Get Organized!
Whether you are looking to move or not, now is a great time to get organized. The holidays are behind us and you need to find a place for all your new toys and gadgets, not to mention your holiday decorations. Here are some tips to get you started.
· Don’t get overwhelmed. Break your house down into smaller, more manageable zones and tackle them one at a time.
· Get your kids involved. They most likely have received many new things and outgrown many old ones. Ask them to donate 10-15 items to needy kids. Set guidelines for them but let them decide what to part with. You will be surprised at how willing they are to participate.
· Only keep what you use or need. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used something in a year, it’s probably time to part with it.
· Make 3-4 categories and label boxes or garbage bags accordingly:
1. Keep and Store-Items that you need but don’t use often. Invest in see-through plastic bins with lids. It will keep your items clean and dry while in storage and because they are see-through, it will be easy to identify what’s in them.
2. Donate-Check with your local charities to be sure you understand what they will accept (Salvation Army, Goodwill, Easter Seals or Purple Heart are a few in Oakland County). Don’t forget to get a receipt for your taxes-this is considered a charitable contribution!
3. Trash-Anything that cannot be donated. Consider checking with NO HAZ (North Oakland Household Hazardous Waste Consortium) before taking everything to the curb. Items such as electronics, paints, cleaners and small appliances are not friendly to the environment and are better off in the hands of professionals than in the landfills. Visit www.oakgov.com/waste/nohaz/nohaz.html for collection dates and items they will accept.
4. Pack for Move-If you do plan to move, it’s a good idea to start packing things that you will not need in the near future and store them. It’s one less thing to pack later and will help contain clutter while you show your home to potential buyers. Follow these simple steps and you are well on your way to being organized. Check back next week for more on organizing.
Whether you are looking to move or not, now is a great time to get organized. The holidays are behind us and you need to find a place for all your new toys and gadgets, not to mention your holiday decorations. Here are some tips to get you started.
· Don’t get overwhelmed. Break your house down into smaller, more manageable zones and tackle them one at a time.
· Get your kids involved. They most likely have received many new things and outgrown many old ones. Ask them to donate 10-15 items to needy kids. Set guidelines for them but let them decide what to part with. You will be surprised at how willing they are to participate.
· Only keep what you use or need. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used something in a year, it’s probably time to part with it.
· Make 3-4 categories and label boxes or garbage bags accordingly:
1. Keep and Store-Items that you need but don’t use often. Invest in see-through plastic bins with lids. It will keep your items clean and dry while in storage and because they are see-through, it will be easy to identify what’s in them.
2. Donate-Check with your local charities to be sure you understand what they will accept (Salvation Army, Goodwill, Easter Seals or Purple Heart are a few in Oakland County). Don’t forget to get a receipt for your taxes-this is considered a charitable contribution!
3. Trash-Anything that cannot be donated. Consider checking with NO HAZ (North Oakland Household Hazardous Waste Consortium) before taking everything to the curb. Items such as electronics, paints, cleaners and small appliances are not friendly to the environment and are better off in the hands of professionals than in the landfills. Visit www.oakgov.com/waste/nohaz/nohaz.html for collection dates and items they will accept.
4. Pack for Move-If you do plan to move, it’s a good idea to start packing things that you will not need in the near future and store them. It’s one less thing to pack later and will help contain clutter while you show your home to potential buyers. Follow these simple steps and you are well on your way to being organized. Check back next week for more on organizing.
No comments:
Post a Comment