house Archives - Page 4 of 7 - Getting it Together

Permanently Reduce Clutter

How would you like to spend less but feel like you have more while you

permanently reduce clutter?

Do you wish your bank balance was higher than it is?

Are you surrounded by stuff?

I have always admired people like the late Lady Dianna. She dressed with simple elegance. Oh yeah, she had a huge wardrobe because she was a princess however her style was elegant and simple. I’ll bet if she were not a princess she would have had a modest closet filled with a few key items of clothing. The type of clothing items that mix and match so well together. That is my goal for you as well. As the French would say “you do not need a lot of clothes you just need a great imagination.”

These tips would also work when decorating your home. Simple yet elegant.

Where else do you think these tips would work well in your life?

Please leave a comment in the box below. Your opinion counts.

Read on to get ten simple tips to

permanently reduce clutter

Tip 1. Use the 6-12 month rule. If you haven’t worn or used it in 6-12 months, get rid of it. Pass it on with love. The only exception to this rule is that one elegant evening dress in the back of your closet waiting for a fancy dance or cruise. If it is a classic it will not go out of style. If you stay the same size it will fit!

You might even have an item in your home that comes out for the rare occasions. You know the tray that holds deviled eggs.

Tip 2. Align values with spending. I value good/organic food, my health and travel to name a few. So, I know that planning and paying for a vacation, getting a massage, or going shopping at one of my favorite specialty shops is aligned with my values. Knowing what you value makes it much easier to make or not to make spending decisions.

Tip 3. Stick to a shopping list. This will help you with not getting side tracked. Take a shopping list with you when you go to buy groceries or clothes. When you know what you are looking for you will save time and money. The most organized people do not just aimlessly wonder around shops. They have a mission and stick to it. Now that does not mean you do not go window shopping with a friend once in awhile. Hey we all need that fix with one of our BF”s

Tip 4. The 24-hour rule. We have all heard this one before. I think Oprah even uses this rule. Imagine with all of her money. Think about your purchase for 24 hours. If you still feel you need/want it after 24 hours go back and make the purchase. If you feel you can live without that item after 24 hours you have just saved yourself some money. This eliminates the spontaneous purchases. I also like to shop at places that have a no fuss return policy. For example an item of clothing might look great in the store lighting. You get it home and the colour is not at all what you thought.

Tip 5. Create a do-not-spend day. Are you old enough to remember when stores were not open on Sundays? Or when late night shopping was only on Friday nights. Ah, the good old days. I use to work in the mall when this was my reality. (Okay, I know I am dating myself now) however one day without spending can add up. Choose a day each week and make that your do-not-spend day. Instead, get creative with all the fun free things you can do. Pack your own lunch or snacks and take a thermos with your hot drink in it. Your mind, body and bank account will thank you!

Tip 6. Stop keeping up with the Jones. Why is it that humans have the need to keep up with the Jones? Who started this anyway? The Jones do not care what you have or how you spend your money so why should we care with keeping up with them? I know it is a saying however imagine if we all lived simple so others may simple live? The only person you need to impress is yourself. Think of how great you will feel if you only bought what you really needed, used and loved. You bank account will love you too.

Tip 7. Analyze your spending for a week. Keep track of each item you buy. At the end of the week ask yourself if it was something you really needed, will be using and love. If not then ask yourself this question “what was the purpose of buying this item” If you cannot come up with a strong answer it might be time to return it. I’ll bet you will not have many if any of these purchases if you follow the above tips especially the 24 hour rule.

Tip 8. The This/That Question. Unless you have an endless supply of money and even if you do I’ll bet you do not want clutter. Ask yourself this question. “If I buy this I cannot have that” “If I go on a fancy vacation I cannot have a new living room set.” Keeping in mind that this style of living will eliminate debt. Once again your bank account will love you for this. Credit card debt or overdraft debt can cause so much stress. You might not think that it is but it is!

