On the Verge of Hoarding

The clutter in this home was overtaking the living room – because there was no where else to put it!  It sat in this condition for nearly 2 years until I got a frantic call that they were ready for a change!

Most of these items were toys and unwanted projects that never got sold,  donated, or tossed.

First, we brought everything out to the massive front porch, sorted each item by type and photographed them to list online for sale (mostly Craigslist).  Then each group of items were placed in clear bags to identify them easily, and covered with a tarp for a few days on the porch until they were sold.  With the great photos of items for sale – they went like hotcakes!  I made a pact with the homeowner that whatever wasn’t sold in a week had to be donated.

The remainder of the room’s clutter was either donated, tossed, or brought back to the appropriate room, i.e. clothes to the closet, and dishes to the kitchen.

After getting a fresh start on an organized home, each room, one-by-one, received the organizing and attention it deserved, returning this home to its splendor!

For more before and after photos, or for more information, visit www.sortmyspace.com

Organize your Closet for FREE

 This is a typical closet – with Closetmaid wire.  A handy product for hanging clothes, but not designed to hold folded items.  If you had money, you’d buy the fantastic under shelf baskets that go with this system.  But, we’ll assume you’re broke!

In this closet, the best way to hold shirts and sweaters in place is to ROLL THEM just like you would when packing a suit case.  Keep the opening to the bottom, and your clothing will stay rolled. 

Now, another option is to use cardboard boxes with open tops  to sort your loose items on shelves.  To give them a decorator’s touch, cover the fronts (or the whole box) in left over wrapping or contact paper.  Label the type of items on the front with a 3×5 card covered with clear packing tape.

For more great BEFORE AND AFTER photos visit www.sortmyspace.com

How to Not Go Overboard with Office Supplies

                                                                                                     

Office supplies are an integral part our work space.  Oftentimes, we have containers on our work space to hold frequently used items.  This is important if drawer storage is limited. 

If there are drawers, try storing taller and larger items in them.  Rules, scissors, power cords and the like would be better suited for drawers.  Taller items can be stored in a tall cup in a file cabinet, cords can be wrapped individually and bound with a rubber band or string, then placed in a bag or box in the drawer to keep them from sliding.

For more suggestions or to ask questions of the organizer, visit www.sortmyspace.com

What To Do With Wedding Dresses

The Dress is Made Just for You

Your special day has come and gone.  Off to the cleaners to preserve this lovely formal dress – that you’ll never wear again!  Many years go by, the dress is preserved for …..?  Do you have a plan?

Some brides save their dresses so they can look at it in the future and remind themselves of the lovely day they were the “Princess.”  Years down the road, their own daughter might want to wear mother’s dress and begin a family tradition.  Unless you have sons, or your daughter’s idea of a wedding dress is completely different from your own.  What then?

There are several options:

• Create something new from the fabric like a ring pillow for a family wedding, or a pillow for your bed; christening dress, or make it the centerpiece of a family quilt.
• Sell it at a bridal consignment and turn the profits into savings bonds for you children or grandchildren.
• Donate it to a local theater group, church or charity.

Whatever the future holds for your wedding dress, albeit storage, transformation or giving, remember that you are STILL the princess you were on your wedding day!

http://organizedatoz.wordpress.com/category/kids/

http://organizedatoz.wordpress.com/category/kids/.

When Attics Become a Dumping Ground

“My attic, my attic someone come help thee.  The forgotten, the treasured and little mice three.”

If your attic is like most, it’s one of the most forgotten areas in the home when it comes to cleaning projects.  It’s where the seasonal clothes and decorations are stored.  Sometimes even furiture and housewares that you’re sure you’ll use again will find it’s way up the stairs and into that space above our heads. 

I recommend bringing a vacuum or broom up to your attic at least twice a year to attack the webs and dust that accumulates in the rafters.  Plus, move things around a bit to check for extra inhabitants – rodents (and their droppings) and insects.  Nobody likes to pull out their summer clothes with mouse droppings on (or in) the box or have it covered in spider webs.  In the case you do have “visitors” up there an exterminator can be your best friend and should be called to consult on the situation. 

While your moving things around, it’s also a great time to asses what really needs to be up there & what could be sold, given or donated.  Old or vintage clothing could be donated to a theater group, old toys or other items could be loaned or donated to museums & travel around the country on display and books could be donated to the library to update their collections.  There’s plenty of tax write offs waiting to be had in our attics. 

Good luck!  Please submit your questions to:  www.sortmyspace.com

 

What’s in Your Junk Drawer?

Do you even know what’s in your junk drawer?  Of course not.  That’s why we call it a junk drawer.  It contains all the little things we’re sure we’ll need in the future, but it doesn’t really have a place to be.  Or, it’s in there because you’re planning on putting it in the right place “in the future!” 

Well, most of us don’t deal with our junk drawers until they’re too full to even open – am I right?  Of course.  And, I’ve been guilty as charged.  What I decided to do was to put some compartments in that drawer.  They can be little containers for pins & coins or plastic desk drawer dividers for pencils and the screwdriver.  Those are the usual things I put in my junk drawer. 

It’s important to look at the frequency of usage when ‘allowing’ anything to stay in our junk drawer permanently.  I actually don’t use very many batteries.  So, my batteries go in a container in my cleaning items pantry.  On the other hand, I use a lot of different chargers, and those have been awarded their own drawer all by themselves. 

