Are you in the process of moving? This handy checklist will make things so much easier and stress free.
Moving List (angelarob) by: Realtor Rob Allegrini and check out this short video on using A Moving Checklist
Stay safe, calm and healthy.
To your success Rowena
Specializing in Stress Free Moves.
Every year without fail the magazine companies feature articles on getting organized. It is one of the top New Year’s resolutions.
Most of the information isn’t anything new.
Why is it that the magazine companies keep repeating the same message?
Please leave your thoughts in the comment box below.
In the meantime, check out this short video on Confessions Of A Professional Organizer, part 5
Stay safe, healthy and calm.
To your success,
Rowena
PS: Do you have a stash of magazines? Not sure what to do with them? Contact rowena@gettingittogether.ca for your free over the phone consultation
How many of you have every box from every electronic item that you have ever bought or received?
The big question is… should it stay or should it go?
Check out this short video on “Should I Keep The Box” and then read on for more helpful tips from Getting It Together.
The only reasons to keep the box is if you plan on returning the item, selling it or moving it.
Let’s talk about returning an electronic item. There are only so many days you have before you can no longer return it. If that time period is over and you do not plan on selling the item or moving any time soon get rid of the dust collecting box. Think of the empty space you will have.
Let’s talk about moving. Chances are if you plan on moving your 70-inch TV any time soon you will be hiring movers, in which case they have the perfect moving blankets that secure your TV in place. Storing massive boxes like this take up valuable real estate and collect dust. I would never suggest storing this box flat under your bed because how would you keep it clean?
And how many of you are really going to sell your old electronics? The sad reality is they go out of date so fast and the latest and greatest is right around the corner.
Now I sell a lot of things for my clients and I have never needed the box. 
What I would highly recommend you do is:
A) Take a picture of your expensive electronics and store that picture along with the extra cords that are labelled, along with warranty and manuals in a clear box. This information is extremely helpful if you are ever robbed. It makes replacing so much faster.
B) Have your expensive electronics insured properly.
C) Think before you buy. Is this something you are wanting to keep for a long time, is it something you will sell or will you be donating it once you have finished with it?
D) D for dump all the boxes in recycle.
PS: Catch Rowena in action at this open to the public speaking event.
Friday, March 16 2018
Doors open at 11 am
She will be speaking on the “10 ways to tame your clutter.”
Register for this action packed networking luncheon, prizes, 50/50, and more.
visit www.valleywomensnetworktricity.com
And book your seat today
Limited space
Lunch included
See you there !
Are you a sentimental kind of person?
Have you saved everything and I mean everything from your children’s past?
Would you like to get a handle on your memorabilia?
Check out this short video for some very quick simple tips on downsizing your memorabilia.
and if you like it please click the” like” button and then pass it on to your friends and family.
Then read on for Getting It Together’s Top 3 Tips on downsizing your memorabilia.
We all go through different stages in our lives. At one point you may have kept everything that had any sentimental value to you. Then as time moves on you may have thought that some of this “stuff” was holding you back. Or maybe like me you were forced to downsize and decided that you were not going to move all of your memorabilia with you yet again.
How many of us really even have the extra time to go through our memorabilia boxes? The only time I ever have is when I was getting ready to move.
Oh ya, I hear you. You are waiting until you retire or until you are in a senior’s home and then you will go through it all. I have yet to meet a senior who has any more time now then when they were working full time. Funny how that works isn’t it. Well that is because activities fill the time we allot them. You have 5 minutes to tidy up your kitchen before guests arrive and you can get it done. If you have all day you might procrastinate a little. This is human nature.
Tip: 1 Have one medium size rubber container per person in your household. That is the limit of stuff you will save for them or for yourself. If the container gets full then it is time to go through it and pull out some less important items. You will see as time goes on how certain items do lose their priority.
Tip: 2 Ask yourself the purpose of keeping each item. Is it sentimental? Is it from a family member who really wanted you to have a certain item? Is it from a vacation? If you do not have a concrete purpose of keeping the item then it is time to ask yourself why. Why am I keeping it?
Tip: 3 Keep your memorabilia box up high on a shelf. You do not want it to get water damage if you happen to have a flood in your basement of crawl space.
How about you? Where do you stand on the sentimental stage? Love to hear from you in the comment box below.
Enjoy your precious memorabilia items. I sure do.
PS: Did you know I offer over the phone coaching services? If you would like to live more on purpose and passion or would like a better handle on setting boundaries then please contact me for a FREE 30 minute discovery session.
Go to www.reclaimsession.com to book your session now.
Are you the adult child of an aging senior?
Are your parents still in the family home? Is it time to downsize them?
