Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that my new book, Things That Matter, is finally here. I put my heart into it, and I can’t wait to share it with you. You can pick up a copy at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676394/things-that-matter-by-joshua-becker/
1:36 Remove 1/3 of your possesions 2:10 Find a home for everything 3:15 Declutter surfaces 3:58 Personalize your decorations 5:02 Deep clean the bathroom 5:50 Curb appeal (the exterior) 6:47 Deep clean the house 7:25 Tackle minor projects and repairs 7:56 Tackle major projects
Thank you. That saved me a lot of time. I often find this speaker, while not wrong, goes on at length without telling me anything I didn't already know.
@@potatoking8759 I do the same thing! Some folks get the 1.75x treatment. It's hard for me not being able to speed up the tv sometimes for the people who. take. too. long. to. get. to. their. point! LOL
My siblings did all this for our parents home when they were elderly. They really enjoyed it, they are passed now and we are so happy we could do that for them.
This is THE best video you have done.. my husband and I have this mindset and we have done improvements so we can enjoy them now. We are blessed and (hopefully) are living in our forever home. Thank you for this reminder.. Stage your home for living. confession: still need to remove 1/3 of the possessions... still a work in progress.
This advice is great. We live this way and it is phenomenal. It takes us a few minutes each day to put things away. But he is right everything needs a home and most things that don't can go. Today was a really great day. We helped someone else declutter, our neighbor. She was overwhelmed with her garage. My husband and I offered to take to goodwill whatever she placed out of her garage. We did and she was in tears after, she just needed encouragement and someone to help take it. Now that we can help others, we feel so grateful. Thanks Joshua for your motivation!
That is beautiful ! I wish more people were kind like that . The elderly especially need a helping hand . Most often their grown children live out of town and are unable to tackle large decluttering projects . Way to go bringing someone else joy and peace of mind!
LOVE these tips! When we sold our last home after 12 yrs of living in it we had a lot of little projects to do to make it look just right to show. Nothing that was major or expensive, just a little time consuming. When we were finished I was so upset with myself that I hadn’t done those things years sooner so that we could enjoy how nice everything looked.
cindy How did you adjust to your downsized home? Was it a major mental adjustment? My husband and I are in our upper 60s and we are looking at downsizing in the next few years. I am having issues with that thought. I know it is inevitable but I kind of dread leaving my home. We raised our family in this home.
@@patriciajohnsonson8639 Helped my parents downsize. They had a LOT of stuff. Created a photo album just for the house. Photos at every angle with the old and new landscaping. Photos of the contents of the China hutch. Which we also used to sell on Craig's List. Helped them choose pieces for their new smaller rental and sold or donated the rest. They resisted letting stuff go in the beginning. By the end they said a heavy weight had been lifted. They love their new life. They just had not been able to visualize the process to get there. Take baby steps. De-clutter and create a memory photo album to start. Best wishes if you decide to make this journey.
R Vista I am minimizing. I started about. A year ago. My parents left us with a lot of stuff to rid of and I don’t want to do that to my children. We have a home in Illinois and a condo in Indiana. I am stream lining both homes. The Condo so was easy but the home we have lived in for 30 years. Thank you for the suggestion of photos of the home we will be one day leaving. That’s a great idea. I just hope one day when I am in my smaller home, I am not crying as I look at the pictures and wish I were still in the bigger home.😄
To Patricia-We dragged our feet on downsizing but finally did it. Getting rid of stuff was so freeing. Within 2 days of our move I realized how much easier and calmer it was living in a smaller space. I exclaimed to my husband, “ We should have done this sooner!” Set aside your fear and prepare for a new adventure.
@@patriciajohnsonson8639 Do it now. You may be surprised at how different you feel in your mid-70's than you do in your late 60's, first of all. Second,, it's good to live for today and tomorrow not yesterday. Sometimes lingering around in an environment which has lived out its usefulness instead of moving into a space that meets one's needs today is more of a drag than we realize until we make the move. No one ever says they are so miserable after downsizing and going through all their "stuff" and unburdening themselves. Everyone says they are delighted and wish they had done it sooner. Ask around. That said, the "dread" can definitely be doing the work to dig out and prepare a house for sale ugh! But again, better sooner than later when it's only going to be harder. Good luck.
This is so great! My husband and I moved two years ago and staged out old apartment. We liked how it looked so much than now we only have those “staged” items in our new home... friends often say it looks “staged” but nobody ever mentions minimalism ... because it’s still lived in and homey. My husband refers to it as our “set”.
So true. Doesn’t this apply to other areas of life too? We do for others often what we don’t give ourselves (compassion, charity, etc.). When I sold my condo 21 years ago to buy a house, all my friends commented how great it looked and why was I leaving it (indoor parking and laundry) because I had done all those things. In process of doing it again for myself. Thanks Joshua for reminding us what’s important. (P.S. it’s easier to keep the place cleaner and get to the little projects once you’ve minimized because you don’t have the impediment of shifting so much stuff to get to it, plus you have more time.)
When you're ready to move your house generally looks just like you always wanted it to. Painted, new or cleaned carpets, decluttered, furniture rearranged and when you get to new place its always easier and quicker to clean cos you've not had time to fill it up yet with new purchases you've been unable to resist.
Each evening we do a 1-minute quick clean. Our family of five spends 1 minute in each room, cleaning up and putting things away. However! Because we have five people cleaning, we actually turn one minute into five minutes. It's genius!
You are so on target Joshua. I lived in 21 different home before I was 18, my Dad was a carpenter. Mom kept them minimal and ready for moving. Loved the relaxing atmosphere of a minimal home!
This was true for me and my car too. My last car when I went to sell, I did an amazing deep clean on the interior, washing mats, etc. It was never that clean the entire time I had it.
We thought of downsizing, but it would have cost more than staying where we are! Instead we have been remodelling to make our home easier to manage and we added a covered patio. I’m loving my ‘new home.’ ❤️ Great insight as usual Joshua... I would have liked to see your hands cleaning the bathroom! 😉
Yeeeessss! I loved every word of this! This video is getting sent to any of my family and friends who are feeling tired, overwhelmed and stressed in their homes! We sold our home 6 years ago and did EXACTLY what you said! What a shame! Our home and property looked so sweet and inviting! We should have be able to enjoy that all 10 years we lived there. Now in our current home, I've been simplifying and following your tips and The Minimal Mom's... and it is incredibly peaceful and super easy to maintain every day! Before covid, several visitors would say, "You know, I thought it was gonna feel cold and empty in here. But actually, it's so peaceful and open! Your little house feels roomy and relaxing!!" Win for minimalism!
That happens more than you think! I read a FB post from someone who told a friend "you'd never recognize our home, it's so nice" She was selling for a job lol
I'm feeling this. After all the effort I put into this house, anything I look at can't compare, so I find myself frustrated and angry. It's like, if I'm going to be paying more than what my house is worth, better damn well **look** worth it! And so far, not happening.....
