items since you might decide to give them away to the special people in your life. Fans of this method see it as a gift to your loved ones, especially if you don’t want to end up leaving your mess for them to deal with for months or even years.Who is it for?While the original intention is for the elderly or those who are in their later years of life, Magnusson points out that people of any age can use Swedish Death Cleaning to help them declutter and organize. This is especially true when you realize that you can hardly close your drawers or cabinets. Any drawbacks?It’s worth noting that the Swedish Death Cleaning is designed to be slow, so expect that it can be a long and thorough process. What is the four-box method?As the name suggests, all you need here are four empty boxes that you will label with their purpose. While there are some variations, most experts include the following: keep, trash or throw away, donate, and sell. Other variations also include ‘rehome' and ‘undecided.’This is quite an easy, straightforward, and flexible way to deal with your clutter as you can do it for however long and whatever frequency you prefer. You can also use the ‘Undecided’ box if you are still unsure about any particular item. If you have several family members, they can have their boxes and even have them customized to the categories they need.Who is it for?Highly recommended for those who are just starting their decluttering journey because of its simplicity and effectiveness.Those who are decluttering small, dedicated spaces can also benefit from this method.Go for this if you like putting things in fixed categories.Any drawbacks?While this strategy is pretty straightforward, the problem comes when you become indecisive on a lot of items and everything ends up in the ‘undecided’ box. If you don’t have the time or confidence to address them later, you might end up with piles of miscellaneous items that will either just stay in the box or clutter up other areas of your home. The key is to follow through with what you’re supposed to do with your stuff according to the category they fall under. Also, you may need a little guidance when it comes to deciding on things that fall into one or more categories.
How Home Equity Can Help Fuel Your Retirement
If retirement is on the horizon, now’s the time to start thinking about your next chapter. And you probably want to make sure you’re set up to feel comfortable financially to live the life you want in retirement.What you may not realize is you likely have a hidden goldmine of cash you’re not thinking about — and that’s your home. Data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows that home values have gone up nearly 60% over the last 5 years alone (see graph below):And that appreciation gave your net worth a big boost. According to Freddie Mac, over the same five-year period:“ . . . Boomer overall wealth increased by $19 trillion, or $486,000 per household, half of which is due to house price appreciation.”So if you’ve been in your house ever longer than that, chances are you have even more equity in your home. If you want to have access to more of the wealth you’ve built up throughout the years, it’s worth thinking about selling your house to downsize.Why Downsizing Might Be the Right MoveSelling now so you can downsize into a smaller home, or maybe one in a more affordable area, could free up your home equity so you can use a portion of it to help you feel confident retiring. Whether you want to travel, spend more time with family, or just feel financially secure, accessing the equity in your home can make a huge difference. As Chase says:“Retirement is an exciting time. Selling your home to take advantage of the equity or to downsize to a more affordable home can open up additional options for your future.”Here are just a few of the ways a smaller home can fuel your retirement:1. Cut Your Cost of LivingData from the AARP shows the number one reason adults 50 and older move is to reduce their cost of living. Downsizing to a smaller house or relocating to a more affordable area can help you lower your monthly expenses — like utilities, property taxes, and maintenance costs.2. Simplify Your LifeA smaller home often means less upkeep and fewer responsibilities. That can free up your time and energy to focus on the things that matter most in your retirement.3. Boost Your Financial FlexibilitySelling your current house gives you access to your equity, turning it into cash you can use however you like. Whether it’s investing, paying off debt, or creating a financial cushion, it can open up new opportunities for your future.The First Step Toward Your Next ChapterIf you think you may be interested in downsizing, working with a real estate agent is your next step. Your agent will help you understand how much equity to have and how you can use it. But they’ll do more than that. They’ll also help you navigate the entire process of selling your current home and finding a new one, so you can transition smoothly into a new home and a new phase of life.Bottom LineIf you’re planning to retire in 2025, now may be the perfect time to downsize and unlock the equity you’ve built up in your home. Connect with a local agent to start planning your move now, so you’re set up to make every day feel like a Saturday.
3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before Spring
Let’s face it — buying a home can feel like a challenge with today’s mortgage rates. You might even be thinking, “Should I just wait until spring when more homes hit the market and rates might be lower?”But here’s the thing, no one knows for sure where mortgage rates will go from here, and waiting could mean facing more competition, higher prices, and a lot more stress.What if buying now — before the spring rush — might actually give you the upper hand? Here are three reasons why that just might be the case.1. Less Competition from Other BuyersThe winter months tend to be quieter in the real estate market. Fewer people are actively looking for homes, which means you’ll likely face less competition when you make an offer. This makes the process feel less rushed and less stressful.According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homes sit on the market longer in winter compared to spring and summer (see graph below):Fewer buyers in the market means you’ll likely have more time to make thoughtful decisions. It also means you may have more negotiating power. According to the Alabama Association of Realtors:“A significant benefit of buying a home in winter is the reduced competition. Because of the perceived benefits of spring, many buyers delay the start of their house hunt. As a result, you will find fewer people competing for the same properties during winter. Less demand can translate into more negotiating power as sellers may be more willing to entertain offers or agree to concessions to get a deal closed quickly.”2. More Negotiating PowerWith homes staying on the market longer, sellers may be more willing to negotiate. This can lead to better deals for you as a buyer, whether that means a lower price or added incentives, like sellers covering closing costs or making repairs. As Chen Zhao, an Economist at Redfin, points out:“. . . buying during the off season means less competition from other buyers. That means potentially negotiating a better deal.”Plus, when demand is lower, sellers often feel more pressure to work with serious buyers. This could give you an edge to negotiate terms that work best for your situation.3. Lock in Today’s Prices Before They RiseHistorically, home prices tend to be at their lowest point in the winter months, too. According to data from NAR, home prices last year were at their lowest in January, February, and March — right before the spring buying season kicked in (see graph below):This trend isn’t new — Bright MLS shows between 2010 and 2024, home prices in January and February were, on average, 15% lower than during the month of peak home prices (typically June). Buying in the off-season means you’re more likely to avoid paying the premium prices that come with the high demand of spring.On top of that, home prices generally appreciate over time, meaning they tend to go up year after year. That means if you’re ready to buy and you can make it happen, you’re not only taking advantage of what might be the lowest prices of the year, but you’re also locking in today’s price before it increases in the future.Bottom LineWhile spring may seem like the obvious time to buy, moving before the peak season can give you significant advantages, like less competition, more negotiation power, and lower prices.If you’re ready to explore your options, a local real estate agent is there to help.
What To Do If Your House Didn’t Sell
Some HighlightsLast year, as many as 1 in 3 sellers took their home off the market because it wasn’t selling.If this happened to you too, you don’t need to be embarrassed. What you need are answers. And a local real estate agent can help with that by seeing if it was priced too high, needs some repairs, or didn’t get the right exposure. If you still want to move, connect with an expert agent to come up with a new strategy. Together, you can get your house sold.
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