Are you a senior wanting to downsize?
Seniors are our largest growing demographic. You may be one of them or you may have parents that fit into that category.
My mom is 79. Fortunately she is still able to live in the family home however that does not mean that is the best idea. Some experts have the theory that it is better to downsize while you can still make all of the major decisions and your health is still really good. I would have to agree.
All too often I work with clients who are not capable of downsizing. Their grown children are so busy with their own lives that they are not able to help either.
Check out this short video on downsizing seniors. Plus Getting it Together’s game plan.
1. Have a family meeting to decide when a good time to start downsizing is. My Aunt did this and came up with the age in which she felt was appropriate to move into something smaller. She has given herself a couple of years in which to plan for and execute the move. In the meantime when her grown children are over they work on a certain area of the house. For example, they did cookbooks the other day. This was a funny one because my cousin asked my Aunt which cookbooks she was still using to which my Aunt replied “none, I do not cook anymore”. Lol
Ok so that was easy. All the cookbooks went to the second hand book store.
Next in line were the volumes of encyclopedias. The money people have spent on encyclopedias to realize that now a day’s Google does it all for us. Off to the used book store they went.
2. Decide who will help you or your aging parents with downsizing. Chances are your grown kids have a young family of their own. Their time may be very limited. Is it best to hire a professional organizer to help with the downsizing?
3. Where do you want your items to go? This is always a tricky question. I know of people that again have a family meeting. They get each person to put their name on the back of any items they would like once the downsizing starts and/or when the aging parents pass away. Are there collections that need to be sold? Are there family heirlooms that need to be preserved? Are there other household items that need to be donated or tossed? This is where I come in. I will sell, donate, or toss items for my clients. I think if people know their items are going to a good place they are more likely to part with them.
What items will be needed in the new smaller living space? This might be a tougher question to answer until you see the new smaller living space. Once you do, you will be able to decide what stays and what goes.
4. When should you start downsizing? TODAY! If you have allowed yourself enough time you can break this downsizing project down into bite size pieces. Try not to leave this project to the last minute. Change is hard on most people. Downsizing is one of the biggest changes a person might do in their life. Embrace it.
Would you like a FREE session over the phone? Contact me today to get yours. We can discuss your downsizing situation and come up with some solutions in order for you to move forward right away.
Have you had any experience with downsizing a parent or have you yourself recently downsized? If so please leave some helpful comments in the box below.
Would you like to have a stress free move?
Do you need to downsize but procrastinate?
Human nature is to take the path of least resistance. For this very reason people hold off moving/packing until the last possible moment. This is why we have people in their 80’s and 90’s that are still living in the family home even if it is too big or too much upkeep.
Check out this short video on packing tips when getting ready to move.
Here is a general guideline for packing. Adjustments can be made based on what you are packing and where you are moving to. Local moves are just slightly different from long haul moves.
You will want to make sure you have all your supplies handy and ready to go before starting to pack.
Boxes and packing materials.
You can “rent” cardboard boxes from most moving companies or you can get cardboard boxes from your local grocery store. If you would like to go “GREEN” you can use www.frogbox.com. Frogbox drops off reusable boxes at your door and picks them up once you are finished your unpacking. Great motivation to unpack your boxes ASAP.
Get white unprinted clean paper, bubble wrap, any old towels and sheets. (Frogbox supplies paper with their boxes.)
Purchase some good sealing tape. I prefer to not use a tape gun as I find them more hassle than they are worth. Just tape and a good pair of scissors. Be sure to leave your comments on this topic once you have watched the video.
Be sure to have labels and a few black felt markers. The better your boxes are labeled the better the unpack goes. You might even want to use different coloured labels for each room.
Prohibited Items.
Do not pack any flammable or dangerous items. Propane tanks, paint, lighter fluid, matches, bleach, acid batteries, charcoal, chemistry sets or pool chemicals are all prohibited. Do not pack aerosol cans containing oven cleaner, hair spray, lighter fluid, antiperspirants or spray paints. These items could explode and cause damage to your belongings. (This is especially important for long haul moves.)
Jewellery, coin collections, currency, stocks, bonds, precious stones, stamp collections, deeds, notes or any other items that have exceptional value should not be packed in with all your “regular” household items. Take special care and pack this yourself. Make arrangements for you to transfer them. Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage.
Try to pare down as much as possible prior to your move. Use up all the frozen food items, condiments and fresh produce. If your move is local, use a cooler to transfer these items. Be mindful of your plants.
Have all your supplies ready in one area. Stay focused to one room at a time. Only pack what you love, use and need. This is a perfect time to be ruthless. I am doing a serious downsize. Each item I pick up I ask myself “will this fit in 600 sq feet?” If not, out it goes.