@@deniseherud I knew two people who had the same feelings, they ended up re-decorating their houses and staying there. They had looked for an entire year to find something comparable and could never obtain that. Of course, the reason for the move can be vital, in those cases one was retired and one was close to retirement. All the best to you whatever you choose to do Denise Herud. :-)
My husband and I try to do each of these items. I love my house since I decluttered! A friend asked if I would be a host house for a Bible study because she knew my house did not have to be thoroughly cleaned because of the major decluttering. I know I need to do the window cleaning...will try to tackle that before your next video. Thanks for this great reminder Joshua!
One of the smartest things you can do is if your house is minimal it's not going to cost that much for somebody to come in and clean it if you and your husband go out and eat or go on vacation you spend money all the time have someone to come in and clean your home It is not that great a luxury as people think There's nothing better than coming in after your house is clean and fresh it saves you so much stress and if you're not getting around to it or you don't want to clean in those places there's someone that needs the money so just do it You will never regret it. I believed to have someone clean your home and cut your yard are two of the best stress relievers there is unless you love doing it yourself and you have the time
Your idea is a really good one. There are cleaning businesses that often have good "whole house cleaning" specials. They usually can offer non-scented products too, which is good if you are selling as it guarantees no scent allergy issues :-)
I like to cook occasionally but not every day. Both my husband and I work long hours, but we want to have fresh, home cooked meals. So we have somebody come in to cook and clean the kitchen afterwards. We are not rich, but we splurge on this so we free up time to do other things we want to do. I cook often, but only when I want to and not as a chore.
I could not agree more. Having somebody clean your house/apartment even if it is only once a month is the best decision you will ever make. It is the best return on investment. And do not clean with the cleaner, no, go for a walk, a coffee, meet a friend. For me, this was a life changer, the closest thing to luxury. I would rather have somebody doing chores for me than have a car. I do not have a car, I live downtown, I do not need one. Thanks for the nice videos.
My husband and I were planning to move for about a year, so we've been working on fixing up things we didn't like. We're still not done, but we've also decided to stay put in this house for another few years, so now we're working to make our house the way that we want it!
Totally agree with you on all aspects! Two weeks ago I hired a pro to completely tear apart and redo my back patio. I’m using that as the starting point to get my house ready-to-live-in-it with style I shared it with my mom who passed away last year. She believed in “ if it’s not broke why fix it “! And she would not allow me to spend on anything major nor would she get it done herself. So I lived in misery and lack of my own style I’m moving forward and not looking back. Thank you for this motivation I’m glad I found your channel Greetings from Los Angeles
I like your approach, make your home great for you and your family, not for others. Some of the books and videos I have seen regarding decluttering place too much emphasis on having the home ready for company. But truly, you should have a home that is great for the people who live there.
Thank you Joshua for another great video! I just wanted to add that when you remove that 1/3 of your belongings *or more* to sell, and the prospective buyers walk through saying it's so nice and airy, it's because all that stagnant energy is gone! 🤭
Great video as usual. You can always think of some topic that is not ‘run of the mill.’ I love the idea of staging my house for living in it. It makes so much sense. Every video is so professionally presented that it is always a satisfying experience, and are you aware that you are the personification of tranquility?
Great video! As new home owner, it was difficult to take your advice. Our condo was built in 1996. We are the third owners. The hot water tank, furnace & AC, and carpet are all original. None of the previous owners wanted to invest in the upkeep or maintenance. Both bathrooms and kitchen are old and need updated as does the windows. Originally we wanted to focus on paying off the mortgage as fast as possible as Dave Ramsey suggests, but we decide that we want to tackle a major repair or update each year and enjoy living in our condo. We replaced the hot water tank, replacing the entire carpet and pad throughout condo, and upgrading both bathroom and kitchen floors. Possibly get new AC & furnace this year as well. Next year we will update our kitchen since that's a bigger and more expensive project. We want to enjoy living in our condo while we are here. Don't want to fix it up for someone else to enjoy!
Has bern said, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", however our dog taught my husband to put his socks in the dirty clothes, not on the floor. Rosie ate socks left on the floor. Good dog! Rosie😸
Thank you, this makes so much sense. My husband and I have a large, light filled bedroom that has not been decorated for 20+ years because we concentrate on other rooms! I would love it to be special BEFORE we decide to sell. You (as always) have motivated me...
I'm also in my 40s. My husband and I have been married for 20 and a half years. We have lived in several houses as well. We are a family of 4. Two teens and my hubby.. Im a minimalst and i have to have my home very tidy. We have sold and bought homes as well. The fastest we sold our home was in 17 hours because I know how to stage and God is awesome. I love staging so I knew how to sell the home fast. Great tips, I do all of these. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Joshua, we just painted two rooms in our house for this exact reason. It does take time and commitment and money but it’s worth it. For me it was getting over the hump of beginning the project....
Words of wisdom! We worked our tails off 2 years ago to get our house ready for someone else to enjoy.😥 We vowed we'd never do that again! Working on #9 as we speak...a complete bathroom gutting and reno!
Seeing this video made me feel good that we have finally gotten rid of close to one third of our stuff. And I have much less stress now! Tidying up is very quick. I have had that mindset for many years: to stage our house for living not moving. We've been doing one major project every year for the last 4 years. It's exciting to finally get things done!
Thank you. This was very good. We are retired. My husband put in new electrical thru out our home,garage and yard. (An electrician for 59 years , and certified with a lifetime teaching credential for the state of California....so it's A-1 condition) and I keep plants up and he the lawn. We were not going to do much of anything else, because we were going to move out of state to our son's area in Texas, but all has changed for different reasons, good reasons, not bad. So this concept sounds right to me. We can no longer do slot or afford slot, such as removing pop corn a, but we can freshen everything with paint . We have already removed slot of clutter, ( a little more to do....so just want to say we have to be thinking of our son and his family having to come from Texas after we're gone, and they would've had to deal with soooooo much more let alone all the paperwork and the "then" selling of our home....so I feel a great gift to them would be to do as much of it as we can now, before that time
Absolutely profound! I am always decluttering and my husband is a hoarder, it's very frustrating! I'm trying to be patient and explain each video to him excitedly and he now asks me to send them to him. I am sure you will create a breakthrough for him!
Love this video!!! We just sold our 1,000 square foot home, sold and gave away about 40% of stuff. Moving into a 1,500 square foot home. Now everything has a place, decorating is so easy, what we enjoy is out and displayed, not hidden away.
I've often wondered how many people stage for selling after realtor's advice ... and then find they don't want to move any more. Sometimes 'we can't see the wood for the trees'.
That kinda happened to us! We sold our house to ourselves after showing it!! Realized what we had after all that staging and deep cleaning and decided to stay.
