Stuff.  Boise Homes are full of it. However, the difference between having stuff and having clutter is twofold:

1. When your beloved belongings have no proper home, and so they seemingly make their own, here, there, and everywhere, making it impossible for you to find what you need when you need it without a search party and torches.

2. When the items you choose to display increase in numbers, like rabbits in a cage, overtaking their intended space until it becomes nothing more than a sea of stuff, unable to be appreciated for what it was originally intended to be.

“Clutter results when you sidestep making a decision,” says Regina Leeds, professional organizer and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Decluttering. Think of a room in your Boise house and ask yourself the following questions: Is there something in this room that could be thrown away?—i.e. old magazines and newspapers, scraps of to-do lists, a broken item? Is there something in this room that doesn’t belong here?—i.e. kids’ toys in the middle of the living room, cups and glasses in the bedroom, car keys in the bathroom? Is there something in this room that I don’t particularly want or like anymore?—i.e. a well-worn throw pillow with its insides busting out, a collection of postcards on display for years that you no longer notice when you pass by? If you said yes to any of the above, you have decisions to make about the stuff in your home.

Leeds notes that decluttering a space saves time and money—and it makes you feel better. “You save time because you no longer have to look for things,” she says. “You know where your keys are, where your kid’s birth certificate is located. All those little dramas are gone. You save money because you can see what you have and what you need, and you’re not buying duplicates.”

But it’s the feeling-better part of the equation that may have the greatest impact. “When you declutter, you create a calm, peaceful environment—your sanctuary from the world’s demands,” Leeds says. “When people walk in the door at night, they’re usually walking into turmoil, and they should be walking into that sanctuary.”

“Most people will think more clearly and feel better about themselves and their environment if it’s less cluttered,” adds Donna Smallin, professional organizer and author of The One-Minute Organizer Plain & Simple. “Once you make that decision to let it go, it’s so freeing. You feel this wonderful sense of freedom because all of this stuff just weighs you down.”

But getting rid of clutter while preparing your Boise real estate for sale—especially when you have a lot of it—can feel like an overwhelming project requiring too much of your already-limited time. How can you get started in a slow, small-scale way?

Steps to Eliminating Clutter

 1. START WITH TODAY’S STUFF. “It’s easier to keep up than to catch up,” says Smallin, “so get your daily life under control.” Make conscientious choices about what you bring into your home. Think twice before making a purchase. Ask yourself whether you really need it, where you would put it, or where you would wear it. If you do make the decision to buy, figure out what you are willing to give up. “It doesn’t have to be item for item, such as a sweater for a sweater,” Smallin notes. “But think about the balance of things coming into your home and going out.”

2. GET RID OF WHAT DOESN’T BELONG. “Clutter can literally create obstacles,” says Smallin. “You may want to start a hobby, such as painting or scrapbooking, and that spare room that would be the ideal place to do it in is cluttered to the ceiling.” Grab a laundry basket and tackle one room, tossing items into the basket that don’t belong in that room. Once everything is in the basket, return the items to their proper places.

3. RETHINK YOUR COLLECTIONS. “You have to display a collection artfully, and that’s about making decisions,” says Leeds. “You can have Lladró pieces or Tiffany cups and saucers, but if it’s too much, nobody will see it or appreciate it. If your collection is overtaking your environment, you’re not honoring your collection. It’s just clutter.” To better appreciate your collection, at season’s change—or whenever it makes most sense to you—rotate the pieces of the collection. “People will think you have redecorated,” Leeds points out.

4. DO YOUR SORTING ONE DRAWER (OR SHELF) AT A TIME. Take a drawer into the area where you watch TV. Empty it onto the floor, and during commercials, start sorting through, tossing garbage, making a pile to donate or sell, and putting back into the drawer only the items you really want, use, and love. “When you work with a confined space, it’s easy to finish the job and experience satisfaction when the job is done,” says Smallin. “It’s proof that you can get organized.”

*Written By Karen Buscemi

So it's time to relocate to Boise and you are excited about the new prospects that lie ahead and even though moving day is a month or more down the road it's still time to start making decisions and preparations.  Moving your residence from one location to another is not an easy task, there is a lot of work and planning to do.  If you are especially ambitious this is the time to consider organizing a folder or binder so you can keep your notes, relevant papers and records in the same place so nothing gets lost in the impending shuffle.  

