Ellen's Blog, Professional Organizing for Kingwood & Houston

6 Areas to Declutter to Sell Your Home Fast

June 8, 2017/2 Comments/in Home Organizing/by Ellen

A decluttered home speeds up the sale of your home. After years of living in your home, you have collected more than 2000 in just three rooms! It’s clear that a new buyer wants to see your home, not all the clutter in it. Realtors know that home buyers see themselves in something beautiful, organized, and spacious. According to a 2011 study by HomeGain.com, cleaning and decluttering your home is the top method to get more for your home and a quicker sale. Here are the top 6 areas to declutter your home for a fast sale.

Kitchen

The kitchen is your first stop to declutter. Most buyers want a big kitchen with lots of storage. Maximize your countertop and cabinet appeal by clearing off the kitchen countertop. Leave as little out as possible to showcase the backsplash and countertop itself. Go through your kitchen cabinets and let go of odd glasses, mugs, and plates. Be sure to recycle old broken appliances. Pack away seasonal items you won’t be using this year. Look under your kitchen sink eliminate old packaging and leave basic cleaning supplies. Declutter your pantry too especially if there is an abundance of items. Use up your pantry stock to minimize what is in the pantry.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are the next stop to declutter. Leave just hand soap on the counter. Declutter under the sink area and in the drawers. Get out the trash that is in this room. Neatly fold any towels. Check out your medicine cabinet for expired medications and over-the-counter items. Be sure your laundry is hidden away too!

Closets

A spacious closet and abundant storage is on everyone’s wish list. Declutter your closet and keep only what you love and can wear. Do the same for out of season clothes you have not worn last season. If you are using closets to store decor or linens, take time to decide if these will be used in your next home.

Kid rooms

Your kids’ rooms and kids’ toys are especially important to organize. Too many toys can overwhelm a potential buyer. Pack up more than half of your kids’ toys to sell your home. While your home is on the market, plan on lots of time at parks to entertain your kids and keep their toys organized.

Office

With more and more people working from home, an organized office is critical to the sale of your home. Gather up all your paper and go through it to shred or recycle. Place papers by year in boxes, ready to file at a later date. Condense all cords and keep out only what you use regularly on your desk. A tool cup with scissors, pens, and markers is all you need to keep out. A decluttered office brings out the best in your home.

What about offsite storage?

While generally not an advocate of offsite storage, it is useful during staging a home for sale. Out-of-season clothes, additional furniture, extra toys, and other items you are not ready to sell or donate can be stored here.

Check out more ideas on decluttering your home fast! You have more space at your new home and you have saved money not moving the extra items. If you are unsure, be ruthless and let the items go. The goal of selling fast makes it easier to let go of more!

My Organizing Obsession: Clear plastic bags

June 1, 2017/6 Comments/in My Organizing Obsession, Organizing products/by Ellen

In the past few weeks, garage organizing has been in full swing! Beautiful Spring weather is the best time to organize outside. As we organized, my clients and I have come to love clear plastic bags. If it’s small or big, clear plastic bags make it easy to organize. There are several options I want to share with you.

Clear is always a good option for storage.

You can see what’s inside. Most of us are visual and out of sight is out of mind.
It’s easy to know what you have and how to use it because of clear storage.
It’s easy to group items together that are used together.
You can label the outside of the bag too.

Clear plastic bags are a great alternative for organizing. These extra large garbage bags can be used for all types of storage. It’s especially helpful for light weight, but big items. You can wrap floral arrangements, sleeping bags, holiday decorations and more with these bags. It’s an extra layer of protection for your items. Use these instead of black plastic garbage bags.

Ziploc big bags are a storage option for all sorts of items. As shown here, it’s great for athletic items, holiday storage, out of season clothes storage, and shoe storage. These bags are heavier than the clear plastic bags and more durable. It’s easy to store items under a bed, in the back of a closet, in a garage or in the attic.

Thanks to Ziploc, there a zillion uses for small clear bags. Ziploc has ideas for spring cleaning and organizing, as well as ways to organize all around your home. You can organize your purse, organize your junk drawer, organize your crafts and organize your office supplies. There’s so much you can do with ziplocs of all sizes that every home should have a large supply!

When Organizing is NOT Enough

May 23, 2017/4 Comments/in ADD and ADHD, Home Organizing/by Ellen

Organizing is on every one’s mind these days. If only I had time, or I need to be, or best of all, I SHOULD get organized. The thought is that if I organize what I have, I can find it and use it. You may have tried organizing, re-organizing and then re-organizing again. By trying different strategies, you realize that you are not having the success at finding what you need and having access to what you want. Being organized with all your stuff is not the solution. It’s not enough to be more organized. It’s time to make a decision about what you have ( or what has you.). That’s when organizing is not enough.