After living with a hoarder, I'm very fond of having a house where I can clean it up enough to have a female relative visit me (ladies will understand this) within about 15 minutes. And most of that is sweeping up after the cats, who don't understand that kibbles can stay in the food dish and it's not necessary to dig to China and fling litter over the entire house in order to do your business.
@@oldcountryman2795 true for the obvious that something is wrong, but maybe you have problems they do not, nor have you lived their life. Be grateful :)
This video came at THE RIGHT TIME for me because we just moved over the weekend into our dream house. I’m collecting things we really don’t want to donate
This quarantine has helped me walk around my house and really see it. I've staged my house, did the deep clean, moved pictures, revamped our bed, rearranged furniture, and can't believe the difference. Considering I thought our house was great before I made all these changes! Seriously great advice and it really didn't cost us anything.
Great video and the advice is so true! I am in the real estate business and when I see a cluttered or dirty home it drains my energy. Some people live in homes so perfect it looks like they are staged. Being around organized people and seeing these videos is so inspiring!
Great tips! We already practice several of these, like a home for everything and tackling projects now, and it really does payoff in terms of mental health and peace. My home is my happy place!
I started FlyLady last month. I’ve come to like shining my sink and doing the nightly hot Spot/reset nightly. This is all good advice But I must disagree with you about cooking utensils. You didn’t seem to think people needed many things like measuring spoons or spatulas. I put the extras in quarantine, and then brought extras back out. For example, a recipe will say “Add 1 TBSP of oil to the chicken. Then add 1 TBSP if the seasoning. “. The purpose of the oil is to help the spices cling to the chicken. You aren’t going to put the oily spoon to go into the spice bottle. And it’s really taking the joy of cooking to stop and wash stuff. Not to mention the time increases. Sometimes, it’s the time between the dish burning while it’s cooking.
Me too! I started FlyLady on 1st September with Babysteps after following Steph on The Secret Slob! It’s a fantastic system isn’t it! I live in a show home now. Just shined my sink just now. 😉
I've been Flying for over 12 years and can attest to the wonderful approach she shares to reduce CHAOS. You won't regret following her advice. I am now buying a tiny home in a beautiful resort and am completely thrilled because I am not stressing about all of my stuff because I know everything will have a purpose and my environment will be easily managed through the habits I formed using Marla's advice. Definitely use the "babysteps" approach because burnout is a real thing. I still shine my sink and tackle hotspots along with doing all the rest (especially laying clothes out for the next day and having a launch pad, even though it is just myself). My FlyLady folder is still going strong (super durable!!) and is very versatile with what I choose to put in it. I could go on, but you get the idea 😉
Also, I wanted to address the extra tools (your example: measuring spoon) issue. The French have a term, which I'll copy from Wiki: Ingredients arranged in a home kitchen for a peanut brittle recipe
We did our Fall, whole house, deep clean today. Then I sat down and watched this amazing video. Such a wonderful reminder. Thank you. 🙏 Now to tackle our staging list. 😍
Yup, I recently repainted my parents kitchen cabinets and they always said that they need a bigger kitchen... After taking everything out of the cabinets I'd estimate easily over 50% of the cabinet space was taken up by decorative dishes/cups that are never used or old junk that hasn't been touched in years. Counters were cluttered with stuff that could easily fit in that 50%+ cabinet space.
Yup, I didn’t even have to from the realtor because it was an easy sell but I repainted the bathroom and should’ve done it years ago. Now we’re living in a definitely unminimalistic home (To Dutch standards, probably modest to American standards). But it’s a place to share and host. It looked much better than it turned out in terms of paint, and that’s okay because it wasn’t to our taste. So no we’re slowly making it ours, with some help of friends at a social distance. And we’re following most of your advice in doing so. I’m going to think about decorations. I’m not into decor, but some pictures somewhere might be nice 😎
This is so true! Great tips. For me I am attacking visual clutter and deep cleaning. I love going in the morning into a bright clean bathroom. (it's currently in chaos).
Brilliant video. Hubby & I have moved 8 times in our 23 yrs of marriage. I've had this same thought every time we've gone through the getting ready to sell phase. Thank you for the kick in the pants I needed to stop procrastinating!
Joshua this is great. I have staged a home to sell and it is hard work, but it works. It is only now that I am at a place where I have become mindful of this very thing.. to stage my home for living. I have been working towards my version of minimalism and it is a constant work in progress. Now I have no excuse... I quit my job during a pandemic..how balsy was that..the audacity of me to do it..I was in no financial position to do it...my rationale was stay.... it would have become ugly and I would have torn down so many bridges, relationships and barriers that I have built or leave for the sake of my sanity and joy. I was so unhappy that I could not continue there and I have no regrets..I can spend my time living my version of my best life doing the things that I love on my own time..gardening, pets, my 1000 projects and DIY's. I never would have imagined that I would be this happy in my 60's no less..I feel like it is the new 40 for me. Thank you and bless you Joshua for continuing to inspire us.
We recently sold our home. It was staged beautifully. I left realizing I didn’t need so much furniture or items laying around. Our new home has been more intentional about what comes in. I’m still going through rooms & removing items. Storage unit has been dealt with finally! Keep up the great work! This one gives a different perspective!🤓
Great advice 👍 I love being able to reset the house in 15 min. Now for a big project, new floors... I will have to do it before I sell, so might as well doing it now and enjoying it. Thanks
We always feel better about our home when it is clean and tidy. Life in general feels better and we are more content and grateful with less clutter and everything in its place. Great reminder to just take the time and effort to love where we are right now in life!
We learned this after a few moves too. My husband spent one afternoon doing all the little minor fixes we’d put off for over a year and I deep cleaned. Afterward we both wondered why we didn’t do it ages ago for ourselves.
I have been slowly getting rid of "stuff" since the kids finished college and moved out.......I love my organized clutter free house. I do find I am always working at not buying stuff we don't use. It's a commitment but a worthwhile one, to mindfully keep your house clean and organized. Videos, like yours Josh I continue to watch and read your newsletters to keep the momentum going.
One of the best videos I've seen on your channel. Thank you for the reminder that it's best to enjoy your home while living in it. Everything in its place.
This makes life so much easier. I've been doing this for years, and it's far more peaceful. However, I live alone. Families or odd couple roommates can make this quite the challenge. Just do your best!!!
My coworker had to rent a pod to sell his home and used his MIL home (she reminded him often he was picking up that clutter back up!) He thought later, did he really need all that? Sometimes seeing it all together is a wake-up call
This was definitely a much needed video, ty. I've already done this stuff but it's reassuring to know others are doing it and feeling the same way. I'd like to add too, it's more complicated with home businesses too...I have my stock and supplies here, which makes it awkward. I've tried confining it to one area but the struggle is real.
