Recycling in a Staged Home

When you've got your home on the market it can be difficult to keep up with your regular daily life. Especially in a market like we are experiencing now, where some homes are languishing while they await prospective buyers.

One of the areas in your daily life that can be a bit daunting when you're trying to keep your home in tip top condition is with your recycling. Sometimes recycling can get out of hand, attract insects, or just be downright smelly.

Some types of recycling just work best in a kitchen area while others are best relegated to the garage or laundry room. The kitchen is often where people prefer to keep their composting. If you're composting, make sure you use a composting bin with a charcoal filter on it and empty it before you leave the house if there's any chance that your house might get shown while you're out. Try not to leave compost in your kitchen if it's warm as it can quickly break down and start to smell, making prospective buyers wonder about issues in your kitchen.

Most other types of recycling can be delegated to a closet or garage so that they don't add clutter to your kitchen area while you've got the house on the market. Set up a recycling area with some attractive bins; many recycling bins are stackable or modular so that they take up less space and look more attractive. Recycling bins with lids will usually look much neater whether they close or have a small cut-out to put your cans or papers through.

Your recycling area should be kept spotlessly clean, especially since prospective buyers will be inspecting your home. A dirty recycling area can attract insects or other vermin; make sure you wash out any drink or food containers before putting them in your bins. It may be a good idea to line your bins with plastic recycling bags to help transport your recycling when the bins fill up as well.

Another way that you can help keep your recycling manageable is to empty your bins whenever they get close to being full; for any recycling that's kept in a main area like your kitchen keep the containers small so that they're emptied more often and don't take up a lot of space.

Recycling bins and organizing systems come in a great variety of styles, colors, and sizes; there should be organizers that fit right into your home to help you keep things clean and organized even when your home is being showcased for sale. Take a look around at your home improvement centers and online stores to see what works best for your style and your pocketbook.