Planning on having a spring clean sometime soon? The recent lovely sunshine has certainly put me in the mood for clearing out the clutter and letting in some fresh air.
Actually, I am so motivated that I am also considering getting repairs and replacements of the house done quickly, starting from maybe a roof inspection to a gutter cleaning. Anyway, the house repairs have been due for a long time now, especially the gutters, which seem to be clogged with leaves and twigs. That could be one of the reasons why the insect population keeps building up around my house. Maybe, I will hire professionals who can do the job of gutter cleaning as quickly as possible. For that, I might have to use keywords like Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Louisville (or nearby places) on the search engine. That said, I really do not care what method I will have to choose for getting in touch with experts as I am in the mood to have a squeaky clean house.
The carpets, mostly, in all the rooms have become dirty and greasy, as have the walls in some of the rooms. So, the walls will need repainting, while the carpeted area could do with some proper deep cleaning to take out all the dirt that has deposited within since. When browsing the Internet for ideas, I came across a lot of DIY hacks as well as professional methods – Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning being one among them. Here, a polymer solution is used as a cleaning agent in order to remove tough stains, and when done properly, it can protect the carpet fibers from soiling very soon. Professional service in both cases should help achieve the desired objective.
Anyway, readers might be wondering about my source of inspiration. To be perfectly honest, the “thought” of having a tidy house isn’t my only motivation. In fact, I’m keen to see whether I’ve got any valuables tucked away in the back of the cupboard or up in the loft.
That might sound odd at first, but think about it for a moment – it’s so easy to lose track of what you have, especially when you’ve lived somewhere a long time, that you could easily own something valuable you’ve forgotten about entirely. You might have a few boxes up in the attic that you never got around to opening. Or perhaps, you had professionals from the likes of Boombox Storage pick up your belongings to store them safely in storage units, hoping to have them delivered back when you need them. But it’s been a year, and you haven’t made that call, which is why it might be a good time to actually go through the things that you have overlooked. You never know, there might be a few bits and bobs that you know you have that you’ve simply never thought about in financial terms before.
The way I’m approaching my spring clean this year is to look out for high-value items only. You see, if you do so, you might come across something you can use to secure a short-term loan against (companies such as borro offer financing like this).
What I like about these loans, as opposed to selling, is that you can keep your possessions – though you will need to part with them for the duration of the contract – which is welcome news if they’ve got sentimental value. So, with all this in mind, here are some of the top things you should keep your eyes peeled for while you’re clearing out the loft and sorting through the cupboards.
Jewellery
Jewellery is one of those things that we often accumulate over time. I know that I’ve managed to talk up quite a large collection somehow, simply because jewellery is something I never really think about throwing away or otherwise getting rid of.
If you do discover any old jewellery while you’re spring cleaning, this is something that’s definitely worth looking at from a financial point of view. Gold necklaces, diamond rings, platinum bracelets – anything like this has the potential to be used to secure a short-term loan.
Some of the things that will be looked at in valuation are:
• The metal – to secure a loan, the jewellery should be either gold or platinum
• The cut, colour, clarity, and carat of any gemstones
• Current gold prices
• Hallmarks
Watches
Old watches are another item that’s often tucked away and forgotten about. The key thing to look for here is a luxury brand – think Cartier rather than Casio.
Some of the things that will be looked at in valuation are:
• The make and model of the watch
• Whether it has its original box and papers (these will push up the value)
• Its condition
• Its age (usually, newer watches are more valuable)
Fine wine
If you’re a wine lover, chances are you’ll have at least a few nice bottles stashed somewhere. Should that be the case, I recommend taking a look at your collection and working out whether any vintages would be eligible for a loan.
The beauty of this, I think, is that provided you repay the loan on time you’ll be reunited with the bottle – which means you can release cash from it and still drink it. If that isn’t having your cake and eating it too, I don’t know what is!
Some of the things that will be looked at in valuation are:
• The name and vintage of the wine
• The Ullage level (i.e. the space between the wine and the bottom of the cork)
• The condition of the label
• Whether the wine has been stored in climate-controlled conditions