I live in Spain, where the tradition was yo show the whole house to new visitors (Friends and family). I used to hate It as a kid and stopped doing It as an adult. I'm finding, howeve, that this tradition helped us keep our homes perfectly "staged" so any unexpected visit would find It clean and ordered.
love it! what an interesting concept. Even though I have no intention of selling anytime soon, I definitely love the idea of "staging my home for living". Thanks!
Your title is the exact words I used to find your video. We just sold our house a few months ago and I loved how it felt staged. So now I want my new house to feel that way. Thanks for the video
Perfect timing for this video, now that we are staying at home a lot more than usual, and holidays are coming! Great time to do this stuff now!!! I try to plan to do a little each day, it gets overwhelming if I don't.
Exactly the way I think about “home staging” since the first day I hear about it from so many realtors and interior designers here on TH-cam. Thank you for putting the thoughts in a more detailed way!
The house across the street from mine just sold for twice what my identical one was appraised for four hears ago, and nearly $400K more than listing. It was painted inside, carpeted, staged and the garden was manicured and barked, but mostly it was immaculate! It showed wonderfully well and inspired me to have less stuff.
thank you. brilliant. we are so busy trying to sell our houses, but never take the time to enjoy them. This is so my husband and I and it really inspires me to get on with making our house more liveable. thanks again
My husband and I just spent a couple of hours hauling what was in my shed to the front porch. It was 1/3 of my stuff. It took me over a year. This is the video that got me through the hardest part, the last 3-month stretch. I truly feel like I have been freed from prison. Thank you for your help. I could not have done this without you. I'm looking around thinking...I need to start again!
Watching this video while I am in the middle of cleaning to move to our first home and it makes a lot sense. Thank you for sharing your fantastic ideas. 🙏🙏
You are so right! My brother fixed all the rotted boards in our front porch and repainted it - after we had already moved out. We could have been enjoying that porch all those years we lived there.
It’s really difficult to pick a fave, but THIS may be my favourite (I’m Canadian - hence the spelling) video of yours, Joshua. Why do we do this to ourselves? Such wonderful advice. I love it! Many, many thanks. Keep safe and well. Hugs from Ontario.
I LOVE THIS!!!!! It speaks my mind. I have watched home improvement shows where the family removes clutter, toys, and who knows what, in order to have the work done. I always think, are they really going to bring all of that junk back inside their beautiful, remodeled home!!!???!!!!! I struggle with clutter and wish relatives would cooperate with my wish for no Christmas presents. Even practical gifts that I can use become a problem, even if I need them, if they don't fit in my space.
I’ve watched this video periodically. We plan to do this to our house and property which have been neglected somewhat with raising 4 young kids. We plan to bring our home to its former glory this spring and summer. Thanks for the great video, Joshua. We plan to stage our house for living.
As someone who is very clean, has recently gone minimalist, believes in valuing and caring for everything I own and a domestic cleaner....i couldn't agree more.
I have done this all my life. I went to boarding school from the age of 6. I learned so much over the years and particularly about 'everything has its place'. I developed good habits. Something I remember one of the nuns saying in guidance class was that you can tell a lot about a person when you see how they care for their car. It's reveals a lot about their standards and habits. A valued car maintained and kept clean, tidy and sparkling will give much pleasure and last 'forever'!
That is a brilliant idea! I know of a couple who bought a house and remodelled it. The previous owners came by to see what they had done. The wife was not happy with her husband, because what the new owners had done were things she had wanted to do so they could stay in their home. It was a sad lesson for them both. Really great thing to think about for us all. I am working on getting rid of lots of stuff. We are remodelling at the same time, so it is not easy, but we keep on. My husband loves to buy things, which makes it harder. We have enough tools to start a tool rental business, and the same with small kitchen appliances. I wonder if people would rent them to try before buying??
I have cut up flannel cloths from the thrift store in a basket under the bathroom sink, after using the sink and counter top I take a cloth and wipe down the area, same with the shower. I put the used cloth in another basket and wash them all once a week with my other cleaning cloths. In the morning I nip around the house and make the bed, etc before I sit down to breakfast, I find if you clean a little each day it never gets dirty enough to need a huge scrubbing.
I thought showing my home was gonna be so stressful with a family of 5 to keep it clean and put away, I kept being told how miserable it would be.....I found I was the least anxious I had been for years for those 3 or 4 weeks. There wasnt stuff everywhere, things were cleaned up and put away everyday, and there was space to move, to breath, to relax. Unfortunately we have now moved and clearly I was the only one that had this outlook.
Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that my new book, Things That Matter, is finally here. I put my heart into it, and I can’t wait to share it with you. You can pick up a copy at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676394/things-that-matter-by-joshua-becker/
1:36 Remove 1/3 of your possesions
2:10 Find a home for everything
3:15 Declutter surfaces
3:58 Personalize your decorations
5:02 Deep clean the bathroom
5:50 Curb appeal (the exterior)
6:47 Deep clean the house
7:25 Tackle minor projects and repairs
7:56 Tackle major projects
Thank you. That saved me a lot of time. I often find this speaker, while not wrong, goes on at length without telling me anything I didn't already know.
@@serendipityshopnyc I listen at 1.5x speed and that works fine ;)
Potato King thanks so much, just looking for tips. You helped.
@@potatoking8759 I do the same thing! Some folks get the 1.75x treatment. It's hard for me not being able to speed up the tv sometimes for the people who. take. too. long. to. get. to. their. point! LOL
@@serendipityshopnyc My thoughts too. We all know this stuff.
My siblings did all this for our parents home when they were elderly. They really enjoyed it, they are passed now and we are so happy we could do that for them.
Okay, I've been meditating how to make my home a retreat instead of needing to vacation. This video helped so much. Thx brother.
This is THE best video you have done.. my husband and I have this mindset and we have done improvements so we can enjoy them now. We are blessed and (hopefully) are living in our forever home. Thank you for this reminder.. Stage your home for living. confession: still need to remove 1/3 of the possessions... still a work in progress.
Glad it was helpful. You've got this!
I like that. I have always thought that's a good idea
This advice is great. We live this way and it is phenomenal. It takes us a few minutes each day to put things away. But he is right everything needs a home and most things that don't can go. Today was a really great day. We helped someone else declutter, our neighbor. She was overwhelmed with her garage. My husband and I offered to take to goodwill whatever she placed out of her garage. We did and she was in tears after, she just needed encouragement and someone to help take it. Now that we can help others, we feel so grateful. Thanks Joshua for your motivation!
That is beautiful ! I wish more people were kind like that . The elderly especially need a helping hand . Most often their grown children live out of town and are unable to tackle large decluttering projects . Way to go bringing someone else joy and peace of mind!
That is so nice of you and your husband!
It gets harder to do when you become older.
LOVE these tips! When we sold our last home after 12 yrs of living in it we had a lot of little projects to do to make it look just right to show. Nothing that was major or expensive, just a little time consuming. When we were finished I was so upset with myself that I hadn’t done those things years sooner so that we could enjoy how nice everything looked.
