10 Simple Organization Tips for the Home Office
Written by Sherry Castaldi, Organized by Design. Copyright 2007.
- Designate an incoming mail area. We are all inundated with paper daily. Do not just lay it on your counter, desk or wherever when you walk in
- Have predetermined and labeled bins or folders to sort your mail into.
- When you are ready to look through your mail be prepared to sort it to the appropriate areas. Do not continue to pick up the mail, look through it and return it to a pile unsorted.
- Keep your trashcan or paper-recycling container close by so as you sort, you can toss what you do not need.
- Keep your shredder close by if you choose to shred junk mail.
- Keep as many items as possible off your desk and in appropriate files, drawers, containers or storage areas. You cannot work at your desk if your desktop is a storage facility unto itself.
- Keep your "tools"; pens, pencils, stapler, paperclips, etc together either in an easy to reach top drawer or neatly in desktop containers.
- Make a filing system that works for you, so you have a place to file or store paper information and documents in your office.
- If something no longer has a purpose to you, such as expired coupons or anything irrelevant - dispose of it.
- Your office space should feel good to you. If it's cluttered and messy you won't want to use it.
Remember organizing is a process, just like laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc. It's never a once and done because mail, paper and clutter are incoming daily so they have to continually be dealt with.
Click here to download this article in PDF format
10 "MAKE SURE" Tips for Showing Your Home
Written by Sherry Castaldi, Organized by Design. Copyright 2007.
- Make sure the path to your front door is clear. This includes shrubbery overhang, toys or anything obstructing a pleasant walk to the door.
- Make sure your front entrance and door are clean, no cobwebs, bugs, or anything unpleasant should be lurking at your door.
- Make sure all clutter (paper, laundry, toys, personal items, etc) is kept off the floor, furniture, countertops, or any such horizontal surface.
- Make sure floors, carpets, and especially stairs are free and clear of any potential "road blocks" of clutter, pets, boxes, etc.
- Make sure your home is spotlessly clean. This i ncludes keeping bathrooms and kitchens meticulously clean to the point of it not looking like anyone lives there or uses those rooms. Fresh or guest towels should be out and soiled towels tucked away. Sinks and showers and/or tubs should be immaculate. Carpets and floors should be vacuumed and free of dirt, crumbs, stains, etc.
- Make sure all beds are made.
- Make sure closets and basements are kept neat and tidy. If your things don't seem to fit well or look messy, a buyer will assume there is not enough storage space in the house.
- Make sure your home is free of any unpleasant odors (such as fish or strong smells from a previous meal, pet odors, garbage, etc)
- Make sure you've "de-personalized" by removing personal pictures, religious items, offensive artwork, etc. Buyers become distracted if you have too many personal things for them to look at and then actually forget what the home looks like but remember the personal items.
- Make sure your windows are clean with unobstructed views. Sunlight in a home makes it feel warm and inviting.
Click here to download this article in PDF format
10 Closet Organizing Tips
Written by Sherry Castaldi, Organized by Design. Copyright 2007.
- Use identical style hangers; wooden, clear plastic or tubular to give your closet consistency.
- Return metal hangers back to the Dry Cleaners as they leave indentations in your clothes and are not as sturdy as other style hangers.
- Purge, Purge, Purge. If it doesn't fit, is out of style, you never like it, have no use for it, know you will never wear it - Donate it! This includes clothes, shoes, purses, and accessories.
- Do not hang your sweaters. Neatly fold and store either in drawers or on closet shelving or neatly in containers.
- Have baskets or bins for laundry and dry cleaning,
- Use shoe shelving to keep shoes organized in pairs and off the floor.
- Store small accessory items in drawers or small containers on shelves.
- Hang belts, scarves, and ties for easy viewing and access.
- Do not store unrelated items in your closets. ex; kids games with your clothes, husband's clothes in the baby's room, kitchenware in your coat closet.
- Remember keeping your closets organized is an ongoing process because new items are always coming into your home and other items are losing their function or style. Always take a few extra minutes to put things back where they belong and sort out what you no longer need.
Click here to download this article in PDF format
Moving Checklist
- Sort & Purge
- Separate items to donate, sell, trash, or keep
- Decide
how you want to sell saleable items
- Obtain estimates for saleable items & buy out of additional unwanted items
- Begin process of getting items for donation to appropriate places
- Begin packing items you won't need before the move
- Dispose of hazardous items properly
- Obtain moving estimates, schedule/reserve date when a date for move has been chosen
- Contact Insurance Co. re: new home to have policy in place for settlement
- Contact Utility companies to place new home services
in your name
Electric Water Cable Other Gas Sewer Internet Other Oil Trash Telephone
- After Settlement of new
home:
- Re-Key locks
- Decide
if there is any work you would like done before you move in & schedule,
such as:
- Carpet cleaning, flooring changes
- Carpentry
- Electrical work
- Painting, wallpaper removal
- Storage, shelving systems
- Companies, Businesses to
contact re: Change of Address or Cancellation of Service
- Homeowners Insurance
- Utilities:
Electric Water Cable Other Gas Sewer Internet Other Oil Trash Telephone - Banks, Financial Institutions
- Driver's License
- Voter Registration
- Subscriptions: Magazines, Newspapers
Click here to download this article in PDF format