Not sure what you have in your junk drawer?  Time to dump it out and sort it out!

For questions:  Visit www.sortmyspace.com

Estate Sales – Where to start

How to Get Started

Do you need to sell everything in the house?  Have you been dubbed the “executor” in a will or have to sell everything because of a move?  This task can seem overwhelming, but can be easily managed – and it’s not something you should handle all on your own.

Who can help? 

• Estate Sale Company:  This is a company who comes in and runs the whole sale from beginning to end, including all the advertising and staff.
• Professional Organizer:  Enlisting the help of a professional organizer can sort & set up displays in the home to help you maximize your sale.   This is especially helpful if you are not physically able to do all the work of the sale, but want to hold the sale yourself.
• Friends – or trusted family:  Asking friends or family is a hard road to take when organizing a sale.  Sometimes “personal” opinions on how things should be set up can conflict with your own & feelings could get hurt.   Be ready to compromise and let the other person help as they’re willing – or you may be stuck doing it all yourself!

 

Estate and Tag Sale Pointers

Having an estate sale can be a real challenge.  Read below for some pointers to make the process easier. 

TIMING - The best time to have an estatate or tag sale is the summer months, but not the only time.  If you’re in warm climate, the timing around winter won’t be so important.  But, any state above a 40 degrees latitude has to be conscious of periods of very bad weather that could postpone your sale unexpectedly.  Basically, coinciding dates with traditional family holidays, like Thanksgiving, will bring a poor turnout to your sale.  

PREPARATION – It’s important to have a plan, time and energy to sort and clean all the items for sale.  Test all electronic items that are for sale.  Plus, using online research for any recalls, pull items that should not be sold due to safety hazards.    Sort all items in categories like: clothing, tools, furniture, kitchen, linens, electronics, etc.  Bringing items out of cupboards and drawers is important for the display aspect. 

DISPLAY- Think of your sale as a ‘department store’.  Every catetory of items should have a ‘department.’  Keep in mind that each object should be visible, reachable & have clear walk-ways to it.  Use as many available flat surfaces as possible – window sills, shelves & countertops.  You may also need to add some tables topped with pretty  table cloths.  Keep small items withing eye-sight – or they’ll go in dishonest customer’s pockets! As each day progesses, gather your items closer together for the ease of the shopper.  For example, bring in a small table that’s not been inquired about very often into the main furniture room to increase its chances of getting noticed and purchased! 

PRICING – Tag your largest and most expensive items individually.  Then, use 3×5 cards or full sheets of paper to price items in categories, i.e. linens $1 each, and coats $5 each.  If the item is absolutely new, you could list it at about 75% of retail price to start.   To determine pricing on gently used items, take the value of the “type of items” if new, cut it down by to below 30% of retail price.  For example: If most of your shoes were ‘on average’ $30 per pair, your shoe category should be $10 each pair.  Some items that I tend to sell in pre-bagged LOTS are:  Kitchen plastics, kitchen utensils, misc. clothing by size (especially with kids clothes), toys and craft supplies.  As the sale continues, your prices should go down – especially on your last day.

ADVERTISING – The main venues of advertising sales is newspaper.  Many times your buyer is not one who frequents the internet, and the newspaper is their only means of finding sales.  Second, Craigslist and other free online sites will be very helpful.  Sometimes they allow you to insert photographs to highlight key items in your sale.  Signs should be placed in the main intersections with time, address and an arrow pointing toward the sale location.  Try to keep signs consistent in color to help draw the eye and help in locating your sale.  Grocery store & church ads also are helpful – just print out a 1/2 or 1 page flier to display with a photo & contact phone number if possible. 

DAY OF THE SALE – It’s your sale, your rules, but try not to have too many rules!  Have a sign on the door with any basic rules like: We ask no large bags or pets, the type of payment accepted and pickup requirements.  Open 10-20 minutes early if possible.  Be friendly.  Offer cookies & lemonade to your customers.  Have at least 1 other person in the home with you for answering  questions & security.   And, if that person can help customers lift heavy items – what a deal!

AFTER THE SALE – Unless you have a buyer come pick up your left-overs, you will have to deal with the scraps.  Now, if you have higher priced items remaining, call an auctioneer or try listing them yourself online if you have experience.  Another option is just one donation pickup with the coveted ‘tax write off’.

Reclaim Your Closet

Tired of Tripping Over Stacks?

Are you stacking your freshly washed or newly purchased clothes in the main part of your room instead of your closet?  If so, this blog is for you. 

Take a deep breath, put your hand on the knob of your closet and “Open”!  Now, if you didn’t have to be taken to the hospital from being knocked over by something in your closet, there’s hope in reclaiming your closet.

Make three categories: 

1. Doesn’t Fit
2. Trash/Recycle
3. Keep

Doesn’t Fit:  I know what you’re thinking, “I’ll fit back into it, and I love that outfit!”  That’s perfectly logical if you’ve worn it THIS YEAR.  But if you haven’t, it needs to go to resale or donate.  Styles change and so does your body.  What fit this year, might not fit next as our body shape changes as we age. 

Trash/Recycle:  Take a look around for drycleaning hangers or just plain old trash that needs taken out and recycled if possible.  Cluttered, untouched areas are perfect breeding grounds for bugs.

Keep:  Chances are, you’re going to keep most of what’s in your closet.  Make sure it’s items that you truly love.  Visit my blog “Organizing Your Closet” for tips on sorting the remaining items.