Totally agree with this video. Value your own family enough to have a lovely, ordered, repaired home for them.
Loved this one! I’m in my seventies and this this the truth. When I retired I sold my home and now I rent. Life is so much easier after downsizing.
cindy How did you adjust to your downsized home? Was it a major mental adjustment? My husband and I are in our upper 60s and we are looking at downsizing in the next few years. I am having issues with that thought. I know it is inevitable but I kind of dread leaving my home. We raised our family in this home.
@@patriciajohnsonson8639 Helped my parents downsize. They had a LOT of stuff. Created a photo album just for the house. Photos at every angle with the old and new landscaping. Photos of the contents of the China hutch. Which we also used to sell on Craig's List. Helped them choose pieces for their new smaller rental and sold or donated the rest. They resisted letting stuff go in the beginning. By the end they said a heavy weight had been lifted. They love their new life. They just had not been able to visualize the process to get there. Take baby steps. De-clutter and create a memory photo album to start. Best wishes if you decide to make this journey.
R Vista I am minimizing. I started about. A year ago. My parents left us with a lot of stuff to rid of and I don’t want to do that to my children. We have a home in Illinois and a condo in Indiana. I am stream lining both homes. The Condo so was easy but the home we have lived in for 30 years. Thank you for the suggestion of photos of the home we will be one day leaving. That’s a great idea. I just hope one day when I am in my smaller home, I am not crying as I look at the pictures and wish I were still in the bigger home.😄
To Patricia-We dragged our feet on downsizing but finally did it. Getting rid of stuff was so freeing. Within 2 days of our move I realized how much easier and calmer it was living in a smaller space. I exclaimed to my husband, “ We should have done this sooner!” Set aside your fear and prepare for a new adventure.
@@patriciajohnsonson8639 Do it now. You may be surprised at how different you feel in your mid-70's than you do in your late 60's, first of all. Second,, it's good to live for today and tomorrow not yesterday. Sometimes lingering around in an environment which has lived out its usefulness instead of moving into a space that meets one's needs today is more of a drag than we realize until we make the move. No one ever says they are so miserable after downsizing and going through all their "stuff" and unburdening themselves. Everyone says they are delighted and wish they had done it sooner. Ask around. That said, the "dread" can definitely be doing the work to dig out and prepare a house for sale ugh! But again, better sooner than later when it's only going to be harder. Good luck.
This is so great! My husband and I moved two years ago and staged out old apartment. We liked how it looked so much than now we only have those “staged” items in our new home... friends often say it looks “staged” but nobody ever mentions minimalism ... because it’s still lived in and homey. My husband refers to it as our “set”.
So true. Doesn’t this apply to other areas of life too? We do for others often what we don’t give ourselves (compassion, charity, etc.). When I sold my condo 21 years ago to buy a house, all my friends commented how great it looked and why was I leaving it (indoor parking and laundry) because I had done all those things. In process of doing it again for myself. Thanks Joshua for reminding us what’s important. (P.S. it’s easier to keep the place cleaner and get to the little projects once you’ve minimized because you don’t have the impediment of shifting so much stuff to get to it, plus you have more time.)
When you're ready to move your house generally looks just like you always wanted it to. Painted, new or cleaned carpets, decluttered, furniture rearranged and when you get to new place its always easier and quicker to clean cos you've not had time to fill it up yet with new purchases you've been unable to resist.
Each evening we do a 1-minute quick clean. Our family of five spends 1 minute in each room, cleaning up and putting things away. However! Because we have five people cleaning, we actually turn one minute into five minutes. It's genius!
That's a neat idea
Tried and true.✅💯
Smart!
Stage your home for Living. I totally agree with that statement.
We really need to be told that? Isn't (living there) the purpose of our home anyway; mine is, at least.
You are so on target Joshua. I lived in 21 different home before I was 18, my Dad was a carpenter. Mom kept them minimal and ready for moving. Loved the relaxing atmosphere of a minimal home!
This was true for me and my car too. My last car when I went to sell, I did an amazing deep clean on the interior, washing mats, etc. It was never that clean the entire time I had it.
Same here. 🙁
We thought of downsizing, but it would have cost more than staying where we are! Instead we have been remodelling to make our home easier to manage and we added a covered patio. I’m loving my ‘new home.’ ❤️
Great insight as usual Joshua... I would have liked to see your hands cleaning the bathroom! 😉
Yeeeessss! I loved every word of this! This video is getting sent to any of my family and friends who are feeling tired, overwhelmed and stressed in their homes! We sold our home 6 years ago and did EXACTLY what you said! What a shame! Our home and property looked so sweet and inviting! We should have be able to enjoy that all 10 years we lived there. Now in our current home, I've been simplifying and following your tips and The Minimal Mom's... and it is incredibly peaceful and super easy to maintain every day! Before covid, several visitors would say, "You know, I thought it was gonna feel cold and empty in here. But actually, it's so peaceful and open! Your little house feels roomy and relaxing!!" Win for minimalism!
I like that, roomy and relaxing!
I remember, when I fixed my house up to sell then I really didn't want to sell it.
That happens more than you think! I read a FB post from someone who told a friend "you'd never recognize our home, it's so nice" She was selling for a job lol
🤣
That’s how I feel.
Interesting comment. It seems like fixing up a place re-ignites one's own interest in their property. I have heard of that as well.
I'm feeling this. After all the effort I put into this house, anything I look at can't compare, so I find myself frustrated and angry. It's like, if I'm going to be paying more than what my house is worth, better damn well **look** worth it! And so far, not happening.....
@@deniseherud I knew two people who had the same feelings, they ended up re-decorating their houses and staying there. They had looked for an entire year to find something comparable and could never obtain that. Of course, the reason for the move can be vital, in those cases one was retired and one was close to retirement. All the best to you whatever you choose to do Denise Herud. :-)
My husband and I try to do each of these items. I love my house since I decluttered! A friend asked if I would be a host house for a Bible study because she knew my house did not have to be thoroughly cleaned because of the major decluttering. I know I need to do the window cleaning...will try to tackle that before your next video. Thanks for this great reminder Joshua!
One of the smartest things you can do is if your house is minimal it's not going to cost that much for somebody to come in and clean it if you and your husband go out and eat or go on vacation you spend money all the time have someone to come in and clean your home It is not that great a luxury as people think There's nothing better than coming in after your house is clean and fresh it saves you so much stress and if you're not getting around to it or you don't want to clean in those places there's someone that needs the money so just do it
You will never regret it.
I believed to have someone clean your home and cut your yard are two of the best stress relievers there is unless you love doing it yourself and you have the time
Your idea is a really good one. There are cleaning businesses that often have good "whole house cleaning" specials. They usually can offer non-scented products too, which is good if you are selling as it guarantees no scent allergy issues :-)
I never thought of doing this, but I love this idea! I’m treating myself to this!
