Home Organizing and Staging Solutions Madison, WI Metro Area
608.622.SORT (7678)
info@lifeorganizedllc.com
  • Life: Organized
  • Organizing & Staging
    • FAQ Videos
    • Before & After
    • Testimonials
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Dane County Hoarding Task Force
  • Contact us!

[Staging] That's What Family is For <3

9/28/2014

0 Comments

 
Believe to or not, I had a really fun day helping family with a project to get a condo ready to sell…
Ready or not she is headed south y'all!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

[Organizing] Brava Article

8/4/2014

0 Comments

 
Life: Organized is in print for the August issue of Brava, a Madison based magazine.    
Brava = women+substance+style.  
You can read the full publication at http://read.dmtmag.com/i/354830
Picture
0 Comments

[Organizing] U.F.O.

7/22/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
While working with a client, she identified an item as a UFO.  After my bewildered reaction, she explained that in the crafting world this meant "UnFinished Object."  

That term resonates with so many of my other clients, and let's be honest…myself.  I am not going to act like I do not have a few projects of my own laying around that have been neglected!  So what do we do about it?

Be honest with yourself: 
  • Do you still like the idea of the project or the finished piece?
  • Is it a project that you still have an aspiration to finish?  
  • Do you still have a use for it?  
  • Would the intended recipient still have a use for it or are they still interested in the project?


If your answer is yes to the first set of questions then: Make it a priority!
Dedicate the time, like any other activity that is important to you to do it.  If you can not make the time then re-evaluate how important it really is.  If it is just a really busy time for you then take it off the current to-do list and pack it away for another time.  Choose a time and put a reminder for yourself on the calendar.  Maybe 3 or 6 months.  If the timer goes off and you are still too busy re-evaluate if it is realistic or a dream.


If your answer is no to the first set of questions then: LET IT GO!
Life is far too short to be stepping over projects that you "might" get to someday, or that you really do not have a passion for.  Maybe you know someone who would enjoy it who you could pass it on to, donate it, or sell it.  One thing is for sure, it will not make you feel good to continue stepping over it.  I often run into resistance from clients because of how much they paid for the supplies for a project.  Please do not let this be the only reason that you decide to keep it!


2 Comments

[Staging] Bathroom Basics

7/12/2014

0 Comments

 
One of the smallest rooms in the house, yet they can break a buyer's decision to make an offer. 

What are you going to do about it?
Do what you can, and make it feel like a spa!
  • Declutter!  Less is more with staging!  Counters should be clear.  Sell the space, not your cosmetics and hair products.  Get in the habit of putting everything away when you are done with it.  Shower too…at least try to minimize what is in there and keep it out of the direct line of sight when they first walk in the door.  
  • Make sure it is always clean top to bottom.  I am a fan of the daily shower sprays to keep the shower looking and smelling clean.  Wiping counters daily is a great habit to get into, and keep the cammode and mirror shining!
  • Be sure to have fresh towels out.  Remember…think more spa, less bachelor pad.  Keep the towels that need to stay in the room fresh…nothing says "buy me" like towel funk!
  • Avoid overpowering scents.  I have mentioned this before, but some people are sensitive, others think you are covering something up, while others just might not like it.  You don't want the buyers to remember you as the "rose scented house that you could taste for an hour afterwards" house!
  • Keep wall art and accessories to a minimum.  You want to draw attention to the features of the room.  
  • Make any repairs that could cause a delay in closing.
  • NO RUGS!!!  You can have a bath mat for showering, but hang it over the tub when you are finished.  Most bathrooms are not that large and space sells homes. Rugs make spaces feel smaller by stopping the eye from traveling through the room.  
Buyers usually need to ask for 24 hour notice, but I suggest keeping as close to "ready" as you can be for a showing EVERY DAY!
Picture
0 Comments

[Staging] Prepping for Listing Photos

3/26/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
You have decided to sell and your real estate agent has suggested that you declutter.  You decide to start in the living room.  When you walk in, you look around and notice that you have "things" out, but they are useful and used every day.  You decide to start in another room...

Realtors and stagers do not have any emotional attachment to your things, and it is easier for them to point out the obvious "clutter."  Be realistic about what it means to have your home on the market.  You want others to picture living there, and their lifestyle may be very different than yours.  

It is very important to make sure your home is ready for it's closeup!  
Buyers will most likely have their first impression based on photos they will see online.  This is where I suggest the staging start!  Take a camera and stand at the curb, entrance to each room, and furthest corner from the door in each room.  Snap a photo from each one of those locations.  Then, upload them on your computer, and take a look, a real close look.  Consider having someone such as a friend, family member, or neighbor help with this process and ask for their brutal honesty.  What do you want potential buyers to notice about each room?  What is the first thing you notice about each photograph?  Is it what you want buyers to notice?

