Help! don't know which order to get it done in!

Take photos as you go, too, Boheminan so you can see your progress.

Wow! Thank you all so much for your encouraging input. I was about to give up before I'd started, it feels such a massive task - now it's more like a big task and the odd beverage along the way will certainly help

If you can pay for it, email AgeUK and ask for their list of local tradesmen who will undertake the jobs you can't/don't want to do yourself.

I did one room at a time. Emptied. De-carpetted, washed down all woodwork then white gloss painted everywhere. Called in decorator for wallpapering. Researched and bought curtains and carpets where wished. Repositioned or renewed furniture items. Bingo. It took me two years start to finish at my pace but I'm delighted with the result. My only 'tip' would be to have messy or structural jobs done in the summer when the doors can usually be left open.

Definitely decluttering first, otherwise you’ll be moving extraneous stuff around to do the other things. Then clean the windows, because that’s a simple task. While that’s going on get the decorating estimates sorted and make a decision about that. Finally, carpet/deep clean. Then sit back and enjoy!

Regarding decluttering, we’ve been doing that and I’ve found a system that works for us. The main consideration is whether we will ever use/wear/read/watch/admire an item again. If we won’t, out it goes.

There are a few inherited items that will go into the attic for prosperity (a roll of Bronco toilet paper from MIL’s house that we can’t bring ourselves to throw out! ) but other items such as the Alsatian dog ornament fashioned from Pennsylvanian coal dust have gone. It’s spent 25 years in the attic so I don’t need it now. If you want to remember anything, take a photo.

Also, arm yourself with plenty of cardboard boxes and bin bags to dispose of things. It really does make it easier if you’re not scratching about looking for something to hold items.

Good luck!

I agree with Parsley

Declutter first.
Start in your bedroom with clothes, nik-naks etc, making sure to entirely remove stuff you are getting rid of from a given room, eg put charity shop bound bags near the front door ( I used a wheeled suitcase) and always call the shops first to save wasted journeys.
For any other stuff just get it to the local tip asap.

Clean the areas where the rammel? has been as you go -
This way it looks amazing even if you had been hesitating about letting some things go.

Admire you hard work and relax with chosen beverage
Repeat when you have the next surge of energy until all your rooms are sorted?

kittylester

Sit down until the notion passes? Xx

Take kitty’s wise advise

Sit down until the notion passes? Xx

I have to declutter soon so we can have decorators in just to paint. I am exhausted just thinking about it.

Decluttering
Window cleaning (use a window cleaner, repeat every six weeks)
Decorating
Deep cleaning
Carpet cleaning

The last two could combined with the same company.

I am doing the same. Started with a declutter, next the decorating, then the carpets and lastly someone in to do a deep clean while I sit in the garden reading my book.

Certainly start by decluttering and then get people in to do everything else.

If you are having decorators in, then book them as soon as possible, ditto all other people you are getting in, you can declutter whilst you are waiting for them to come.

Definitely declutter first, no point in cleaning and then sorting.

I did kitchen and bathroom next, including cupboards, fridges, oven and washed everything, even stuff I haven’t used (top shelves, so will declutter later)

Then decorating, then carpets and curtains, deep clean.

Then all other indoor cupboards and wardrobes.

Then all outside jobs.

I’m exhausted just writing it all down!