I like to cook occasionally but not every day. Both my husband and I work long hours, but we want to have fresh, home cooked meals. So we have somebody come in to cook and clean the kitchen afterwards. We are not rich, but we splurge on this so we free up time to do other things we want to do. I cook often, but only when I want to and not as a chore.
I could not agree more. Having somebody clean your house/apartment even if it is only once a month is the best decision you will ever make. It is the best return on investment. And do not clean with the cleaner, no, go for a walk, a coffee, meet a friend. For me, this was a life changer, the closest thing to luxury. I would rather have somebody doing chores for me than have a car. I do not have a car, I live downtown, I do not need one. Thanks for the nice videos.
@@ammumeme5789 Nice and smart too. Good for you!
I thought I was the only weird one. I stage my house all the time but everything is used and lived. TFS!
My husband and I were planning to move for about a year, so we've been working on fixing up things we didn't like. We're still not done, but we've also decided to stay put in this house for another few years, so now we're working to make our house the way that we want it!
Totally agree with you on all aspects!
Two weeks ago I hired a pro to completely tear apart and redo my back patio. I’m using that as the starting point to get my house ready-to-live-in-it with style
I shared it with my mom who passed away last year. She believed in “ if it’s not broke why fix it “! And she would not allow me to spend on anything major nor would she get it done herself. So I lived in misery and lack of my own style
I’m moving forward and not looking back. Thank you for this motivation I’m glad I found your channel
Greetings from Los Angeles
I like your approach, make your home great for you and your family, not for others. Some of the books and videos I have seen regarding decluttering place too much emphasis on having the home ready for company. But truly, you should have a home that is great for the people who live there.
Thank you Joshua for another great video! I just wanted to add that when you remove that 1/3 of your belongings *or more* to sell, and the prospective buyers walk through saying it's so nice and airy, it's because all that stagnant energy is gone! 🤭
Great video as usual. You can always think of some topic that is not ‘run of the mill.’ I love the idea of staging my house for living in it. It makes so much sense. Every video is so professionally presented that it is always a satisfying experience, and are you aware that you are the personification of tranquility?
Great video! As new home owner, it was difficult to take your advice. Our condo was built in 1996. We are the third owners. The hot water tank, furnace & AC, and carpet are all original. None of the previous owners wanted to invest in the upkeep or maintenance. Both bathrooms and kitchen are old and need updated as does the windows.
Originally we wanted to focus on paying off the mortgage as fast as possible as Dave Ramsey suggests, but we decide that we want to tackle a major repair or update each year and enjoy living in our condo. We replaced the hot water tank, replacing the entire carpet and pad throughout condo, and upgrading both bathroom and kitchen floors. Possibly get new AC & furnace this year as well.
Next year we will update our kitchen since that's a bigger and more expensive project. We want to enjoy living in our condo while we are here. Don't want to fix it up for someone else to enjoy!
Has bern said, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", however our dog taught my husband to put his socks in the dirty clothes, not on the floor. Rosie ate socks left on the floor. Good dog! Rosie😸
@Kritikitti... there was no need to comment this
😄
@@Patriotpak1947
~If everthing is ok with you, you’d have no NEED to make others wrong.
Laughing!!! Too funny. Our sons dog taught my grandaughters to put away Barbies that way. Bitten off feet only....
People can comment on anything they want.
Thank you, this makes so much sense. My husband and I have a large, light filled bedroom that has not been decorated for 20+ years because we concentrate on other rooms! I would love it to be special BEFORE we decide to sell. You (as always) have motivated me...
I'm also in my 40s. My husband and I have been married for 20 and a half years. We have lived in several houses as well. We are a family of 4. Two teens and my hubby.. Im a minimalst and i have to have my home very tidy.
We have sold and bought homes as well. The fastest we sold our home was in 17 hours because I know how to stage and God is awesome. I love staging so I knew how to sell the home fast.
Great tips, I do all of these. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Joshua, we just painted two rooms in our house for this exact reason. It does take time and commitment and money but it’s worth it. For me it was getting over the hump of beginning the project....
My favorite video on how to prepare your home for daily living. So many achievable tasks to reduce clutter & enjoy your home.
Thanks Michelle.
"stage your home for living" I love this, I'm definitely going to have that in mind during my next declutter! Thank you 🙂
Words of wisdom! We worked our tails off 2 years ago to get our house ready for someone else to enjoy.😥 We vowed we'd never do that again! Working on #9 as we speak...a complete bathroom gutting and reno!
Love this topic. I love watching staging videos to get ideas even though I have no intention of selling.
I helped a mum get rid of 60% of her stuff to get ready to sell. Her children loved it and said “why didn’t we do it sooner mum?” ❤️
Seeing this video made me feel good that we have finally gotten rid of close to one third of our stuff. And I have much less stress now! Tidying up is very quick. I have had that mindset for many years: to stage our house for living not moving. We've been doing one major project every year for the last 4 years. It's exciting to finally get things done!
This is the absolute truth. Taking all these steps will make you appreciate your home more and be grateful for what you already have.
Thank you. This was very good. We are retired. My husband put in new electrical thru out our home,garage and yard. (An electrician for 59 years , and certified with a lifetime teaching credential for the state of California....so it's A-1 condition) and I keep plants up and he the lawn. We were not going to do much of anything else, because we were going to move out of state to our son's area in Texas, but all has changed for different reasons, good reasons, not bad. So this concept sounds right to me. We can no longer do slot or afford slot, such as removing pop corn a, but we can freshen everything with paint . We have already removed slot of clutter, ( a little more to do....so just want to say we have to be thinking of our son and his family having to come from Texas after we're gone, and they would've had to deal with soooooo much more let alone all the paperwork and the "then" selling of our home....so I feel a great gift to them would be to do as much of it as we can now, before that time
Absolutely profound! I am always decluttering and my husband is a hoarder, it's very frustrating! I'm trying to be patient and explain each video to him excitedly and he now asks me to send them to him. I am sure you will create a breakthrough for him!
Love this video!!! We just sold our 1,000 square foot home, sold and gave away about 40% of stuff. Moving into a 1,500 square foot home. Now everything has a place, decorating is so easy, what we enjoy is out and displayed, not hidden away.
I've often wondered how many people stage for selling after realtor's advice ... and then find they don't want to move any more. Sometimes 'we can't see the wood for the trees'.
That kinda happened to us! We sold our house to ourselves after showing it!! Realized what we had after all that staging and deep cleaning and decided to stay.
After living with a hoarder, I'm very fond of having a house where I can clean it up enough to have a female relative visit me (ladies will understand this) within about 15 minutes. And most of that is sweeping up after the cats, who don't understand that kibbles can stay in the food dish and it's not necessary to dig to China and fling litter over the entire house in order to do your business.
Stage your home for Living. What an interesting perspective to take and a great idea.