Tip 9. Have gratitude. My life has always run smoother when I have kept a gratitude journal. I would highly recommend keeping one. Each day write down 5 things you are grateful for. It might be that you can see or that you can buy a new purse for Fall or that your family’s health is good. You’ll be hard pressed to stop at 5 things each day.

One of the best books I read was called “Simple Abundance” by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I first read this book back in 1998 and re read it every year for three years. It is time I did that again. Do not get me wrong. I did not do all the activities Sarah suggested. I feel you would need to be superwoman to do that and none of us are. However the best part was all about gratitude. It is a one page read each day and well worth it.

Let me know if you have read it. Leave your comments in the box below.

Tip 10. Be kind to yourself. My Birthday gift to myself this year was that I would be kind to myself. That means being kind to my body, mind and spirit. It means watching my self talk. It means giving myself permission to be human. Hey we all make purchasing mistakes however if we are aware of these ten tips we will make fewer of them.

Feeling like a 20 minute FREE session? Contact me to arrange for your time. We can chat about your most burning clutter questions including how to have more money in your pocket.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:45+00:00November 26th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization, Time Management|2 Comments

Selling Your Stuff Online: The Top 5 “How To” Tips

How much stuff do you have in your home that you think you can sell?

Do you have items that you have not used for one, two or even three years?

Do you have other people’s stuff in your home that you would like to sell?

Most people think it is a hassle selling your stuff online

I do not think this is true…if you are organized and have a plan.

Please watch this short video to get some of my number one tips on selling your stuff online.

I like to use Craigslist as my primary place to sell your stuff. You can also look at KIJIJI or EBAY.

This is a service I offer for my clients.

I’ll take the photos, list the items, write the description, arrange for viewings, and collect the CASH and any other details that need to be taken care of.

Keep in mind these Top 5 “How To” Tips when selling your stuff.

#1 Condition of the item. It needs to be in excellent working order. Would you want to buy something online and then find out it does not work or parts are missing? Your items need to be in good condition. A few scratches on an older bookshelf are acceptable.

#2 Popularity of item. How popular is this item. Is it in vogue? Is there a need for this item? For example cell phones are a dime a dozen on Craigslist. If you want your cell phone to sell you need to make sure you use all 5 of my key tips in place. Let your ad stand out from the crowd.

#3 Good Pricing. This is a must when it comes to selling your stuff. People want a great deal. How fast do you want to sell your stuff? Pricing will determine this. If you do not get bites right away you need to adjust your pricing. If you have not had any inquiries in a few days you need to adjust your pricing. If an item does not sell in a week or so you need to look at other options. Things move FAST on Craigslist. If you want your price to be FIRM you need to mention that in your ad.

#4 Good Pictures. As you can see in the picture of the porcelain dolls you need good photos that show off details. Good lighting helps as well. If you are selling a TV stand be sure to remove any “clutter” from the stand. The buyer might think those items are for sale along with the TV and the stand.

#5 Good descriptions. This is important especially if there are other items in the photo. Be clear on what is for sale. Give measurements, colour, age, original price, and any other details that you can think of that would make the sale. If it is a couch were there any pets on it? Was it in a non-smoker’s home? Do you provide delivery? I always let my buyers know how much “man” power they will need. I do not want to be responsible for lifting heavy items in to a person’s truck. These are good details your buyer will want to know.

Once you get inquiries, set up your appointments on a fist come first serve basis. I take emails in the order in which they were received. I give out my phone number only to the serious buyers. I get the potential buyer to call me when they are close to my home. Then I give out my address. Make sure you are not home alone. Be safe and smart about selling your stuff. Meet the buyer outside. They do not need to come inside your home and see all your other belongings. If an item is too big to take outside make sure you have someone with you. Take only CASH.

If you like this video on selling your stuff online then please click the “like” button and then share it with your friends.

And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free eBook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

Are you stuck? Would you like a little push with selling your stuff?

Please contact me for a FREE 20 minute session. We will discuss how to get started with selling your stuff. I’ll help you with pricing and descriptions.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:45+00:00November 12th, 2012|Organizer|4 Comments

Have you ever thought about what being a good house guest looks like?