Breaking through Just. In. Case

What’s holding you back from letting go? It’s a moment you need to come to terms with. Is it a financial, emotional, sentimental mindset. This is the motivation factor behind Marie Kondo’s Magic of Tidying Up. If you own something, it should bring you joy. Are you ready to accept that an items needs to go if it is not serving you or bringing you joy? Can you see a real spot for this item or imagine a specific way to use it? Dig deep and see what has a hold on you to hold onto your stuff. If you need motivation, it’s time to talk through your reluctance with others and get support. Blogs,books and podcasts give you new ideas and new ways to think about your stuff. There’s no amount of organizing that can make up for necessary decluttering.

Getting stuff out to the universe.

Getting stuff out is a big step in your organizing journey. You have decluttered but your stuff sits in your car or on a step in your home for too long. All of a sudden you find yourself going back into those bags. Here’s where a team approach can really help. Find online resources who come to you or answer the call to leave items on your doorstep. Find a clutter buddy who also needs to drop off donations. Use an app such as OfferUp, LetGo, or Freecycle.org to let go of your items.

Declutter regularly.

We know the culprits – a birthday, holiday, shopping trip or big event coming up. We know more is about to come in. Take this time as prime time to declutter. What we also know that decluttering is ongoing that is needed as routinely as brushing our teeth. Write in time on your calendar to commit to organizing. Check here for answers to your decluttering questions.

The same applies to our paperwork. I have frequently heard, “I organized that file in 2010 and never looked in there again.” Get information on what to keep and how long to keep it. Then set up a daily triage, weekly admin time and annual file maintenance reminder on your calendar.

It’s a whole new way of thinking about organizing. When you know organizing is not enough, it’s a perspective change that changes everything about what you own. Your stuff no longer owns you. So long, saiyonara, and toodles!

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Productivity Quotes I Love

May 18, 2017/0 Comments/in Productivity/by Ellen

Best Family Travel Tips

May 11, 2017/4 Comments/in Family Organizing/by Ellen

On a recent trip with my grandkids, I knew that we had entered a new age of organizing for families. We love the opportunity to travel with our grandkids and took the fun on the road. It’s no longer just clothes and shoes to pack. Now it’s multiple ipads, movies, chargers, medicines, hand sanitizer and more. Here’s best family travel tips to make sure you are organized and ready for fun!

Start with a list

There’s simply too much to remember to pack for your family. There are lots of lists available online or create your own checklist. Our list includes all the details, no matter how small. When you travel with kids you want to be sure you are prepared. We added medicines and first aid supplies. You can be sure your list is complete by adding items and reviewing it after your trip.

Cozi travel check list
Container Store travel check list
TravelMamas packing list

Create a family command center

When a family of 5 shares a hotel room, it can be chaotic. It’s easy to lose the most important of items like money or tickets. Create a command center with wallets, purses, and other important items. This can be near the tv or by the mini refrigerator. Unload your pockets or purse each night and restock each morning before you leave your accommodations. Taking a few minutes to set this up and keep it orderly each day will make your travel more fun and less stressful.

Create a charging station

Just like at home, you want your devices ready to go in the morning. We created a charging station for all devices. We brought along 2 extra power strips to plug in all the devices. Each device had it’s own charger. I also have an extra charger for my phone during the day that I would recharge each evening. Devices were plugged in each evening so everyone would get a good night’s rest too. Label each charger so you know who owns it and what device it belongs to.

As in all, travel keep the basics in mind as you pack. A little organizing goes a long way!

An organized family is a happy family!

Professional-Organizer.com Ranks in Top 15 Best Organizers in Houston

May 5, 2017/2 Comments/in Home Organizing/by Ellen

I am delighted to be mentioned in the recent Expertise.com survey of top 15 best organizers in Houston.

Rated for reputation, credibility, experience and professionalism, Professional-Organizer.com ranked in the top 15 organizers in Houston.

I am grateful for the opportunity to assist others in streamlining their lives and prioritizing organization and productivity.

Learn more here about Expertise and my review:

www.expertise.com/tx/houston/home-organizers

Feeling stuck? Here’s how to get started organizing!

May 4, 2017/2 Comments/in ADD and ADHD/by Ellen

Feeling stuck? Have personal paralysis? Are you procrastinating? It’s common when it comes to organizing. It can be overwhelming and difficult to get started organizing, especially if you have a brain based condition such as ADHD. Making decisions, creating a plan, and initiating are all challenges that interfere with getting started. There are ways to get unstuck and get started organizing.

Set a date and a time to organize

Setting a date, that is an appointment with yourself, gets you started organizing. It’s just like all other appointments. It is on the calendar, your time is reserved, and you are committed. Choose a time that is good with respect to low distractions and high energy level. Plan on 1 -2 hours to work on this project. If you still feel overwhelmed, start with the smallest amount of time. When you work for 15 minutes, you know you have accomplished a baby step. Like any appointment, even if it’s easy to procrastinate, follow through with your date.

