My phone buzzed at seven in the morning, a few hours’ drive from home.
This summer, my husband and I drove to my daughter’s house for a long weekend. My neighbor kindly offered to water my plants and bring in the mail while we were gone.
Her text said, “Storm last night. Your kitchen lights are out, but the rest of the house is fine.”
Then a second text came. “Where’s your breaker box? And do you have a flashlight?”
I knew the answer to both. I just couldn’t explain it well from my daughter’s guest bedroom.
The breaker box is in the basement, behind the gray shelf at the bottom of the stairs. The flashlight was somewhere in the junk drawer, under a tangle of rubber bands and old birthday candles.
She found them both, bless her, but it took her half an hour. That morning gave me an idea I’ve used in every room since. I call it the house-sitter test.
What the House-Sitter Test Is
It’s simple. Pretend someone kind is staying in your house for a week while you’re away.
They don’t know your house the way you do. They’ve never opened your hall closet or gone down to your basement.
Now walk through each room and ask one question. Could they find what they need, quickly, without calling you?
If the answer is no, that spot needs a little decluttering. Usually it’s not about having more stuff. It’s about clearing the way to the few things that matter.