Would you like it if your house guests knew how to act better?

Check out this short video on being a good house guest.

You might want to share it with your family and friends.

I would like to think that if you follow these tips you will not smell!

Tip#1 Don’t offer to help.
I know this sounds strange. What I have found is that if you ask your hostess if she needs any help she often reply’s with “no, just sit and relax”.
You are better off just seeing what needs to be done and doing it. For example, throw the dishes in the dish washer or tidy up the living room.

Tip#2 Clean up after yourself.
You know the saying “do unto others as you would like have done unto you”. Well the same goes for being a house guest. If you had guests you would want them to tidy up after themselves. Take your sheets off your bed and toss them in the washer. Use your hand towel to wipe down the bathroom sink and mirror.

Tip#3 Don’t spread.
I have had house guests that have their stuff in every single room of my home. When it is time for them to pack up, they seem to always miss a thing or two. I always do a “sweep” of the house to see what is left behind before they take off.

Tip#4 Pay your way.
Treat your hostess to coffee, take her flowers and buy some groceries.

Tip#5 Send a thank you card.
I love finding great greeting cards. Send a hand written note. It really does mean a lot to the people who have had you in their home.

Have you taken advantage of your FREE 20 minute session? Why not do that today?

I will give you one of my all time favorite organizing tips. We can discuss your clearing the clutter needs as well.

If you like this video on being a good house guest please click the “like” button and then share it with your friends.

And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:45+00:00October 6th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Travel Organization|0 Comments

Getting It Together’s FAQ’s – Part 4

Thank you to all of my amazing readers for sending in your questions! It is really fun getting them and then answering them for everyone. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions that I have received:

Q: What can I do with empty chocolate box inserts? You know the kind with all the little compartments.

A: Hope you enjoyed all the chocolates guilt free! Those inserts are so handy in office desk drawers for paper clips, tacks, and any other small items. They are also great in your bedroom drawer for housing earrings, rings and small jewelry items. If your kids are old enough put them in their playroom for all the really small Lego pieces.

Q: Rowena, do you have a handy use for the plastic clips that come on my loaves of bread?

A: You will love this one. Check out the photo. Use one clip per electrical cord. They make great labels. What do you think?

Q: I live in a 2 story home. What is your best tip for helping me keep organized?

A: Have a basket at the bottom of the stairs. Put any items in the basket that need to go upstairs. Never go up stairs empty handed. Take the basket with you. Put the items away and return the basket to the bottom step. Get your family involved in this action as well.

Q: I love cutting out decorating ideas. What should I do with all the magazine cutouts?

A: Are you decorating right now or will you be decorating in the next 3-6 months? If so keep decorating ideas in a file. Store the file in your desk or file cabinet. If you are not decorating right now but “one day” would like to, then wait until closer to that time to start cutting out and saving ideas. I know what you are thinking. Ya but I like this idea right now. I know, but taste and style change with seasons and each year.

Q: What should I do with all my empty CD cases?

A: Where are the CD’s? I am going to assume they are in a CD binder. Donate the cases.

Q: I recycle, compost and I am very mindful of packaging however I still seem to have lots of garbage. How can I cut back on my garbage?

A: Great question, as I know we are all trying very hard to cut back on our garbage. Metro Vancouver produces nearly a million tons of garbage a year! Garbage from homes, condos and apartments makes up nearly a third of the regions waste.

When possible, buy in bulk. This will reduce the amount of packaging.

Use your cloth shopping bags even if you are going clothes shopping. Use a stainless steel water bottle and fill it up from the tap. I like to keep one on my desk, one in my car and a couple for the gym. Reduce the amount of things you print off your computer. Use both sides of the paper. Take your own coffee cup to business meetings, social meetings and coffee shops. Shop at consignment stores. Especially for kids toys. This will really cut back on packaging. Together we can all make a difference.