Keep as many “like” items together as possible. For example, if you are dismantling curtains/blinds or a bed keep all the hardware together with those items. Ziploc bags are perfect for this. You can see what is inside and they are sturdy.
Keep all boxes to a moderate weight. Label “HEAVY” if it is books or other such heavy items.
Seal open containers prior to packing. You would hate to arrive at your new home to find rice or cereal dumped out in a box of pantry items.
Place liquids in a sealed bag. For example your shampoo or dish detergent. Again that would be a mess to come across.
China and glassware needs to be packed standing on edge as opposed to lying down. Plates can easily break if they are laying flat. If you have old sheets or towels use these for packing your fragile items. I like to put a pillow on top of my fragile items for extra cushioning. Label “FRAGILE”.
Pack lamps separate from their shades.
Keep electronics and all the parts in one box. For example, pack your computer with all the cords, etc.
Mattresses. Use a mattress bag for extra protection. Let’s hope it does not rain/snow on moving day.
Use your empty suitcases for things like clothes, linens or pillows.
Use strong packing tape to bundle groups of garden tools or things like mops and brooms.
Package well with bubble wrap. Keep them standing up on edge. Same goes for glass table tops or mirrors.
Try to keep “like” toys together. A box of dolls, a box of trucks, a box of Leggo, etc.
When is storage necessary? What should you store? What should you not store? Contact me and we will discuss this. All my clients are eligible for 25% of their first month of storage with www.mapleleafstorage.com
These are just some of the basics packing tips. Please contact me for a FREE 30 minute phone consultation to discuss your upcoming move. I specialize in downsizing, moving, packing and unpacking. I have an endless “LIST” of contacts. Fabulous consignments stores, professional moving companies, insurance representatives…just to name a few.
Have you ever wondered what exactly is a professional organizer?
Have you ever wondered what does a professional organizer do?
Have you ever wondered how a professional organizer got started in the profession? (This is the question I get asked the most.)
Sign up for your FREE session here.
If you sign up for your complimentary session with me, I will share my story with you…only if you are really curious. If not, no worries we will just dive right into your challenges and how to solve them. 😀
Check out this short video on what is a professional organizer.
A Professional organizer supports, empowers and encourages their clients through the non-judgmental process of sorting, purging and storing of unwanted and wanted items. A Professional organizer provides hands-on services. A professional organizer coaches and transfers organizing skills to help clients develop appropriate and lasting solutions for their individual needs. A professional organizer follows up and is always there for you….on time.
Some of the services I specialize in are:
Residential Hands-On Organizing: De-cluttering and organizing garages, storage lockers, closets, bedrooms, kitchens, kids rooms and home offices just to name a few. I can also support and encourage you with space planning, closet design and storage solutions. And then there are the projects of sorting and organizing memorabilia and photos. Basically if it has anything to do with organizing, I do it.
Other services I provide are: time management, goal setting, packing and moving and productivity coaching.
I also conduct seminars, workshops and keynote speaking engagements.
Do you belong to a networking group, a women’s business group, business professional organization or any other association that you feel might enjoy hearing top organizing tips?
If so, please fill in the comment box below or send me an email at rowena@gettingittogether.ca. Let me know who you would like me to speak to. We can discuss topics that would best suit your organizations needs.
If you are not in the “Getting it Together” community, add your email address to the right. 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.
Has this ever happened to you?
You moved from one home to another.
Prior to the move, you decide to downsize, purge and toss. You have the best of intentions. You start off in one room. Before long you are getting distracted and losing focus. All of a sudden the phone rings with a better offer on the other end. You know what I mean. You decide the better idea would be to just simply pack everything and toss/clear out the clutter when you unpack in your new pad.
Check out this short video on a cluttered life:
Fast forward.
You are in your new living space. Time goes by.
There is a box or two sitting on the sidelines. What are your thoughts each time you pass that box? Maybe you even kick it out of the way. Are you saying “I must empty the box.” “What is in that box anyway?” These thoughts are causing mind clutter.
The other day I was working with a client and such a box appeared. It had been neatly, well actually not so neatly, packed 26 years ago. One of those last-minute tossing in and go boxes. Upon opening the box we discovered unopened greeting cards from her second wedding anniversary. Inside one card was a crisp new 26 year old $20 bill. Bingo!! Let’s open all the cards. Another envelope had a cheque from her grandmother for $75. How come the grandma never questioned her out of balance bank account for 26 years? Conscious or subconscious, this box has been weighing heavy on my clients mind. Thinking about it and worrying about it takes up precious time. Not to mention paying to have it moved and storing it in the garage.
