A New Kind of Spring Cleaning

This morning I saw the first Bradford Pear in bloom. Out back, the forsythia bushes are a riot of cheerful yellow, and daffodils and tulips are bounding out of the ground to greet the sun. Everything is fresh and clean.

Now is when many people get serious about spring cleaning. For people who are getting ready to downsize because of retirement or an “empty nest,” this can seem a monumental chore. In the middle of finding a new home, arranging a mortgage, and getting to settlement – well, a house full of a lifetime’s treasures can suddenly become overwhelming.

It doesn’t need to be that way. Think of this as the spring cleaning to end all - a chance to finally get rid of all the “stuff” that has cluttered up the place for years. That lamp you got as a gift but never really liked? Donate it. The large rug that has been in the family for years but has seen better days? Offer it to family members. The spare bedroom suite that you won’t have room for anymore? Sell it! Think yard sale. Think eBay. Think homeless shelter.

One family I know put technology to work and set up a weblog. They took pictures of everything they didn’t want anymore, posted them on the blog, and sent the address to everyone else in the family. They said, “Here’s what we have. If you want it, tell us by the end of the month. Whatever no one wants will go to charity.”

The result? They kept the things that they loved most. The pieces that mattered to people found a new home, and local charities benefited from the rest (and the owners had a sizeable charitable tax deduction.)

So if you’re thinking about making that move this year, think of spring cleaning as a fresh start. And don’t forget to check my Senior Transitions page for more helpful tips.