Q: My kids played every sport known to man. They have grown out of most of the sporting equipment. What can I do with it all? Some of the soccer shoes are still in great shape. The hockey sticks are like new and we seem to have an overflow of bikes, rackets and balls.

A: By now most of you know my theory. “Nothing takes on value unless it is being used”. Please pass things on as soon as you are done with them so someone else can take pleasure in those items.

You can sell some of these items on CraigsList or Kijiji. Check for a local used sports store. Vancouver has a great one called “Sports Junkie.” Go to your local baseball/soccer field and speak to the moms on the sideline. Donate to your local school or church.

Q: I am getting ready to downsize. HELP!! I have my late parent’s photo albums. What should I do with all these photos? I do not know who is in the pictures and I am not sure where the pictures were taken. Many of them are of their vacations.

A: Most of us have a hard enough time keeping track of our own photos let alone our parents. In the end, these photos were your parent’s memories and treasures. It is time for them to go. You might want to do a quick check and see if there are one or two very special family photos that you would like to keep.

Q: I’ve been wearing prescription glasses for over ten years. Each year or two I get a new pair. What can I do with all my outdated eyeglasses?

A: I drop all my glasses off at Bonsor recreation centre in Burnaby. They send all prescription glasses to third world countries. Check with your local optical store. I’ll bet they have the same program.

Q: I have all my old calendars/datebooks. I’ve been saving them for years. What shall I do with them?

A: TOSS! Unless there is a purpose for keeping them than toss. Ask yourself “what is the reason for keeping these?” Do you ever look back on these calendars to see what you did five years ago? Most people do not have that kind of time or interest. They are busy with TODAY.

Have you taken advantage of your FREE phone consultation? If not, be sure to contact me TODAY. We will discuss your personal needs, questions and concerns. I’ll give you tips on downsizing and how to move forward with clearing the clutter.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:45+00:00September 25th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization, Time Management|0 Comments

Tips on Effective Time Management

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone said to me “I need more time.”

It is crazy how busy we have become. We have all the modern conveniences and still do not have enough time.

Is it that we are not spending our time wisely?

Are we trying to cram too much in to a day?

Or do we need to be more organized?

Did you know it takes 40% less time to clean an organized home? What will you do with that extra time?

I am going to share with you 5 tips on effective time management that are simple!

By implementing this tips below, you will see your productivity soar.

The more organized you are the more time you will have.

“If you don’t take the time, time will take you.”

Tip#1

Create a list with the top six most important things to do.

Many years ago when I first started off in business I learned this tip. Each night before going to bed write out the six most important things you want to do the next day. The experts say that 6 items on a list are not so overwhelming. Any more than that and a person might become paralyzed by the magnitude of tasks. I like to have a list for work related tasks and one for personal.

Make item number one your least favorite thing to do. Get it over with right away. For example, it might be to call the leads you got from the latest trade show you did. If you do not get all your most important things done in one day then transfer them over to the next day. You might have
overestimated your time.

Tip#2

Focused time.

Take 4 or 5 colour markers and block off time in your datebook/family calendar or computer for work, personal, family, and spiritual. Do this at the beginning of each month. I block off all the times I want to work in green. Family time is in pink, etc. When a client calls to book an appointment
I look for any green spots that are still open. When a family member calls for a dinner date I look at any pink spots that are free. When you see all the coloured squares at a glance you can see how balanced your life is. Do you have too many green squares and not enough pink?

Tip#3

Take 15.

End each work day by taking 15 minutes to clear your desk off and prepare for the next day. Take 15 minutes at the end of the night to prepare your kitchen for the next morning. These 15 minutes will save you hours in the long run. There is nothing worse than walking into your office and
finding a pile of papers left from the day before. Or walking into your kitchen and finding all the dinner dishes from the night before.

Tip#4

Time Busters.

Be mindful of any time busters. Do you use a timer when going on the computer? Have you thought to yourself “oh I’ll just quickly check emails” and 2 hours later you are still sitting there? Do you get interrupted? Do you answer your phone when you are in the middle of a meeting or high priority project? These can be some common time busters. Stay focused to each task and you’ll be amazed at how much more time you have.

