Reply #4: That's easy for you to say, it's not that simple

[TrogL]

Watch carefully the emotions of the hoarder as they go through their stuff.

I'm a bit of one (books, computer gear, synths, bookmarks (literal and virtual)) so I know the feeling.

The discussions usually goes something like (C: - clutterer, D: - de-clutterer)

D: So here's a 1978 calendar - why are we keeping this?
C: (cheerful) It might be useful.
D: Toss. So here's a broken teapot - why are we keeping this, there's 3 on the counter.
C: (tragic) I was planning on fixing that - it's my favourite.
D: Toss. 5 years of issues of Popular Mechanics from the 70's - why are we keeping these?
C: (worried) There's some good articles I wanted to cut out.

I've hired a declutter who's coming next week. Her conditions are that she wants free reign so I'm gonna have to run around ahead of time and rescue anything that genuinely needs keeping.