Okay, I will never call my dear friend Sierra meek. Yet she did inherit the family farm in Oregon from her parents and knew cleaning it up was a big job that needed an experienced hand. Hence, yours truly made the trek west.

The whole job took several days. The end result was a beautiful home/barn office and an organized, immaculate garden shed. See the photos below.

One of the great things about being a professional organizer is being to help people with projects like this. While the work with Sierra turned out to be very uplifting and a wonderful experience, many who lose their parents unexpectedly go it alone when going through their belongings.

Earlier this year, I posted a blog on selling your parents’ things ASAP. There was some interesting feedback on that one. The blog explained how the process of getting rid of stuff should happen while parents are still alive. That may sound cold, but days/weeks of cleaning and sorting can be a difficult thing for any child–old or young.

One reason for taking on this task while your parents are still living is it gives you a choice on how you get rid of things. If your parents have things that may be of value, you might be able to sell off some of the higher value things.

Trying to decide whether to sell or donate items is a struggle for some. When clients ask about what to do with a higher valued item, I typically ask a few questions:

• Do you really think there’s a market for the item?
• How much effort will it take to sell that item (e.g. taking photos, posting ads, being available to prospects who want to see the item first)
• How patient are you about selling the item?
• Do you need the money?

If you’re in a decluttering situation, waiting for a buyer to appear might prolong the project. In some cases, for larger items, buyers might not have adequate transport vehicles and may even ask you to move the item. This can add stress to what may already be a stressful and/or emotional period.

In short, selling items because you know they have value may not be worth it in the end.

Donating offers a nice option. First, many will come and pick up the item, saving you the trip. Most items you donate are tax deductible. Yet the best reason of all to donate your items is more of a karma or spiritual thing. By donating your items to a worthy cause, you are doing a nice thing and, in a way, sharing what was special to you and your family with the world.

As for my friend’s farm, I think the photos speak for themselves.

Want some help with your declutter? Give me a call at 508-246-6120.