Tip#5

Relinquish control.

The need to do it all. Delegate with confidence. Trust that the job will get done. Look at all the things you do in a day. Delegate what you can. For example, your kids can make the beds. They might not look the way you would do it but they are made. Is there a person at your workplace that can help you with some tasks?

By using these 5 simple tips on effective time management, your productivity will skyrocket and you may actually have time to linger over a cup of coffee for once.

Have you taken the time to have your FREE 20 minute session with me?
I will look at your time, how you are spending it and how we can come up with a plan for you to have more time.
Contact me at https://www.gettingittogether.ca to book your FREE session today.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:46+00:00August 20th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Time Management|0 Comments

Mary’s “Before”

Have you ever wondered what a Professional Organizer might do with 5000 pounds of fabric?

The best part of my job is to support my clients in moving forward with clearing their clutter. The next best thing is seeing how they feel and how their lives move forward because they have cleared their clutter.

The most important thing in my job is to not judge. I go into a situation with no attachment to my clients things. I go in with an attachment to the outcome. I am working with a client right now (we will call her “Mary”) who has given me the permission to write a little bit about the journey of her stuff. Thank you Mary for this opportunity. I admire you for stepping out of your comfort zone and tackling your sewing room.

First things first.

It has come to my attention that there are homes which have an over abundance of fabric.

I can see the fascination with the beautiful textures, colours and styles of fabric. The key, as with anything is “nothing takes on value unless it is being used”. I can see how a person could get caught up in a fabric store. They see all the fabrics and their creative mind starts to wonder. I could make this; I could make that and so on. Dreams and goals are being set right then and there. But do you have the time for all of those projects?

It is important to buy only what you need at the moment. I’ll explain why.

Boxes and boxes of fabric sitting in a fabric room are not taking on value. The volume is so large the fabric will never get fully used. A person may tend to get overwhelmed by the volume and may become paralyzed from moving forward.

It is important to have a project in mind when purchasing fabric. Buy what you need and what you will use in a reasonable amount time.

“Mary” had been collecting fabric for over 20 years. Will you ever be able to use all that fabric? Probably not.

So “Mary” and I went about sorting, purging and organizing fabric.

Some of the fabric was outdated because it had been there for so long.

What once looked like a cool piece of fabric now looked “old lady-like” like or too high maintenance. (Only dry clean, etc.)

“Mary” feels she has about ten more years of sewing in her. Sewing is her hobby. With that in mind it was time to seriously downsize.

Each time we worked together she commented on how great it felt to go into her sewing room. The room felt lighter. She felt more creative. It was no longer a fire hazard or trip zone. The rest of the family was happy and thrilled to see the transformation. Her husband was so excited he built shelves for the rubber containers that will hold the fabric she is going to keep. It will all get labeled.

Are you curious as to where all the fabric went?

The Salvation Army took all “blanket” fabric. They make nice thick blankets for our homeless. A friend of hers took 8 bags (at 40-50 lbs per bag). A Halloween costume business took ten bags. A photographer took all the boudoir fabric. A family of sewers took 16 bags and was thrilled to receive the fabric. One of the family members is starting out in a purse making business. This really helped her. 50 plus bags went to the Mennonite ladies. They make blankets and clothes and send them all over the world.

Because all the fabric was going to a good place “Mary” was motivated to really purge. I am so proud of her and all of her efforts. Everyone involved is happy and the fabric is being put to good use.

Do you have an over abundant amount of fabric? Finding it hard to sort, purge, donate or keep it? Please contact me for a FREE 20 minute session.

We will discuss organizing fabric,your sewing room, craft room, or fabric situation and help you move forward.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:46+00:00August 6th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer|0 Comments

Storing Chargers-How to Keep Track of Yours by Rowena List, Professioanl Organizer

How many phone chargers do you have? Phone chargers for your phone, your spouse, your kids, the phone you owned three years back?

Do you have a way of storing chargers?