P
Agreed
It always amazes me what people will put up with in their home and then fix those things when they get ready to sell. Pretty sad really...
@@raincitywoman it is a start?
It is both sad and disgusting.
@@raincitywoman Yes. I look down on people who live like pigs.
@@oldcountryman2795 true for the obvious that something is wrong, but maybe you have problems they do not, nor have you lived their life. Be grateful :)
@@adamarlem9863 Sure 1 in 100. The other 99 would just rather watch TV then take care of their house.
This video came at THE RIGHT TIME for me because we just moved over the weekend into our dream house. I’m collecting things we really don’t want to donate
I’ve always said the same thing. If you have to fix it up, fix it up for yourself not for somebody else.
This quarantine has helped me walk around my house and really see it. I've staged my house, did the deep clean, moved pictures, revamped our bed, rearranged furniture, and can't believe the difference. Considering I thought our house was great before I made all these changes! Seriously great advice and it really didn't cost us anything.
You are so right on this. We just let let other things, excuses, work and procrastination get in our own way.
Great video and the advice is so true! I am in the real estate business and when I see a cluttered or dirty home it drains my energy. Some people live in homes so perfect it looks like they are staged. Being around organized people and seeing these videos is so inspiring!
Great tips! We already practice several of these, like a home for everything and tackling projects now, and it really does payoff in terms of mental health and peace. My home is my happy place!
Thank you Joshua! Taking care of our home shows gratitude and appreciation for having it! I feel happiness since I have decluttered my home. 🙏🏻
I so agree!
I started FlyLady last month. I’ve come to like shining my sink and doing the nightly hot Spot/reset nightly. This is all good advice
But I must disagree with you about cooking utensils. You didn’t seem to think people needed many things like measuring spoons or spatulas.
I put the extras in quarantine, and then brought extras back out. For example, a recipe will say “Add 1 TBSP of oil to the chicken. Then add 1 TBSP if the seasoning. “. The purpose of the oil is to help the spices cling to the chicken. You aren’t going to put the oily spoon to go into the spice bottle. And it’s really taking the joy of cooking to stop and wash stuff. Not to mention the time increases. Sometimes, it’s the time between the dish burning while it’s cooking.
Love FlyLady! (Love Joshua, too!)
Me too! I started FlyLady on 1st September with Babysteps after following Steph on The Secret Slob! It’s a fantastic system isn’t it! I live in a show home now. Just shined my sink just now. 😉
I've been Flying for over 12 years and can attest to the wonderful approach she shares to reduce CHAOS. You won't regret following her advice. I am now buying a tiny home in a beautiful resort and am completely thrilled because I am not stressing about all of my stuff because I know everything will have a purpose and my environment will be easily managed through the habits I formed using Marla's advice. Definitely use the "babysteps" approach because burnout is a real thing. I still shine my sink and tackle hotspots along with doing all the rest (especially laying clothes out for the next day and having a launch pad, even though it is just myself). My FlyLady folder is still going strong (super durable!!) and is very versatile with what I choose to put in it. I could go on, but you get the idea 😉
Also, I wanted to address the extra tools (your example: measuring spoon) issue. The French have a term, which I'll copy from Wiki:
Ingredients arranged in a home kitchen for a peanut brittle recipe
@@April4YHWH ??????
We did our Fall, whole house, deep clean today. Then I sat down and watched this amazing video. Such a wonderful reminder. Thank you. 🙏 Now to tackle our staging list. 😍
We just did that! This video describes our goals exactly. All those years we put up with messy and undone! No more.
I always say some people just need to clean up. They don't need a bigger house, they need less stuff! Lol
Aint it the truth!
Exactly.
Yup, I recently repainted my parents kitchen cabinets and they always said that they need a bigger kitchen... After taking everything out of the cabinets I'd estimate easily over 50% of the cabinet space was taken up by decorative dishes/cups that are never used or old junk that hasn't been touched in years. Counters were cluttered with stuff that could easily fit in that 50%+ cabinet space.
@@KittyClark4433 687uu9 Turn down
@@AskDrJana ?
Yup, I didn’t even have to from the realtor because it was an easy sell but I repainted the bathroom and should’ve done it years ago. Now we’re living in a definitely unminimalistic home (To Dutch standards, probably modest to American standards). But it’s a place to share and host. It looked much better than it turned out in terms of paint, and that’s okay because it wasn’t to our taste. So no we’re slowly making it ours, with some help of friends at a social distance. And we’re following most of your advice in doing so. I’m going to think about decorations. I’m not into decor, but some pictures somewhere might be nice 😎
This is so true! Great tips. For me I am attacking visual clutter and deep cleaning. I love going in the morning into a bright clean bathroom. (it's currently in chaos).
Brilliant video. Hubby & I have moved 8 times in our 23 yrs of marriage. I've had this same thought every time we've gone through the getting ready to sell phase. Thank you for the kick in the pants I needed to stop procrastinating!
Go for it!
Joshua this is great.
I have staged a home to sell and it is hard work, but it works.
It is only now that I am at a place where I have become mindful of this very thing.. to stage my home for living.
I have been working towards my version of minimalism and it is a constant work in progress.
Now I have no excuse... I quit my job during a pandemic..how balsy was that..the audacity of me to do it..I was in no financial position to do it...my rationale was stay.... it would have become ugly and I would have torn down so many bridges, relationships and barriers that I have built or leave for the sake of my sanity and joy.
I was so unhappy that I could not continue there and I have no regrets..I can spend my time living my version of my best life doing the things that I love on my own time..gardening, pets, my 1000 projects and DIY's.
I never would have imagined that I would be this happy in my 60's no less..I feel like it is the new 40 for me.
Thank you and bless you Joshua for continuing to inspire us.
We recently sold our home. It was staged beautifully. I left realizing I didn’t need so much furniture or items laying around. Our new home has been more intentional about what comes in. I’m still going through rooms & removing items. Storage unit has been dealt with finally! Keep up the great work! This one gives a different perspective!🤓
Great advice 👍 I love being able to reset the house in 15 min. Now for a big project, new floors... I will have to do it before I sell, so might as well doing it now and enjoying it. Thanks
We always feel better about our home when it is clean and tidy. Life in general feels better and we are more content and grateful with less clutter and everything in its place. Great reminder to just take the time and effort to love where we are right now in life!
I thought that too, often people renovate their home to sell. Crazy!
Thank you so much for making this video. It is exactly what I need to do for the next 2 weeks…declutter, clean up, and stage my home for living…now!
We learned this after a few moves too. My husband spent one afternoon doing all the little minor fixes we’d put off for over a year and I deep cleaned. Afterward we both wondered why we didn’t do it ages ago for ourselves.
