REALTORS® serving Calgary and area

Jan. 21, 2015 | Cody Stuart

Keeping clean in 2015

New Year, New Home is a three-part series on how to refresh your home in 2015

For many, the arrival of another new year means the arrival of New Year's resolutions. While most involve losing a few pounds, there are others that surround shedding of a different sort.

Using a new calendar year as the impetus for cleaning closets and gutting garages, CREB®Now has compiled a list of tips to help rid your home of  all those odds, ends and extras that tend to pile up over time. Start small

When embarking on a spring cleaning mission, don't overwhelm yourself trying to tackle everything at once. Begin in one room, or perhaps one corner of that cluttered basement, dealing with jobs as they come. By not trying to deal with everything simultaneously, you'll be able to get some sense of accomplishment before moving onto the next job.

Get it all

When tackling a tough task, nothing provides an excuse to procrastinate like stopping mid-stride. So even though heading out for supplies could provide a well-deserved break, resist the temptation by gathering anything you might need beforehand. Make a list of all the supplies you may need, and have them close at hand before starting your task. An early-morning trip to the hardware store could make the difference between achieving your goal and just spending another day spinning your wheels.

Move your haul

At some point you're just going to have to say goodbye to those busted lawn chairs and old teddy bears. While many of those items dwelling in basements and closets may be destined for the dump, others can be repurposed or donated to a good cause. To help determine the best destination for your detritus, www.calgary.ca provides a helpful "What goes Where?" tool with links for nearly every item imaginable.

Show some resolve

The easiest way to ensure you don't have to repeat the whole process come next spring is to not revert back to your old unkempt ways. Instead of simply tossing that box into storage, figure out if you really need it, and then put it away neatly. It might take a few more minutes to stay tidy in the short term, but you'll be thanking yourself later. Take tips from your previous tasks, as you should now have a grip on where to quickly dispose of unwanted items.

Make a call

In the event your clutter is just too considerable or you can't find the time, there are those who can help. The Better Business Bureau recommends ensuring anyone hired to work in your home is licensed, bonded and insured. A bond is a form of insurance that protects you from dishonest or criminal acts by the people who will come into your home to clean it. Insurance protects you if the cleaning people cause an accident such as forgetting to shut off a faucet or losing a key.

Tagged: House & Home


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