Get support for your efforts

Support is critical to getting started with an organizing project. According to a recent NAPO survey, the a major reason for not getting organized is not asking for help. Both support and help making it easier whenever you start any project, whether it’s exercise, nutrition, or any lifestyle change. When you know that you are not getting started, look around for support. Support can look like a friend who cheers you on and shares how hard it can be to make decisions. That person can have the role of a clutter buddy. It can be a team to work with so there are many hands to do the work. You can find support in a professional organizer, coach, or therapist who help you define new perspectives, create a plan and support you in your work.

Have a compelling reason

A personal, specific reason to get organized gets you started. It’s the WHY of getting started. Why will being organized make a BIG difference in your life? The word compelling is critical because the more important this reason is, the easier it is to get started. Your compelling reason could be emotional well being and less stress, but why that makes a difference every day will help you get moving. It’s powerful emotional and mental starting point for you. I invite you to share your compelling reason here, to share it with the universe, and get started organizing today!

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The Secret of How a Reset Helps You be More Organized

April 27, 2017/4 Comments/in ADD and ADHD, Family Organizing, Organizing Skills/by Ellen

Days and weeks take a toll on our organization and productivity. We work hard and play hard. Some times our organization suffers because we are too busy. That’s why a reset can make a difference.

What’s a reset?

By definition a reset is when you get back to your baseline, get started fresh and get back in order. It is typically a verb that shows the action of placing back. It means to move (something) back to an original place or position. However, let’s think of it as noun to help you restore order.

When do I reset?

It’s a best practice to reset daily and weekly. A daily reset is getting your bags emptied and reorganized, your kids’ backpacks uncluttered, and your clothes in a hamper or hung up. Each evening take 5 minutes (with your family) to reset your home. That is to restore order to important bags, spaces and spots to have a fresh start for the next day. A list can help you be sure you reset all the areas that are important to you.

Make your your week starts with a weekly home reset ion Sunday. It’s your preparation for having a great week. Take 30 minutes to check your calendar for the week so you know what’s ahead..

A weekly office reset is best on Friday. At this time you are most in touch with your projects and tasks. Capture information, get your desk back in order, create files for loose papers and tidy up your space at this time.

What else is behind a reset?

In the book, The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explains small changes in behavior and the impact. With a reset, you are applying the science of change to your life in a way that can make every day better. Life with new habits requires reminders and practice. Build in support for this new habit with baby steps, attaching your reset to an existing habit, and acknowledging how important can be for you.

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Gratitude Quotes I Love

April 20, 2017/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by Ellen

How Leadership Empowers Change

April 13, 2017/2 Comments/in Leadership/by Ellen

Mothers Against Cancer (MAC), a grass roots effort to raise funds for children’s cancer research, hosts an annual fundraising luncheon each year. The event includes an amazing raffle, silent auction and live auction as part of it’s event. In an effort to raise the bar, this year our event took a bold step. We entered the 21st century of fundraising by using Greater Giving with online access to bid. Leading the charge is our executive director, our communications director. and our board. Our leadership empowers change with this step into technology.

Why change?

MAC has hosted this event for almost 30 years. We have had the same process which our attendees love with a cash, check and credit card payment system. It’s working so why change? We learned that other associations income was increasing with greater use of credit cards. We wanted to implement a system where bidding on silent auction items was easier and more profitable. We wanted our attendees email addresses so we can stay in touch all year.

How did it work?

Our leadership reinforced the positive with this change. It would be different. Our attendees would need to learn our new system but it was easy. Our board knew it was the step we needed to take to and our attendees would be fine after this first year of transition.

Our leadership brought the tools we needed, such as ipads, laptops, and a router! With change brings new skills, new technology and new connections. When we set up and did a run through, it all came together as we each learned the software guided by a on site liaison. Our leadership not only sat side by side with us as we each learned, they provided tools we needed to insure our success.

It was hard work and a little chaotic at times.

As the event started, we ran into a few glitches. There were long lines that our attendees were unaccustomed to and there was resistance to sharing personal information. However our resourceful leaders started serving drinks to those waiting and that smoothed things out. Those of us at check in heard a lot about what was not working. However, as the event moved forward, the virtual bidding on silent auction items was a fun focus for our attendees. How to out bid others at our table took our tallies for research funds higher and higher. It was easy to purchase raffle tickets just by clicking your credit card access and our total sales of raffle tickets shows how easy and profitable for MAC is it. Check out at the end of the event was seamless.

As a student of leadership, MAC showed me that it takes many different aspects to make change, and that there will always be something unanticipated that we will learn.

Listen to others as new options open up. Transitions and change only happen if we are open.
Add in as much support as possible. Training, onsite support and tech tools make change possible.
Communicate change in baby steps. Our Board shared the change with our members first, then our attendees. We used email newsletters to let attendees know how to access the new site and add their information.
There will be glitches. Research the obstacles and then review. I know our next year event will benefit from this year’s glitches.
Positivity makes the difference. Our Board stayed positive throughout the process.

MAC made a difference for our attendees, our members and our beneficiary Texas Children’s Hospital this year. Our funds raised this year totaled $283,000 for children’s cancer research.