I have been slowly getting rid of "stuff" since the kids finished college and moved out.......I love my organized clutter free house. I do find I am always working at not buying stuff we don't use. It's a commitment but a worthwhile one, to mindfully keep your house clean and organized. Videos, like yours Josh I continue to watch and read your newsletters to keep the momentum going.
One of the best videos I've seen on your channel. Thank you for the reminder that it's best to enjoy your home while living in it. Everything in its place.
Thank you Joshua, great advice for me as a renter too. Blessings Lynne
This makes life so much easier. I've been doing this for years, and it's far more peaceful. However, I live alone. Families or odd couple roommates can make this quite the challenge. Just do your best!!!
Excellent idea! Homes look so nice before they are sold, but why not live that way? Great video.
My coworker had to rent a pod to sell his home and used his MIL home (she reminded him often he was picking up that clutter back up!) He thought later, did he really need all that? Sometimes seeing it all together is a wake-up call
I stopped the video to clean our bathroom really well. ☺️ Always great information!
This was definitely a much needed video, ty. I've already done this stuff but it's reassuring to know others are doing it and feeling the same way. I'd like to add too, it's more complicated with home businesses too...I have my stock and supplies here, which makes it awkward. I've tried confining it to one area but the struggle is real.
What great advice! I don't own a home yet, but apartment dwellers can also follow this advice. Thank you.
I live in Spain, where the tradition was yo show the whole house to new visitors (Friends and family). I used to hate It as a kid and stopped doing It as an adult. I'm finding, howeve, that this tradition helped us keep our homes perfectly "staged" so any unexpected visit would find It clean and ordered.
love it! what an interesting concept. Even though I have no intention of selling anytime soon, I definitely love the idea of "staging my home for living". Thanks!
Your title is the exact words I used to find your video.
We just sold our house a few months ago and I loved how it felt staged. So now I want my new house to feel that way. Thanks for the video
Really laudable input for a clutter-free, simple, calm & peaceful LIFE
Isn't it amazing what we are willing to live with that we can not sell?
Great! Smart words! For thinking 👍
That’s really deep!!
Thank you for this! I just put tack on the bottom of containers that always move when I pull open the kitchen drawer.
Perfect timing for this video, now that we are staying at home a lot more than usual, and holidays are coming! Great time to do this stuff now!!! I try to plan to do a little each day, it gets overwhelming if I don't.
Exactly the way I think about “home staging” since the first day I hear about it from so many realtors and interior designers here on TH-cam. Thank you for putting the thoughts in a more detailed way!
The house across the street from mine just sold for twice what my identical one was appraised for four hears ago, and nearly $400K more than listing. It was painted inside, carpeted, staged and the garden was manicured and barked, but mostly it was immaculate! It showed wonderfully well and inspired me to have less stuff.
thank you. brilliant. we are so busy trying to sell our houses, but never take the time to enjoy them. This is so my husband and I and it really inspires me to get on with making our house more liveable. thanks again
This video is exactly what I needed hear. I hate moving, but my husband loves moving, EVERY YEAR. Thank you Joshua Becker!
My husband and I just spent a couple of hours hauling what was in my shed to the front porch. It was 1/3 of my stuff. It took me over a year. This is the video that got me through the hardest part, the last 3-month stretch. I truly feel like I have been freed from prison. Thank you for your help. I could not have done this without you. I'm looking around thinking...I need to start again!
Great ideas! Great perspective! A home enjoyed is a home easy to sell .... because a loved home exudes that!
Watching this video while I am in the middle of cleaning to move to our first home and it makes a lot sense. Thank you for sharing your fantastic ideas. 🙏🙏
You are so right! My brother fixed all the rotted boards in our front porch and repainted it - after we had already moved out. We could have been enjoying that porch all those years we lived there.
Yup, I can relate to that experience.
I loved your ideas and they have echoed my own question of why fix it to sell it, but not to live in it daily. Thank you.
It’s really difficult to pick a fave, but THIS may be my favourite (I’m Canadian - hence the spelling) video of yours, Joshua. Why do we do this to ourselves? Such wonderful advice. I love it! Many, many thanks. Keep safe and well. Hugs from Ontario.
Thank you for the encouraging words. I appreciate them very much.
I LOVE THIS!!!!! It speaks my mind. I have watched home improvement shows where the family removes clutter, toys, and who knows what, in order to have the work done. I always think, are they really going to bring all of that junk back inside their beautiful, remodeled home!!!???!!!!! I struggle with clutter and wish relatives would cooperate with my wish for no Christmas presents. Even practical gifts that I can use become a problem, even if I need them, if they don't fit in my space.
I’ve watched this video periodically. We plan to do this to our house and property which have been neglected somewhat with raising 4 young kids. We plan to bring our home to its former glory this spring and summer. Thanks for the great video, Joshua. We plan to stage our house for living.
Such simple but wise advise. Now, let's get the notepad out and put together a room by room "things to do" list. 🦉
As someone who is very clean, has recently gone minimalist, believes in valuing and caring for everything I own and a domestic cleaner....i couldn't agree more.
I have done this all my life. I went to boarding school from the age of 6. I learned so much over the years and particularly about 'everything has its place'. I developed good habits.
Something I remember one of the nuns saying in guidance class was that you can tell a lot about a person when you see how they care for their car. It's reveals a lot about their standards and habits. A valued car maintained and kept clean, tidy and sparkling will give much pleasure and last 'forever'!
That is a brilliant idea! I know of a couple who bought a house and remodelled it. The previous owners came by to see what they had done. The wife was not happy with her husband, because what the new owners had done were things she had wanted to do so they could stay in their home. It was a sad lesson for them both. Really great thing to think about for us all. I am working on getting rid of lots of stuff. We are remodelling at the same time, so it is not easy, but we keep on. My husband loves to buy things, which makes it harder. We have enough tools to start a tool rental business, and the same with small kitchen appliances. I wonder if people would rent them to try before buying??
My husband is the one who has to reel me in. He always asks 'where are you going to put that' lol. We are both minimalists so it works well.
Hey Sara, that's a business idea right there. Why not try it? If it works, great. And if it doesn't, at least you know you tried. Good luck.
I have cut up flannel cloths from the thrift store in a basket under the bathroom sink, after using the sink and counter top I take a cloth and wipe down the area, same with the shower. I put the used cloth in another basket and wash them all once a week with my other cleaning cloths. In the morning I nip around the house and make the bed, etc before I sit down to breakfast, I find if you clean a little each day it never gets dirty enough to need a huge scrubbing.
I love this so much!! It feels like truly loving yourself, to stage your house to live in.
Indeed. That's a great perspective.
I thought showing my home was gonna be so stressful with a family of 5 to keep it clean and put away, I kept being told how miserable it would be.....I found I was the least anxious I had been for years for those 3 or 4 weeks. There wasnt stuff everywhere, things were cleaned up and put away everyday, and there was space to move, to breath, to relax. Unfortunately we have now moved and clearly I was the only one that had this outlook.