Many times, the answer to that question in…NO!
Make a list of things that need to be done BEFORE you have the pictures taken for your listing.  Dedicate the time to get as many of those tasks done.  All the time you put into making your house the bast it can possibly show, will help sell it faster.  Buyers do not want to have to rehang doors, touchup paint, and clean before they move in.  All of those things that you take care of for them, means a larger selling price.  

Once listing pictures go online, and buyers see them, it is hard to undo the damage.  Consider learning a little about living a minimalist lifestyle temporarily…who knows, you might even like it!
0 Comments

[Organizing] January 2014 Week 3 and 4

2/1/2014

0 Comments

 
OK, I cheated.  I grouped the last two weeks together…  I have found great joy in searching my home for randomness that the family no longer uses, but honestly, I am done blogging about it.  Just because I am tired of showing pictures of all my cast-offs, does not mean that I have any intention of stopping.  Just the contrary!  I have never been so motivated!  I have had this feeling before, but usually when preparing for a move.  I am now wondering if minimalism is my path…  No, probably not, but in the mean time I will keep a box upstairs and a box in the garage to catch any of those items that I catch myself or the family not using and get rid of them.  

So what made the box these past weeks?  More kids stuff was donated: clothes, and a few small toys, two changing pads.  More kids stuff thrown out: personal hygiene items, as well as several pairs of socks well past their prime.  And some donations: costume jewelry.

All in all, this has been very therapeutic and I hope motivating for my followers to see that even I, the Home Organizer, can find some useless items around my house to purge.  I will do the project again.  I am thinking instead of two months in a row (December and January), that I will pick January and July?  We will see.  In the mean time, I would love to hear what you are working on organizing and what you need help organizing.

Happy decluttering to my faithfully organized followers <3 
0 Comments

[Book Review] The Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Rid of It

1/22/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
[Book Review]

The Step-by-Step Guide to 
Getting Rid of It 
Eliminate the Clutter in Your Life

by Betsy & Warren Talbot

Platform: Kindle Fire

There are a lot of big name organizing professionals out there who have really great print, audio and visual materials.  Some of them I have read, watched or listened to.  Often, these professionals are basing their materials on personal experience, client experience, and their past trials and errors in the or gaining field and the life before organizing.  This book is not one of those.  

This book is written by a couple who decides to downsize from a 3,000+ square foot house, to a townhouse, and finally to carrying a 26 pound pack each.  They discuss some of the reasons why we keep things and the liberating feeling of purging the things that keep weighing us down.  

This is a good read for someone who may be intimidated by some of the more academic literature out there on organizing.  It is really written from the view of an ordinary person who is sharing their journey and what worked for them. Out of their experience, they share lots of best practices that myself and most other organizers in the industry actually use.  

Added bonus=


0 Comments

[December Purge to Remember] WEEK 4: Jump into Organizing 2014

12/28/2013

1 Comment

 
When you start looking… weird stuff starts showing up.  Maybe that is why horses wear blinders!  

What got the boot this week?  Well, three batches of books (one is not pictured), pj's, ankle brace, long sleeve fleece, bottle brush, and a work bag.  Common theme among these items?  All except for the work bag have gone unused for over a year!  Can you believe it?  An entire year!  OK, maybe it is just me shocked by my own abundance or maybe the reflection of this fact is startling for me.  It really makes me wonder what else I have been holding on to and walking past every day that serves no useful purpose in my daily life, brings me no joy, and could possibly be bringing me stress.  I do not want to make any irrational decisions too late at night, but I am thinking about continuing this project into January. 

Who is with me??? 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

[December Purge to Remember] WEEK 1: Jump into Organizing 2014

12/7/2013

2 Comments

 
So, I committed to a December purge, and wanted to share with you my personal progress after only a week. My goal was to find one item a day that I could donate, throw away, or sell.  Below you will find a photo journal of my first week's purge that includes: a child's Halloween costume, swim suit, athletic pants, plastic containers, seasonal decorations, child safety tools, and potty chair…  Now, I should point out that some of the photos include more than one item, but I counted them as one "collection."

I wanted to do this in December for a couple of reasons:
  • January is typically a very common time for New Year's Resolutions to purge.  I wanted to show people that you can do it any time of year and make a big difference!  
  • Also, I thought with many of my followers and clients considering some resolutions as the new year approaches, that this might inspire them!
  • Finally, I wanted to make sure to make room for the new treasures under the christmas tree!  


So you want to get started, but are not sure how?  
  • Start by dedicating a box someplace easily accessible.
  • Invite everyone in the house to participate (partner, kids, room mates.)
  • You do not have to go looking for something to purge.  As you go through your daily routines, just be aware of the things around you.  For example, you might be making breakfast and open the utensil drawer for a tool.  You look inside only to dig through a seemingly bottomless drawer full of tools you never or rarely use.  Pull a couple out and throw them in your box!  Viola, you completed your first purge!  Another example might be while you are doing laundry, you notice that a shirt had a tear, stain, or shrunk.  Send it to the box!
  • Maybe you have spaces that you know need work and want to purge.  Book shelf, costume jewelry, SOCKS?!?  Put on your favorite CD and get sorting!  Before you know it, you might just have that box filled up!

