PROPERTY NEWS - Life is stressful enough without our homes adding to the load. A chaotic home environment can lead to increased anxiety and decreased productivity.
To help reorganise your home, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares a few home organisation tips that will turn any home into a future buyer's dream.
Declutter
A messy home can make for a stressful home. Staying organised and clutter-free can lessen many other stressors in life. For example, keeping everything in its place makes things easier to find, which can save you time when completing tasks around the house.
Bring organised can even help you save money by helping you remain conscious of not buying items that will end us as clutter.
"Clutter tends to make a home feel smaller and less functional," says Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.
"If you consider the cost per square metre of your home, it can work out to be very expensive storage space that could otherwise be used as living space. By being smart about how you organise your home, you could maximise every square metre of space that you have available."
Organisation
After donating or dumping unused items, it is time to start organising to keep the home clutter free. Invest in storage products such as drawer dividers or clear storage containers to make things more accessible and easier to find.
The key is to avoid letting papers and other knick-knacks pile up on surface areas across the home. If you know you have a tendency towards this, rather leave out a designated "clutter" tray that you empty out once a week.
Reimagine the space
Sometimes it is easier to develop new habits by starting on a clean canvas. After decluttering and organising, give the home a fresh coat of paint. Neutral colours will have the greatest longevity and can help create a more relaxed atmosphere in the home.
It is also important to create spaces that encourage less stressful living. For example, create a designated eating area to slow down enough to enjoy a meal instead of inhaling it in front of a laptop screen while replying to e-mails.
The more functional and aesthetically pleasing you can make the home, the less willing you are likely to be to clutter it up again or leave it in a chaotic state.
"If homeowners are struggling to find the motivation to keep the home clutter free, it might be useful to consider the investment value of the property," says Goslett.
"Leaving the home in a mess is likely to lead to unseen breakages or wear and tear that will need to be addressed once the homeowner decides to sell. Future buyers are also likely to make low-ball offers if the home appears to be in a state of disrepair. Keeping a home neat, organised and well maintained can go a long way towards safeguarding the investment value of the property."
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