Do you have chargers but no phone? I see this a lot in homes. Bags and boxes of electronic chargers. None of them labeled so we do not know what they belong to.

If you have not needed the charger in the last week my guess is you will not need it. Open that drawer of chargers and think about it. Are you storing chargers you haven’t used in weeks, months, will you really use them again?

photo via dave patten

Please take a moment to watch this short video on storing chargers-

Now take a moment to label all of your chargers. I like to use the small plastic bread bag clips. You can write on them and attach to the cord of the chargers

Did you know that the number one item people leave behind in a hotel room is their phone charger? You can go to any front desk and ask for one as they have boxes of them. Some what like your local swimming pool with swim goggles.

Do you have a great story about “storing chargers?” Please leave it in the comment box below.

If you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends. And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.
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By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:46+00:00July 24th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move, Travel Organization|0 Comments

When is the best time to get an organized garage?

Most people select the summer so they can have the door open and put unwanted items in the driveway.Keep in mind that it might take more than one day to get an organized garage.There are lots of hiding spaces in your garage. You might find items you had forgotten you had.You might even come across the odd spider or 2!

photo Les Chatfield

Can you get your car in your garage? Would you like to park in your garage?

Has your garage become a catch all? This is very common.Not sure where to store item X ? It usually ends up in the garage. And that clutter is the enemy of an organized garage!

Would you like to have a system?

Would you like an organized garage?

Watch this short video to get some tips on how to have “zones” in your garage. You’ll see the gardening zone, tool zone,sports equipment zone and so on. Zones are key to an organized garage.

What are your great tips for organizing a garage ?
Please leave them in the comment box below. We can all learn from each other.

Keep in mind that your garage did not get cluttered overnight so it will not get cleared overnight. It will take time. You will need a plan of action. Let me help you with that.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:46+00:00June 25th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move|0 Comments

Moving Checklist

How many people love to move? I have yet to meet anyone who gets excited about moving.

The key to a stress free, successful move is “ORGANIZATION” and good labeling!

The other key to a successful, stress free move is proper planning. Give yourself enough time to do all the tasks. Do not leave things to the last moment. Be ruthless with your sorting, purging and donating.

Follow this moving day checklist and be the envy of everyone who has every moved.

4-6 weeks before moving day

1. Start collecting boxes and packing paper. Your local produce store will have beautiful apple boxes. Having all the same size boxes makes for better packing. If you would like to use “green” boxes be sure to check out http://www.frogbox.com.

2. Go around your house with post it notes. Label all large items that WILL NOT be going with you. Be ruthless. Consider having a moving sale, use a consignment store, Craigslist, or donation. (I can help you with this is you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself.)

3. Start purging your clothes closets and storage areas.

4. Begin the process of contacting “People to Notify”:

Electricity and gas
Water and milk delivery
Telephone and internet
Cable TV
Home and auto insurance
Drivers License and Passport (change of address)
Newspaper and magazine subscription
Doctors and Dentist (get referral in new neighdorhood)
Banks and credit cards
Post office (change of address) www.canadapost.com

5. Decide if you will pack/move yourself or if you are going to hire professionals. (I work with some very reputable movers.) Only use well known movers who will come to your home and give you a quote.

6. Start really downsizing your deep freeze. The goal would be to have it empty by move day. If your move is local, your frozen food can be packed in a cooler. If your move is long distance, you will need to make arrangements for any frozen food left. This is a great way to get to know your neighbors!

3 weeks before moving day

1. Pair down your pantry. Use up canned goods and dried goods. Toss out all outdated spices, baking supplies, stale cereal, etc.

2. Cleaning supplies, flammables, and aerosols cannot be moved by professional movers. Use these up until move day and then leave behind for the new tenants.

3. Decide what you would like to do with any or all plants. Indoor and outdoor ones. Will you be moving them or donating them?

