Five Common Messy Home Causes...And How to Fix Them

A large part of getting your house ready for the market is making sure things are organized. However, if you consistently find yourself feeling slightly overwhelmed by the cluttered nature of your surroundings, it might be time to take stock of some of the main reasons your home is messy so that you can master a few solutions.

As with any destructive habit, the first step is admitting that you have a problem. It might be easy to say that your home isn’t that bad, but if you’re hoping to show your property to a slew of interested buyers, you might want to begin by truthfully assessing the situation.

If, during this process, you’re able to admit that something in your home needs to give, you can start by taking stock of the following common clutter causes.

Paper, Paper…Everywhere. If you’re one of those people who has a tendency to stack everything from books, mail, coupons, and magazines, then your décor may be suffocating under accumulating piles of paper. While not technically “dirty,” each pile of paper creates a mess that is perpetually in limbo between the filing cabinet and the waste bin.

How to Fix It. To catch the problem before it truly becomes an issue, take a few proactive steps such as immediately tossing junk mail or making a point to file important items in an easily-accessible filing system. For books, clear out your shelves and donate titles you no longer need.

“That Actually Goes in the Upstairs Closet.” If you’re one of those people who has a tendency to leave things lying around when you’re finished with them, your home probably feels a bit overwhelming.

How to Fix It. While it may take a bit of self-discipline, try adopting a policy where every time you leave a room, you take something back to its original home—and make sure all of your belongings actually have organized homes to begin with!

Blazers and T-shirts and Shoes, Oh My! Most people will agree that clothes tend to be a common denominator in disorganized households. For many of us, it’s easy to simply leave them in a pile at the end of a long day, but that practice clearly lends itself to adding more clutter to your space.

How to Fix It. To make things a bit more manageable, make a rule with yourself that you’re not only required to find homes for the articles you take off—whether that’s in the laundry basket or re-hanging gently used items—but you’re also only allowed to pull one item of clothing from the closet at a time.

I Swear I Just Vacuumed…A Few Days Ago? Our minds have a tendency to play tricks on us, so when assessing your cleaning skills, it’s wise to pay attention to how many days have REALLY gone by since you last cleaned. While it may seem like you scrubbed your bathroom “just last week,” the truth may be closer to “just last month.”

How to Fix it. If you have trouble establishing a regular cleaning schedule, make a point to set one up in your calendar and stick to it. If it means you have to keep notifications on your refrigerator, then make a written list of the important cleaning chores that need to be tackled on a regular basis. Once you start keeping tabs on your cleaning, you’ll probably find that it doesn’t take as long since there will be less of a chance that an abundance of dirt will build up.

Make it a Family Affair. If you’re not the only one in your home, there will probably be days where it feels like, no matter what you do, nothing stays clean. Whether its pets tracking in dirt or your children’s affinity for finger paints and matchbox cars, you may feel like cleanliness is nothing but an uphill battle.

How to Fix it. While you can’t exactly set ground rules with your dog, you can certainly set them with your family members. Whether the goal is to consistently wipe the dog’s paws after she’s been outside or to put toys away when they’re not being used, there’s nothing wrong with making sure everyone is on the same page. Feel free to invest in items that will help this process, such as easier-to-clean pet bedding, storage cubbies, and toy boxes.

In the end, your home should be a reprieve from the chaos of the outside world. If you regularly find yourself stressed out when crossing your hearth, then perhaps it’s time to adopt a few new habits—especially if you’re planning to sell in the near future.

To learn more about how to organize your home in preparation for the real estate market, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to offer tips and pointers!

Pam Evans | Hello Pam Evans Real Estate | www.HelloPamEvans.com | 678-778-6551