Three years ago we bought a business in the Lehigh Valley and knew that when our boys were out of high school, we would move closer to Keystone Harley Davidson.  (Yes indeed, that was a shameless plug.)

Planning ahead and being organized is usually a good thing.  But when an organized planner who’s also a real estate stager knows she’s moving in 9 months, it borders on OCD.  Without a doubt, there are far more neat and organized people in this world than me.  Some are my friends, some are my frenemies.   There are also many intelligent, mentally sound individuals who wait until their house is sold and the moving van is on it’s way before they even begin the purging process.   Don’ Be That Girl/Guy.

For example, I know a seemingly neat, tidy, sane couple, who lived in their house about 8 years, (not 18 years) and planned an out-of-state move.  Their home took about 6 months to sell.  About a week before the moving van arrived, they spent 3 days filling a huge dumpster in their driveway, not once but twice!  Huh?  How does anyone (certified hoarders excused) keep that much disposable crap in their home knowing that it all has to go somewhere on or before moving day?

Yes, purging (we stagers call it “editing,” it’s less traumatic) is a time-consuming, overwhelming, dirty job.  But it doesn’t have to be a thankless job.   Donating the things you no longer use can be rewarding.

A few years ago my frenemy Carol and I were sharing purging stories.  (don’t judge)   She was cleaning out her son’s drawers of old clothing he rarely wore, and packing it up for donation.  Her son caught her in the act, and complained that he wanted to keep his old t-shirts because he “might want to wear them again some time.”  Carol thoughtfully replied,   “You may wear these again once or twice, but the little boy who gets them will wear them every week.”   #everybodywins.

Last fall (the move is less than a year away!) I organized a neighborhood yard sale.  Five families participated, I unloaded tons of stuff, collected $600, and donated the rest to The Vets.  That evening the neighbors gathered at our house for a very fun pot luck dinner.  My husband’s comment at the end of the night, “well, that was the most eclectic group we’ve ever hosted!”  Six months later my dear neighbor/friend passed away.  I was thankful we had that time together.

Last month I gathered about 100 of my children’s old books, got approval on what I could give away, sent an email out to my friends who have young readers, and invited them over to browse.  They left with shopping bags full of books and smiles on their faces.  It was so much fun to watch these little guys get excited about the books my boys once loved.  I didn’t get pictures of the first round of boys, but here are a few…

It’s never too soon to donate those items you don’t use.  Start purging early so that you can have fun with it and make it enjoyable, not just overwhelming and exhausting.