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Decluttering Made Easy™: Tackling The Tools

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What do I do with all my tools? That’s one of the biggest questions we get from clients who are rightsizing and leaving lawn and home maintenance behind.

Transitioning from a family home to a condo, a planned community with maintenance included, or even a townhouse or senior living location means we no longer need the various tools we’ve acquired over the years. Yet we’ve often invested a lot of money in them, and spent both time and money to keep them in good working condition, so simply discarding them isn’t ideal. 

So, what do we do with all those tools?

This editing category needs to be addressed a little differently than, say, clothing or linens. To begin with, though, we can ask the same preliminary questions for each item:

  • Does it work?
  • Is it damaged?

If a tool needs repair, it’s best to look into donation sites that accept damaged tools, either to recycle or fix themselves then use or sell. Another option is to check with your local recycling center to see how they handle damaged tools.

If the tool works, ask yourself these questions:

  • Will I ever need it?
  • Will any of my family or friends need it?
  • Should I sell or donate it?

If you truly won’t need an item, it’s a good time to find out who could use it. (At CMFTO, we do recommend keeping a small tool box of essentials, such as a hammer, screwdriver, pliers, and a wrench.) When it comes to gifting any tools we no longer need, we like to begin with family. Your snowblower might be greatly appreciated by your child who still uses shovels!

Alternatively, you can often sell larger tools, such as lawnmowers. Local selling sites are good for this purpose, or you can employ a professional, such as CMFTO, to invite trusted buyers to your home to make you a direct offer.

Finally, what’s left can usually be donated or recycled. Not all organizations accept tools, but many do. A little bit of research will help you sort out the best place to make your donation count.

All my best,
Claudia

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