4. Dismantle gym equipment, patio furniture, trampolines and large power tools.

5. Do any of your appliances need services? Now is the time to do it.

6. Pack (unless you have hired professionals) all items you do not need. Seasonal clothing, most of the kid’s toys, seasonal cookware/platters, books, CD’s, sporting equipment, etc.

2 weeks before moving day

1. Pack a suitcase for each family member. Include a towel, toilet paper, hand soap, special medications, toiletries, fresh set of sheets, toys/books and a few clothes. Just enough stuff to get your through the first 2 or 3 days in your new place. This saves on opening boxes and trying to find the favorite toy or pillow.

2. Arrange transfers of any school records.

3. Check to make sure your insurance covers you while moving.

4. Return library books, pop/beer bottles and any borrowed items.

5. Pack as much of the house as you can. When we moved I had 2 special boxes. One had the plastic cups, plates, etc. and the other had the champagne and non-perishable snacks. As soon as we got our keys I set up a little celebration area.

6. Make any travel arrangements.

7. Accept all help. Do your friends want to cook for you? Do they want to help pack? Say “yes please” and “thank-you”.

8. Be sure to do some self care. You do not want to strain your back. This is an important time to keep up your yoga, walking and hot relaxing baths.

1 week before moving day

1. Take down drapes, and blinds.

2. Dismantle TV, desks, and any other furniture you do not need this week.

3. Make sure all the laundry is done. Do you have any dry cleaning to pick up?

4. Make arrangements for any pets. Keep their food close at hand along with leash and blanket.

5. Pack everything except for the bare necessities.

6. Use up all the food in your fridge (as much as you can).

7. Do you need to do a run to the dump or will your local garbage pick-up do?

One day before

1. Make arrangements for your kids to be at a play date/sleep over. This will help lower the stress level. It is also safer for little kids to not be under foot.

2. Do all last minute cleaning.

3. Defrost freezer and wipe down inside of fridge.

4. Put the self clean on your oven.

5. Unhook your computers, radios, coffee maker, phones, etc.

6. Go out for dinner to a friends, family or local café.

7. Check the house for any last items that need to be packed. Hopefully there is nothing left.

8. Say goodbye to your neighbors.

Moving Day

1. Load the truck or get your professional movers to do it for you.

2. Have cold drinks and snacks on hand.

3. Load your car with what you can. Use a cooler for any last minute items from the fridge.

4. Leave the keys and your contact information with your landlord or Realtor. Your contact info is handy if there is any mail that does not get redirected. It is also handy if the new tenants/owners have any questions about your house/condo.

5. Collect your kids and pets.

6. Prepare for a new start. I trust it is a happy, joyful experience.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the thought of packing, moving or unpacking?

Please allow me to support you in this process. Have you taken advantage of my FREE 30 minute phone consultation? If not, than contact me today. We will discuss a plan of action to help you have a stress free, ORGANIZED move.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:46+00:00June 22nd, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move|2 Comments

Organizing a deep freeze by Rowena List Professional Organizer of Getting it Together

When was the last time you thought of organizing your deep freeze? Never? Years? You aren’t alone. In the day to day rush many of us don’t remember that organizing a deep freeze is actually really important! image via (a)artwork

Organizing a deep freeze is one of those 15 minute tips I like to share.

Most of us have our deep freeze in a basement, or room we don’t frequent. That leads to out of site out of mind! And that leads to trouble. Organizing a deep freeze can mean less waste, and that means money saved! And if you could bring down your grocery bill and waste wouldn’t you?

Be sure to use the oldest items first. Toss anything that is older than a year or has major freezer burn.

Check out this video for some other hot tips on organizing a deep freeze.

Do you have unmarked items in your deep freeze?

What is the most interesting thing you have found in there? My grandkids put their hampster in the deep freeze until they were ready to bury him. I really should check on the statis of that!

Would love to hear your interesting stories about the contents of your deep freeze. Please leave them below in the comment box.

If you like this video, please click the “like” button and then share it with your friends. And if you are not in the “Getting it Together” community,head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:46+00:00May 30th, 2012|Home Organization, Organizer|6 Comments

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