Here are my top 3 tips to helping you with a cluttered life and how to de-clutter it.
Tip #1: Take the 15 minutes to do it right. Instead of tossing things into a box simply take the 15 minutes to deal with the stuff you are about to dump into that box. Book those 15 minutes with yourself like it is a client appointment. Put this appointment right in your calendar. It is a date with yourself and the box.
Tip#2: Set up piles for keep, shred, toss, recycle or donate. Handle each piece of paper once or each item once. Putting it in one of those piles. The key factor here is to stay focused on that one task for 15 minutes. That one box. Turn off the phone, email indicator, close the door, do whatever it takes. Just think how clear your mind will feel once you have emptied that box.
Do you have more than one such box? If so, handle one box at a time in 15 minute increments.
Tip#3: Once you have your piles, you need to deal with them. The toss and recycle piles are the easiest. Donate is easy if you remember to put the items in your car and drop them off at your local charity. Shred is straight forward. Get your kids to do that for you if they are old enough or you can do it while watching TV. The keep pile is where the rubber meets the road. Take each item and deal with that item. Does it need to be filed? Does it need to be put away? Do you need to set up a system for some items?
You will be surprised at how fast you move if you have the 15 minute timer on and stay focused.
We are humans and take the path of least resistance. You do not want to do this when it comes to your boxes. In the long run it will save you so much grief and stress. Kiss a cluttered life goodbye.
Are you suffering from too much stuff in too small a space, too much stuff in a large space or simply too much stuff?
Do you have trouble locating important information in your office?
Can you find what you are looking for without getting stressed out?
Do you lose your keys, phone, eye glasses or kids?
Check out this video to see.
Ask yourself these questions:
If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, it might be time to hire a professional organizer.
I know of a really great one! 😀
I will encourage, support and empower you with moving forward in getting organized and staying clutter free. I will support and encourage you with the purging of stuff. Most importantly I will give you your life back.
Let me know what area in your home is bugging you the most. Leave your bug list in the comment box below. I will give you a tip to get started right away with getting and staying clutter free.
Have you taken advantage of your FREE session yet?
If not then please ease on over HERE and let’s get started today.
Either way I am here to support, encourage and empower you with moving forward.
Are you getting ready for a move? Do you dream of a stress free organized move? Would you like support from the experts? How would you like to be really on top of things?
Tip#1: Hire movers. Gone are the days of trying to do everything yourself. Gone are the days of a case of beer and a bunch of your guy friends. They are all too concerned with their backs now. You are busy. Your friends and family are busy. Professional movers have all the right boxes, packing supplies, dollies and manpower. They can get you packed and moved quickly and efficiently. If something breaks they cover it. If it is pouring with rain they get wet. Professional movers are worth every penny. I know of some great ones.
Tip#2: Pack a suitcase. Pretend you are going on a 2 week camping vacation. Prior to the movers arriving, pack a suitcase with clothes, your kid’s favorite toy or doll, towels, exercise attire, toiletries and a good book. This saves you time searching in your boxes for some much needed necessities. Be sure to keep a set of sheets handy along with a place setting for each member of the family. Have a box that is labeled “open me first.” You can arrive at your new home, set up the beds, have something to eat off of and have clean clothes in the morning.
Tip#3: Start early. How long have you lived in the place you are moving from? Clutter does not happen overnight, so therefore it is not cleared overnight. There may be several items to donate, sell or give away before you move. This all takes time. One comment I hear often is “I’ll sort and purge once I move into my new place.” I hate to be the one to burst your bubble but most people NEVER get around to doing that. Do you have any unpacked boxes in your house? People seem to underestimate how long it takes to pack up a house or condo. Start early by packing non seasonal clothing, china, books and any other items that are not needed day to day. Let the movers do the rest.
Tip#4: Pack a cooler. On moving day pack a cooler filled with must have food items. Have snacks for the kids, movers and yourself. Remember some of your favorite drinks as well. Grab a bottle of Champagne. You are going to want to celebrate your stress free organized move. Ask a friend to bring over pizza or a casserole to your new home. I had a friend do this and it was a life saver. It also made me stop and take five. We had a very casual fun dinner. They helped unpack for dessert.
Tip#5: Hire an organizer. This is really the most important part of your move. You will want to do all the sorting and purging long before your moving day. Did you know a professional organizer will support you in a stress free organized move? You will save time, energy and most importantly, money. You will only move items you love, need and use. Unpacking will be a dream.
Call today for a FREE 30 minute phone consultation.
We will discuss more tips on how to have a stress free organized move.
We will also discuss your move and provide the support you might need. Click here.