Thanks to Cindy Bernstein of Aim4Order for this episode of Tips from the Pros to help find valuable items in your home.

One of the highlights of working with clients over these past 20+ years is the delightful discovery of valuable items, long forgotten.

In an effort to motivate you to do some decluttering on your own, here’s a list of some of the items we have found while digging through papers, piles, closets, floors and other nooks and crannies of your homes!

• $60,000 in savings bonds (6 – $10,000 bonds that were in a file from a home that was sold many years prior).
• $4,000 in saving bonds (found in a shoe box in the basement with other old papers)
• $60,000 in cash (found in a shoe box at the bottom of a closet filled with shoes and clothes.
• Wedding band (found under the bed when the bed was being moved out).
• Stack of checks (found in an envelope from someone’s milestone occasion and the checks were never cashed).
• Beloved heirloom jewelry (in trunks, old gift boxes in attic, anywhere and everywhere you can imagine)
• Gift cards, gift certificates and cash in old purses, drawers, files, cards, desks…

So – even though you doubt that any such riches are in YOUR home, I invite you to do your own treasure hunt. Pick the most remote place in your home where the light of day hasn’t been seen in a while. And as you’re hunting for treasure, bring a trash bag and recycle bag and see what you can get rid of. I promise that you won’t regret it.

And even if you don’t find an actual treasure (but I’m guessing you will find SOMETHING that you will be happy to have discovered), you will feel OH SO PROUD of yourself for the gift of additional space you will have as a result of your efforts. Remember my favorite motto – a little bit of decluttering is better than no bit. You’ve got this!!

And keep in mind the eloquent words of Napoleon Bonaparte above – or as I say, “Use or lose it.” Happy Hunting!

---

Additionally, if you are thinking about buying or selling your home, contact Gigi today. Oh, by the way, I’m never too busy for any of your referrals!