ON THE BLOG
Explore insightful tips, inspiring stories and expert advice that transform everyday tasks into efficient and meaningful routines.
Are you ready to take down and store all your holiday decorations but want a new system so next year it’s even easier to get out and put up? We know we are! To help you along we’ve compiled some of our favorite tips and product for making your holidays the smoothest they’ve ever been.
Read MoreIt’s that time of year that many people get excited and energized to go to a haunted house. They love the suspense of what is lurking around the corner. I know so many who thrive off this adrenalin rush. Are you one of them? Or are you like me and hate being caught off guard?
If you are one of these who love it, can you say the same thing about your home? Do you know what is lurking in the corner of that pantry? The pantry is one of the most neglected areas in a home. Most people I know would not be able to give me a detailed inventory of their pantry. Or even a semi-detailed inventory of their pantry.
Pop Quiz: Make a list of 10 items (and quantities) of what you think is in your pantry. (no cheating…don’t look). After your list is complete, compare your list to the actual contents.
How did you do? 100% - you rock! 50% - average. 25% or less – you better keep reading.
I love organizing a pantry! Why? Because in just a few simple steps, a huge impact can be made. And my experience has given me the gift of implementing simple systems in a short amount of time.
Here are the few simple steps I was referring to above.
1. Take everything out of pantry. This is where the pantry may say BOO! to you but stay brave. It is worth it.
2. Toss/recycle/compost all expired, almost empty items. Donate all items that are not expired but no one in your household will ever eat or you have duplicates that will not be consumed before they expire.
3. Wipe down all the shelves and sweep the floor if needed.
4. Return items to pantry, that belong in the pantry. Do not put anything back that does not belong in there!
5. Step back and admire your efforts. And feel free to show it off to the rest of the family.
Halloween may be scary but your pantry shouldn’t be!
Written by: JENNIFER GOWLER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
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When you think of organizing, we generally think of purging and decluttering and reducing what the amount of contents we store and have in general. While that is true, how we store, and accessibility of our contents also need to be taken into consideration.
Being able to see stored contents makes a huge difference in being able to utilize products long term and prevents purchasing duplicate items which leads to the feeling of clutter and being overwhelmed.
Although wicker and linen baskets can offer a lovely design or decorating touch, they offer can “hide” stored items and contribute to the continued cycle of clutter. We recommend clear storage solution or labeling a not visible storage container. There are a variety of beautiful labeling options that can satisfy even the most discriminating design palate AND make sure everything stored is still visible!
Read MoreOnce, twice, three times, let’s PURGE!
My husband Steve and I have moved many times over the past seven years. From the house our kids were raised in New England, we relocated to a townhouse in Florida, then into our current high rise condo in Denver. This, with apartments in-between while searching and purchasing real estate.
Read MoreWe recently worked with a widow whose husband had died 3 years ago and she is putting her house, which she has lived in for over 30 years on the market. The basement and garage were full of her husband’s old hobby equipment. To her and her grown children is was a mountain of “junk , a hurdle, a burden, an obstacle preventing her to move on with her life.
When she first spoke with Org & Relo, she just wanted everything “gone”. On closer analysis however, we were able to identify items of not only financial value but personal value to her and her family. With a team of four organizers we were able to sort items for resell and donation, cutting down on the amount that would be removed for trash. Saving her not only the cost of disposal but also making her money with the reselling of her husband’s tools and ham/short wave radios.
All those cost savings pale in comparison however to the true treasure on of our organizers found when culling through her husband’s old text books; a manuscript he wrote about his experiences during the Korean War. Priceless. Now that her basement and garage are empty of the mountains of old books and unused electrical equipment, our client can move forward with the next phase of her life with her children and grandchildren AND have important mementos that honor her late husband which she can share and pass on.
Written by: Corinne O'Doherty, Project Manager
Read MoreWhen your house in going on the market, your realtor will encourage you to cleanup, clear out and create less distractions for potential buyers. New owners want to imagine their belongings in a space, not yours.
At Organization & Relocation, we have the perfect system to get your house market ready. What to do with the stuff you want to keep, but need out of the house for showings?
In a word, storage units. After Org & Relo helps you sort, categorize and decide what to keep, donate or trash, we pack every box personalized and tailored to you.
Every household member has their box color coded and label clearly, making it easy to see whose box is whose in the storage unit.
Plus, when your house sells, you and your family are already partially packed and ready to move on!
Call us today, let's get your house ready for sale in the best way possible!
Written by: JD Farley, Project Manager
Read MoreYes, this is a real issue.
A big selling point to any living space is how much storage there is. The reality is that we like our stuff and need a place for our stuff. There is nothing wrong with that. I moved to a new home last February and was so excited about the walk-in closet. Having all my clothes (and my husband’s) in one closet and able to see them all, feels so great.
Not having enough storage is a very common issue but over the years I see more and more cases of too much available storage space. You may be asking how is that not a great thing? Here is what I have observed as a professional organizer…
Too much storage can…
Make it difficult to find what you are looking for as there are more options to where it could be.
Increases the volume of stuff you purchase since space is not an issue. A side effect of this is you increase waste as many bulk items may expire before they get used or you forget you have them and buy more.
Create more clutter – excess surface space just gives you more room to create “piles” that just stare at you and make you want to run away.
Cause procrastination in downsizing. Out of sight, out of mind….until you have to move and end up doing a stressful crash downsizing session or paying movers to move things you do not need or want.
These are just a few of the negative consequences of too much storage. I’m sure you can come up with more once you start thinking about it. You can acquire stuff to fill your storage or create storage to fit your stuff. I am a big supporter of the later. There are so many creative ways to create storage space when it is needed. And a good purging session can take so much weight off the shoulders!
So, what is your situation? Do you have just the right amount of storage? Are there cabinets, closets, rooms that you have no idea what you would find in there? Do you need to get those creative juices flowing (either yours or a professional organizers) and get smarter with the little storage you have? Come up with a plan and take action today – it will be well worth it.
By Jennifer Gowler, Project Manager
Read MoreOrganization & Relocation is a luxury professional organizing and relocation concierge company.
