Organizing & Storage Guide

Organizing & Storage Guide from HGTV…

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                                                 Midtown Crossing at Turner Park – Flickr.com

Organize Your Closet

Organize Your Closet with the help of HomeMadeSimple.com

It’s a great time to organize your closets.  Schools back in session for most – and the end of the summer is near, so it’ll soon be time to get out  fall clothing… boy, I hated writing that!

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                                                                 Darwin Bell – Flickr.com

What’s Your Closet Personality?

What’s Your Closet Personality?  From Fine Living ~CLICK ~

                                                             bpende – Flickr.com

Just think how an organized closet would help simplify ones life.  You walk in – see exactly what you need – get it – done.  Or… You walk in – don’t see what you need – waste precious time looking for it – saying a few “fudge” words while feeling your blood pressure rise – you finally find it, Yeah!  But now your in a grouchy mood for the entire morning.  To me, being organized is – Priceless!

A Clutter Free Home

Whether your home is currently on the market – or your thinking of selling your home – or have no plans for selling at all – Living in a Clutter Free Home is wonderful!  Less Mess… equals Less Stress!

                                                     supershoppertoo – Flickr.com

When my 5 kids were little, and mornings getting ready for school could get crazy.  If you have children – 1 child – or maybe just yourself to get together in the am – being organized was and is key to having enough time for a good breakfast, no need for shouting and stressing and things going as smoothly as possible!  Everyone wondered why I had so much patience.  Alot came from again, being neat, organized and clutter free.  Just think how upset one gets when you can’t find your car keys – or your left shoe!  If everything gets put in their place, this could be avoided.

                                                      Mickelodeon – Flickr.com

Even now, with my kids being 20, 18, 16, 15 and 13 years old, I insist on that way of life.  I think it’s great that they’re able to get up, have their clothes picked out from the night before, everything needed to get ready is at their fingertips so no time is wasted – and rather spend that time to eat well, grab their lunch – which is always made the night before – and be able to run off to school on time. OK – I admit, with teenagers, it doesn’t ALWAYS work so smoothly!

This works well with my life as a Realtor – having my electronic keys updated, my appointments made, listings printed out – one copy for me and one for my clients, gas in my car, addressed inputted into my GPS, I-Pod ALWAYS in my purse to be able to connect to my car – along with my camera and Flip video camera, and last – but not least – my cell phone and back up battery always charged.  Even if a client calls and asks to view a house in – an hour – I can usually always make it work – since most of the above has been done!  Keeping organized – keeps me sane.  And knowing that there are always days that things can’t and don’t seem to run smoothly is also important.  

                                                 supershoppertoo – Flickr.com

During my appointments, viewing homes with clients, many can see past the dirty dishes in the sink, the pile of smelly shoes near the front door, the dead fish floating in the fish tank – but some simply can not see past all of this!  It is an instant turn off and with sooo many homes on the market, they simply want to move onto the next!  And I can’t blame them since I can’t help but think that if the homeowners can’t keep up with the laundry and make the beds, then I wonder if they’ve had the time or responsibility to service their furnace yearly, have the septic pumped every 2 or 3 years or fix a leaky pipe asap??

                                     Joe Shlabotnik – Flickr.com

The easiest way to get started on getting organized is to pick a day – any day – whether it’s when the kids are at school and your home alone – or when the kids are home and you have them help.  Make a LIST – Tackle ONE ROOM AT A TIME – Have REWARDS for you and anyone that helps.  For me, I would say that after I’m all done cleaning out the garage, I will NOT be making dinner – Pizza for all and a glass of wine for me!  To get the kids to help, say after they’re done helping, they can pick what’s for dinner – or what movie to rent – or – you can take them to the mall for a TREAT!  And don’t forget to stay hydrated, take snack breaks to refuel, play some hoping music to get you going and have fun!

Also watch a video from

•  HGTV – Kitchen Organized <CLICK>
• HGTV – Reorganizing Your Medicine Cabinet <CLICK>
• HGTV – Getting Organized for the New Year <CLICK>

                                    glass window – Flickr.com

For someone selling their home, think of how easy it will be if you get a last minute call for a viewing – or an unexpected guest comes over – or you get sick and family or friends come to help – how do you explain the moldy containers in the fridge – the 9 piles of laundry – the empty cupboards since no dishes have been done!  Yes – this is a bit much, but I have seen this!  No one is perfect – but there is always room for improvement.  Please keep in mind that stress can lead to numerous health issues with your heart, immune system, weight gain…