List Of What To Do Before Moving To Boise

For best results it is imperative to start planning your move a month or two before your actual move date arrives.  There are many things that you can tackle early, and believe me, you will be glad you did.  Below you will find some tips on what you can tackle early on so when the frenzy of the move hits you like a Mack truck you will be free to focus on it rather than all of the things listed below.  So let's get moving with the following "early bird" ideas:

    Start purging all of your belongings that you no longer need.  For some, this will be relatively easy but not so much for those that have lived in the same home for many years.  This is an especially good idea if you are planning to sell a house because buyers like a clutter free house so it will often sell faster and for more money.

    Get your entrepreneurial on and plan a garage sale and then pocket the proceeds to help pay for your moving expenses or new furnishings.  Another good option is to donate everything you don't need or want to your favorite charity, some of them will even show up with a truck to hall it all away in and a receipt so you can write off the donation.

    Take a food inventory in you kitchen and then plan the next several weeks of menus around those items that have been hiding out in your freezer and pantry.  Not only will you save money on your grocery bill by doing this, you won't have to waste food by having to throw it out on moving day.

    Collect and/or transfer important school, dental, vet and other medical records so they are either in hand or  transferred prior to your move date.

    Consider whether you can stay with your current financial institutions or whether you will need to replace.  It's a good idea to open new accounts and transfer funds beforehand if possible or you could find yourself in a temporary position of not being able to access funds.

    Submit a change of address as soon as you have confirmed your new address.  Notify all subscriptions such as newspapers, magazines and of course your wine of the month club!  This is also a good time to notify important parties, family and friends of your impending move and your new address and contact information.

    As soon as you have finalized your moving date, contact utility companies, cable/satellite TV providers and other local services on both sides of your move to make the appropriate arrangements in advance.

    Consider what you need to pick up that you sent out to be cleaned, repaired or stored.  Remember to empty out your school, work and gym  lockers, return library books and don't forget to return those borrowed items, as well as collecting items borrowed from you.

Of course this is only a partial list of ideas about things that you can get out of the way early before you retire to Boise, but it should get your mind and body into the moving zone. 

Are you thinking about retiring or relocating to Boise or another city in Idaho's incredible Treasure Valley?  If so, that's no surprise since retirees have represented the largest group of people that are relocating to the Boise area.  This relocation trend has been strong over the past decade so naturally many who are retiring to Boise Idaho are unfamiliar with the geography, demographics and climate.  Boise, Idaho is not a well known destination since most have never been here, misconceptions abound, just mention Idaho and many people will automatically confuse it with all of the other non-coastal states that begin with a vowel.

Boise, Idaho Climate

You asked about the climate?  Well it's pretty darn perfect if you are looking for a true, four seasons lifestyle.  Average high temperatures for winter, spring, summer and fall are 40,62,86 and 63 degrees respectively and the skies are sunny for over 200 days a year.  Don't let these numbers fool you or the summer highs and the winter lows may come as a bit of a shock since the Treasure Valley is no stranger to triple digits on the hottest summer days and some single digits in the winter but thanks goodness those temperatures normally creep up on us when we are sound asleep in our cozy warm bed.
Boise Scenery

The Treasure Valley is a geographic playground that blesses mind, body and soul at every turn.  Consider the gentle rolling foothills, the majestic pine covered mountains that crown the valley, the tranquility of the sage brush covered desert or the winding rivers, Southwest Idaho is truly a natural wonderland.  Regardless of your recreational preferences, you will find a way to commune with nature whether it be by walking/hiking/biking, fishing, camping, boating/kayaking/whitewater rafting, snow sporting, climbing, birdwatching, horseback riding, spelunking, hang/paragliding or taking a magical ride in a hot air balloon over the vast Treasure Valley.         
              
Choosing The Right Boise Real Estate

The Boise area attracts people of all flavors, from white collar professionals throughout Ada County, to rodeo cowboys/girls in Canyon County to urban millennials in downtown Boise.  As with most states, the further you veer from the largest cities, the more rural the landscape becomes and Idaho very much fits this description. Agriculture pervades much of South Idaho, but as you move closer to each of our diverse cities and towns you will find that each has a personality as different and distinct as their names.   So if you are wondering if you will fit into the Boise area scene, the answer is absolutely yes, but you will want to buy a Boise home very carefully so the location you choose fits your lifestyle just right. 

Whether you work to live or live to work, one day you might want to retire to Boise Idaho and when the time comes, it's important to be well prepared.  In order to fully comprehend all that’s involved in this eventual milestone, you may want to consider joining organizations such as AARP, AMAC or the Alliance for Retired Americans so you have a steady source of information to turn to with your questions.  In the meantime, this high level summary will give you a glimpse into the economic, home, and fitness issues to consider when preparing for your Boise Idaho retirement.  Idaho is a state AARP includes on their top ten cities in which to retire.   

