When the kids have all gone off to their own lives, whether at college or to a career, your home can seem a bit empty – except for all of the STUFF! Once you’ve got the kids out the door, it’s time to take stock and take your home back. Here’s a quick look at how to get through the process without driving yourself (and everyone else) crazy in the process.

Empty Nest: How to Pare Down Your Home for Your Next Phase of Life

Ask Before Tossing

Your children are adults now, but there are still items in your home that are theirs. Though they may expect their bedrooms to remain shrines awaiting their visits, the reality of the situation is that you may have better ideas of what to do with that space in the meantime. Before making significant changes, ask your children what they still want from their rooms.

Save the Best, Toss the Rest

Whatever is left after your children choose what they want to keep, sort through it with a critical eye. With a few sentimental favorites as exceptions, if something is broken, worn out, or stained, toss it. If something is in decent shape but doesn’t have sentimental value, consider donating it to a local charity.

Use Proper Storage

With the items that you’re saving but have no use for now, take the time to carefully store them. Any items should be appropriately cleaned, then stored in plastic totes, closets, drawers, or other protected areas that will prevent them from being damaged while they are stored. Add desiccant packets that you’d otherwise find in shoes, packaging, or pill bottles to keep everything dry, and add a few cedar blocks to woolens to prevent destruction by moths.

Though you no doubt have some special items that you’ll want to hang onto long into the future, paring down your household items to deal with a smaller number of individuals often leaves a lot of junk that needs to go. One of the easiest options for residents of Rochester is a rental dumpster for home cleanouts. This way, you can get it all out at once, allowing you to take advantage of a long weekend or a few days off of work. Why not call the professionals at Gateway Dumpsters in Rochester for a rental dumpster today to see how we can help you transition into the next phase of your life?