Tag: 123JUNK junk removal VA MD DC

Swedish-Death-Cleaning-TV-stars

Get Inspired by The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning TV Show

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

We’ve written about Swedish Death Cleaning in our blog before, and we were interested to see that there is a new TV show featured on Peacock titled “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” now featured in 2023. After all, it’s about getting rid of junk…our favorite subject.

Inspired by the popular book of the same title by Margareta Magnusson, each of the current eight episodes features an organizer, designer and psychologist from Sweden who come to the United States to help subjects sort out their home and life, and confront their overabundance of stuff. Each subject is at a different stage in their life. Some are facing imminent mortality and don’t want to burden their loved ones with all their “crap.” Others want to lighten their emotional and physical burdens.

The shows are executive produced and narrated by comedienne and actress Amy Poehler, so you can expect they’ll be entertaining. But they also talk seriously about death in a holistic way. The purpose of Swedish Death Cleaning is not to burden others with the items you have collected over a lifetime.

The Swedish Death Cleaning Team

Katarina is the psychologist who helps subjects look at their mortality and uncover why they are clinging to items that are no longer used or of value. Ella, the organizer, helps subjects go through their stuff to decide what is really important to keep, and what can be given away, donated or discarded. Johan is the young designer who transforms the homes after the junk is cleared out. It’s fun to watch the owner’s delight in the home’s final reveal as each show ends.

What is Swedish Death Cleaning?

The-Gentle-Art-of-Swedish-Death-Cleaning-book

As the author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter Margaret Magnusson explains the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning as “a process to remove unnecessary things and make your home nice and orderly when you think the time is coming closer for you to leave the planet.” It is meant to reduce the effort and time spent by loved ones to dispose of and disperse your belongings once you’ve passed away. Having fewer items to deal with help ease the burden placed upon those you leave behind.

She stresses that “it’s not sad to death clean.” Instead she promotes that you should only keep the items you enjoy and those that have meaning, and get rid of the rest.

Learn more in our previous post about Swedish Death Cleaning.

Partner with 123JUNK for your Swedish Death Cleaning Cleanout

When you decide that it’s time to downsize or clean out items you no longer love, 123JUNK will be glad to help you get rid of them. With our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose, we’ll take your donations of items like furniture, working appliances and household goods and deliver them to our charity partners. We’ll also look for items we can recycle, like electronics or paper and take them to the appropriate recycling center. Our last resort is the landfill. It’s our way–and yours–of protecting our environment. All for convenient flat-fee pricing.

Contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778 to schedule your pickup appointment today.

get-better-price-when-selling-home

4 Ways Junk Removal Can Help Get a Better Price When Selling a Home

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Staging your home can increase its sales price by anywhere from 1% to 20%, depending on factors such as the home’s location and condition, current real estate market conditions, the home’s staging, and the overall appeal of the home to buyers.

4 Ways Junk Removal Can Help Get a Better Price When Selling Your Home

Junk removal can help get you a better price when selling your home in several ways:

  1. It increases curb appeal by making it more attractive. When potential buyers see a clutter-free property, they are more likely to perceive it as well-maintained and cared for, and can picture themselves living there more easily.
  2. It feels more spacious, which gives the impression of more useable living space, thus increasing the perceived value.
  3. It highlights your home’s best features such as large windows, high ceilings or beautiful hardwood floors without the distraction of clutter.
  4. It creates a better first impression, and an inviting and welcoming atmosphere that make potential buyers feel more comfortable.

Why is Staging Your Home Important?

Staging a home is an important part of the selling process. Removing junk and clutter and staging your home can help to:

  • Showcase your home’s potential and help potential buyers envision how each room can meet their needs and lifestyle.
  • Create a visually-appealing environment by positioning furniture and décor to draw attention to the property’s best features, while minimizing flaws.
  • Increase perceived value and create an emotional connection to the home, which can lead to potential buyers placing a higher value on the property.
  • Sell the home more quickly by making it stand out from other homes on the market. It also helps the seller appeal to a wider range of potential buyers, and generate more interest and showings.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median amount spent on home staging is around $400, with 23% of Realtors reporting an increase of 1% to 5%, and 18% reporting an increase of 6% to 10%. However, it’s important to note that staging is just one factor that can impact the sales price.

What Realtors Recommend Removing When Selling Your Home

The goal of clearing out items is to make the home look clean, spacious and neutral so potential buyers can truly see themselves living in the space. Realtors recommend removing:

  • Personal items such as family photos, heirlooms and other sentimental items.
  • Clutter such as magazines, knick-knacks, decorative items from trips, and other items that take up visual space.
  • Excess furniture that can make a home look cluttered or cramped.
  • Outdated or worn items such as old curtains, furniture or décor. These should either be removed altogether or replaced with newer, more modern items to update the look and feel of the home.
  • Excess storage items including boxes, containers and other storage solutions that may be cluttering up storage areas like the attic, garage or spare rooms. You’ll be moving anyway, so find off-site storage while you’re selling your home.
  • Pet items like toys, beds and litter boxes should be removed during showings. This can help potential buyers who are allergic to pets or who may not be pet-friendly feel more comfortable.
  • Strong odors such as cigarette smoke, pet odors or cooking smells can be a turn-off. It’s important to keep the home smelling fresh and clean.

Related: 15 Home Staging Essentials

How 123JUNK Can Help You Sell Your Home

123JUNK’s junk removal and hauling service can help you sell your home quicker and potentially get a better price by creating a cleaner, more organized and spacious environment that will appeal to potential buyers. We can help with:

  • Decluttering to make the space look bigger and more open.
  • Safety, by removing hazardous or bulky items that could pose a risk to potential buyers, such as an old appliance or broken furniture.
  • Better showcasing of your home to emphasize the unique selling points.
  • Savings of time and energy by taking the task of removing and disposing of unwanted items off your hands.
  • Environmental benefits by donating or recycling items and thus reducing waste.

To learn more about 123JUNK’s 1-2-3 process of donate-recycle-dispose or to schedule your junk removal, contact us at 1-800-364-5778 or use our convenient contact form.