CLAYCAT'S CHALLENGE: The House Project - Deadline January 10

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CLAYCAT'S CHALLENGE: The House Project - Deadline January 10

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Started 2 years ago by Claycat
Latest reply from pkilmain
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Claycat
Member

This project in simply to put this house in order.

This is my mother-in-law's house. We are going to put it up for sale some time in February. The first thing I have to do is put it in order, so we will stop bumping into things. We moved in here in the summer. There were probably three times the items in here that there are now. Some of it is still in the smaller house where we lived. Much of it has been sold at two estate sales, and many boxes have been donated to a women's shelter thrift shop. Remaining items, of hers, are going to be put on ebay this month. Then I will see what I can sell of mine. (I would donate it, but we need the money.) In the meantime, I have to deal with my own stuff, too. Much paper has to be dealt with. I know what I have to do, but any suggestions would be very welcome. The thing I need most is moral support! Some days are so discouraging, and I really get down in the dumps.

I'm so glad I have this place where I can be accountable in a pleasant way!

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

Here is my album on photobucket. You can click on each photo to read the description.

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/casscat/The%20House%20Project/

Posted 2 years ago #
Lehcarjt
Member

That is a huge project! And you're only giving yourself till the 10th? Maybe you could break it down by day and create ToDo Lists. For example, everything on the hutch is photoed, readied to be shipped, and put up on ebay on January 3rd. On January 4th...

I've never sold on ebay, but I've heard that one of the easier things to do is to package the item right after you post it (but don't forget to label the package) so it is ready to go the moment it sells.

And really, the house underneath the clutter looks like it is in very good shape. That should make things easier for selling.

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

Lehcarjt, I'm giving myself a couple of months to do the ebay thing. LOL! I would be hysterical if I had to have everything on ebay by the 10th! The January 10th deadline is only for straightening up the house and making it orderly enough to keep track of everything else. Also, I have to go through a bunch of paper and make it orderly.

I'm going to make an appointment with a guy who does minor house repairs for a date soon after the 10th. There are a few things that need to be repaired before we put the house on the market.

(Thanks for the ebay pointers! I was even thinking of packing the ebay item before I post it, so I will have the exact weight to calculate the postage.)

I may make a separate topic for tackling selling the items on ebay, craig's list, and maybe Amazon. Another poster said they made $500 dollars selling books on Amazon, so maybe I should consider that, too.

Posted 2 years ago #
Kaz in Oz
Member

I know about the moral support Claycat. Last time I did a big declutter was when I moved in with my husband and had to get rid of all the stuff his exwife had left behind when she moved out and hadn't bothered to come back for. My best friend wasn't working at the time so she would come over on my days off (shift worker) and just be there for me. Having someone to guide and keep me on track really helps. Unfortunately we now live away from her and she's working again.

Keep going with the good work. I've set myself a challenge of a room a week - though today I chose the laundry which apart from a folding shelf, is now almost done. Apart from actually doing all the laundry that is. :D

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

Thanks for your support, Kaz! I will stay after you, too! :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Lehcarjt
Member

Ha! I'm really glad you aren't trying to get everything ebayed by the 10th. I thought that was kind of insane, but didn't want to discourage you by saying anything.

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

It would be insane, Lehcarjt, even for a seasoned seller but especially for a beginner like me! :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Sky
Member

You have a big job ahead of you! I've sold a lot on ebay and I recommend to put no more than 10 items on at a time. Buyers ask questions and with packing each item and keeping track of who has paid when the auction ends and mailing it can get confusing.

Keep sight of your goal and before you know it, you will get there. Good luck!

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

Excellent idea, Sky!

Posted 2 years ago #
trillie
Member

Hee hee, I'm so glad you're not bound and determined to have sold everything on ebay by the 10th ;o)

And it does actually not look like an absolutely overwhelming job -- I bet that the task that will take you the most time (and that is the most annoying) is just to pick every item up, look at it and decide what you will do with it. After that, it will be easy because you have a plan! So the idea that you set daily goals is probably the most rewarding way to do it.

Good luck! And when you get "down in the dumps", you now have a place to wail about it here, and we'll pick you up!

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

Thanks, trillie! I think what we need the most is picking up!

Posted 2 years ago #
zchristy
Member

You can do it, Claycat! You will be so proud if yourself when this is finished and it's very do-able. Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

Posted 2 years ago #
Charity
Member

Good luck! Are you doing it fulltime?

Posted 2 years ago #
MsDasha
Member

Good luck! Just keep thinking about how great you will feel when its all done :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

@ zchristy - Yes, I will be proud. Organizing is one of my biggest challenges. It just doesn't come naturally!

@ Charity - Yes, fulltime - I'm not working right now, unfortunately!

@ MsDasha - I will feel great!

Thank you all so much for your support!

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

I've been having that overwhelmed feeling again, today. I know what part of my problem is; I didn't get decent sleep. Both medications I take can cause insomnia, and one can cause sleep apnea. A goal this year is to reduce one med. and get the other one changed.

I suddenly realized, after taking some more photos, that I need short term, temporary extra wall storage. I need to get everything off the floor and into shelves, or something, against the wall! Something that doesn't cost too much! I think I'm going to go with the old cinderblock/board shelving that is an old standby. Maybe some crate shelving, too. I know it will be very temporary, but I do have a place for it against the east wall of the house.

Posted 2 years ago #
Kaz in Oz
Member

Hope you get a decent night sleep soon. I was up late last night and got to bed at 2, to be welcomed by Hubby's CPAP machine blowing a gale as it had come loose ferom his face. Hope you get your meds sorted.

How temporary is the temporary shelving going to be? Is it going to stay there while you show the house? If it is, is there anyway you can borrow some from someone who isn't using it. It would look so much nicer than cinderblock.

I stored a heap of my sister's paintings for her when we were showing our house. She was renovating so had no wall space and had them out in the garage at the time, so it was a way of them being looked after too. It was a bit sad giving them back when she was finished as they looked so nice. Didn't help us sell the house - we didn't get a single viewing in 10 weeks, we're still here.

Posted 2 years ago #
stagepin
Member

I see a bunch of packed cardboard boxes in a few of the photos. I've taken those boxes (full of books) and used them as plywood shelf supports. As long as the wood sits above the walls of the cardboard, they won't crush the boxes. Granted, you can't stack high, but it may work in the real short term.

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

Thanks, Kaz! I hope sorting the meds will take care of the problem. I don't know if I can handle a CPAP. I hate being constricted.

Is your sister an artist? Are you still trying to sell the house?

I may have to move some pictures to the small house. However, I need to deal with the books here, so I'm trying to re-purpose some furniture.

Stagepin, using the boxes of books is a very good temporary shelving idea. I'm going to try it. Thanks!

I will take it down before I show the house. Hopefully, I will have sold a bunch of books by then! :)

Posted 2 years ago #

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