FINANCES AND HEALTH CARE

Whether your retirement plan consists of mattress money, a 401(k), social security benefits, or a diverse portfolio, now is a good time to take stock of what you have and what you will need to relocate to Boise Idaho. “Most retirement experts recommend replacing 80 percent of the value of your paycheck in order to maintain your lifestyle,” writes Emily Guy Birken in The 5 Years Before You Retire.  Birken’s book, which dispenses useful guidelines, interactive charts, and financial suggestions, notes that most literature about retirement is geared toward the young or those who are already retired, and that the five years before leaving the workforce are the most  underrepresented in the “metric ton” of available retirement advice.   As you age, health care will likely be one of your greatest financial considerations.  Americans and Canadians alike should research what government-funded or company programs cover and what you will be responsible for after you retire. The specifics can be complicated for any age group, so attend an informational meeting in your area (usually sponsored by insurance agents) to learn more.

HOME

When you think of life after retirement, what kind of Boise Idaho real estate do you see yourself living in?  As you plan for the future, your living situation should be an important part of the equation.  For instance, if you live in a damp or frigid region of the United States that is difficult on your body during the winter months, consider the moderate climate in the Treasure Valley where average winter temperatures hover around 40 degrees.   Be sure to consult your Realtor to understand the value of your home and any other considerations you might not be aware of before making any final decisions.  If you currently live in a house that is now too large for you and your significant other, it might be time to downsize.  The Aging-In-Place Remodeling Checklist, put out by the National Association of Home Builders, features a breakdown of detailed considerations to make for each room, such as wider doorways, slip-resistant surfaces, and hand rails that might be of importance to you as you search for your new Boise retirement home or if you decide to remodel your existing home. (Find it at www.nahb.org.)

WHAT’S NEXT? The good news is, retirement is not finite. Even if you set a target age that seems realistic (usually somewhere between fifty-five and sixty-five), you can always change the plan or keep working. It’s not uncommon to continue with your company in a part-time or contract capacity. But if you’re ready to leave your job behind and relocate to Boise Idaho, start thinking about the possibilities for the future. You will likely have the freedom in your schedule to travel, volunteer, learn new skills, focus on hobbies, or whatever, whenever. And even though it might be tempting to catch up on seasons of television shows you never had the time to watch, do your best to plan for an active retirement. Keeping your mind sharp and your body healthy will help make your golden years all the more enjoyable.   Written by Maresa Giovannini & Keith Vermilyea.

The force behind the surging Boise real estate  market recovery is mostly due to the allure of the Idaho lifestyle to those that are considering relocating for retirement and lifestyle reasons.  For those that are looking to relocate for a slower more user friendly life, the stable economy Boise offers and the diverse mix of industries that are well represented in the Treasure Valley offer another great reason to relocate to Boise or retire to Boise.  During the last national economic boom that ended in 2007/2008, thousands of people were relocating to Boise and surrounding areas.  When the national economy fell into a deep recession, relocations to Boise slowed down to a trickle because the housing crisis created a significant decrease in mobility in the states that normally feed into the Boise relocation trend.  At this time, the mobility issues are in large part resolved, so we are experiencing the beginning of another wave of migration to the beautiful Treasure Valley in large part led by people that have chosen to retire in Boise Idaho  

Another driving force behind the Boise real estate recovery are investors who see opportunity in investing in Boise real estate.  Savvy real estate investors are attracted to the Boise real estate market because of a red hot rental market in both single family homes and multi-family units as well, the median price to rent a standard 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1500 square foot home has   been on the rise for the past few years. Boise real estate investors are finding that even in the slow winter months they can still attract tenants, even after calibrating their price in order to reflect current market value.

Every year Boise ranks on a myriad of top 10 places to live, work, start a business, raise a family, retire and you name it list so there must be something really special about Boise to merit all of the special national attention this hidden gem of a city continually attracts.  Boise has a moderate climate, thereby making it an attractive compromise for those looking to retire or relocate to Boise because for most of the year it's not too hot or cold and for at least half of the year the weather is downright delightful. Idaho in general is considered to be a pretty safe neighborhood to live, especially in Boise and surrounding areas.  Although no place on earth exists without a degree of crime risk, Boise stacks up pretty well.  AARP rated the Boise Area second overall in terms of safest places to retire thanks in part to the low crime rate.

The cherry on the top of the Boise ice cream sundae is it offers  the same range of entertainment opportunities as do much larger metro areas because of a rich cultural heritage, emphasis on family friendly attractions, a thriving state university (Boise State University) and of course the limitless thrills of the great outdoors.