You will be so surprised at the end of the day, week, and month that you might be inspired to keep going.  If you are having trouble getting started, then give me a call ;-)

As always, I would love to see and hear about your personal progress.  Feel free to share here or email me and I am happy to give feedback as well as share for others!

Happy Holidays!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
2 Comments

[Book Review] Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify

9/16/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture



So many books out there about organizing, so how can you choose which ones to read and which ones are not worth your time? Well, I am going to try to keep you up to date with what I am reading in the world of Home Organizing. I will let you know if I would suggest the book and then give a few tips that I found in the book to be well stated, cutting edge, or just plain awesome!




Book Review:
Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify
By Francine Jay
Platform: Kindle Fire

This book was a quick read...I will give it that. While Francine had some great ideas and the book reads well, I was irritated by the constant plugs for her other books. I wouldn't suggest picking this one up because I think your time can be better spent (perhaps on some of her other books?!?), but I will share with you a couple of the ideas that I enjoyed:

  • The idea of selling your castoffs was brought up (8. Ebay Reality Check- The True Value of Your Treasures). She states “...in my opinion, any item unlikely to sell for more than $10 is hardly worth the time and effort to photograph it, list it, and ship it. But that doesn't mean you have to hold on to it...Feel free to let it go! If you ever have the need for such an item in the future, look how inexpensively you can acquire it.” (Loc241/1514) Well, this hits the nail on the head. We have such attachment to our stuff because of it's “perceived” value.
  • “Each unnecessary thing we purge (or chose not to buy) is one less thing to fuss over, clean, repair, maintain, and pay for. Each unfulfilling task we toss from our schedules is one less hassle in the course of our day. In paring down to the essentials, a myriad of worries fall to the wayside. And what we are left with? More space, more minutes, more attention for what's important.” (Loc1174/1514)
  • “Decide what to keep, rather than what to toss.” (Loc1236/1514)
  • “What is minimalism then? It's eliminating excess. It's asking “why” before you buy. It's embracing the concept of enough. It's living lightly and gracefully on earth. It's uncovering who you are when all of the logos, brand names, and clutter are stripped away. It's simple, it's ordinary, and it's accessible to everyone-from singles to families, teenagers and retirees.” (loc

Again, none of these ideas are new, but she does a great job restating them. I will probably pick up another one of her books in the future, but for now there are a couple others on the burner!


0 Comments
    Do you like what you see?Sign up for a monthly newsletter and never miss a beat!
    Sign Up Now
    For Email Newsletters you can trust.

    Claire

    Professional Organizer at your service...

    Archives

    July 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Accessories
    ADD/ADHD
    Articles/Print
    Assessment
    Back To School
    Basement
    Bathroom
    Before/After Pics
    Book Review
    Books
    Business
    Business Cards
    Buy Local
    CD (Chronic Disorganization)
    Chores
    Cleaning
    Closet Organizing
    Clutter
    Consumer Protection
    Contact Management
    Crafts
    Customer Appreciation
    Customer Satisfaction
    Define Spaces
    Document Retention
    Downsizing
    Education
    Entryway And Mud Rooms
    Events
    Exterior Staging
    Fall
    Family
    Fema
    Feng Shui
    Garage/Attic/Basement
    Go Month
    Hoarding
    Holidays
    Home Inventory
    ICD (institute For Challenging Disorganization)
    Jewelry
    Kids
    Kitchen
    Leftovers
    Marketing
    Meals
    Medicare
    Minimalism
    NAPO (National Association Of Professional Organizers)
    Newsletter
    Now Hiring
    OCD
    Office Organization
    Organzing
    Paper Managemnet
    Photos
    Pin Of The Week
    Planning
    Product Review
    Professional Affiliations
    Publications
    Purging
    Recipe
    Recycle
    Referral
    Repurposeupcyclea65a84bf65
    Resolutions
    Safety
    Seniors
    Services
    Shredding
    Specials0077ccba0b
    Staging
    St Vincent Depaul
    Support Group
    Support-groups
    Therapy
    Tickler
    Time Management
    Virtual-organizing
    Volunteer

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from tristanf, emily @ go haus go, GranitArchitects, Brendon Burton, BradPerkins, eflon, Alan Light, quinn.anya, tsayrate, ...love Maegan, erix!, pjohnkeane, .Robert., queenbeeofbeverlyhills, StockMonkeys.com, Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar, PixFav.com, John-Morgan, Nguyen Vu Hung (vuhung), donebythehandsofabrokenartist, jeffdjevdet, Tom Purves, VinothChandar, Dude Pascalou, TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋), Rance Costa, Jagz Mario, kikfoto, quietlyurban.com, kevin dooley, denisp12