Just pick a room in your home where clutter has taken over. In three hours, we will roll up our sleeves and work to re-establish the room as it was meant to be…with more space and less confusion. Don’t you deserve a more calm states of mind?

During our time together I will teach you about strategies and concepts that will help you maintain all your rooms. You will be surprised that, with help, this activity can actually be fun and invigorating.

Pick up the phone and book your session, or be bold and email us(rose@organizemepleasecanada.com) a picture of your cluttered area. We love a challenge!

Holiday Alert! The countdown is on, only 33 more days! Let us help you get your home in order so you can enjoy the holiday season …..stress-free.

The post Are you ready for the holiday season? appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

Here is my first referral with more to come over the next few weeks.

CAA – The Immigrant

Last night my car stalled on the QEW on route to Toronto however I was lucky, I was in the far right hand lane. Traffic was heavy and moving slowly so I got out and tried to push my car to the shoulder. Good thing I practice a lot of hot yoga because I had the strength to move the car two feet! The car was still half on the shoulder and half in the exit lane.

A car stopped and an immigrant got out.

The immigrant pushed my car to the shoulder.

The immigrant tried trouble shooting to figure out what was wrong with my car but was unsuccessful.

The immigrant stayed until CAA arrived.

The immigrant was kind and helpful.

The tow truck was suppose to arrive in an hour according to CAA however it arrived in 5 minutes with another immigrant.

The immigrant hooked up my car and checked to make sure I was warm enough in the truck since it had been raining.

The immigrant asked if he could pick up his cousin at a restaurant that he was working at which was only five minutes away in Etobicoke. I said sure since he was driving me back to Burlington where my mechanic was located.

The immigrant pick up his cousin and also pick up a chicken dinner for me which I held on to because I was too stressed to eat.

The immigrant was talkative, interesting, had a great sense of humour and before long we were in Burlington.

The immigrant drop off my car at my mechanic’s shop, then took my items out of my car and put them in the tow truck and drove me home.

The immigrant shook my hand and wished me a good evening.

Later in the evening I was hungry. I opened the styrofoam food box that the immigrant had given me. There were 6 big pieces of chicken inside.

The immigrant had fed me.

Thank you, immigrants. So, proud to have you in this great country called Canada.
Thank you CAA for employing immigrants. The best service ever.

The post “True, Tried, Tested and are Terrific”. appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

I have a love of books that date back to being a toddler, when my mom would read “I Wish That I Had Duck Feet” by Dr. Seuss.  I remember gently rocking back & forth in a rocking chair while the rhyming words swirled around in my toddler head—this was just the start of my love affair with books.

Until just a few years ago, I had 2 huge book cases that were double-stacked with volumes ranging from children’s fiction to college text books, and piles had formed next to couches and the bed. I could not imagine my life without these friends surrounding me.

Today, I am the proud owner of approximately 20 books – six of which are craft books. To move from one extreme to the other took some serious work, and time (and a newfound appreciation for library books).  Here are a few suggestions to help even the biggest bibliophile relieve your sagging shelves of stress—without buying more shelves.

How to Declutter your Bookshelves:

1. Divide and Conquer – Get ruthless with your “yet to read” pile

My rule of thumb is simple: If it hasn’t been read in six months, it probably won’t ever be read. If you’re not sure, dedicate a space to “need to read” books, and note the date. Any books that started out on that shelf on that date but were still there six months… do you really intend to read them?

If you’re concerned that you’ll still want to read something, make a note of it in your notebook – title, author, ISBN – so you can find a library copy in the future.

2. Share with others!

Anytime you find yourself thinking “So and so would LOVE this book!” write that name down on a sticky note, stick it on the front cover, and set the book aside.

3. Check for overlap of non-fiction information

Organize your non-fiction books by topic, then see if you have multiple books on the same topic. Is the content overlapping?

When I sorted through my shelves, once I saw where I had doubled up on topic, it was easier to let go of a few books.

4. Consider why you are attached to the book

If a book is not one you read or refer to often, consider whether you are keeping it because of how the story made you feel, or because it was a meaningful gift.

To reduce your attachment to the book itself, take a few minutes to write about your connection to the book, or even take a photograph of it, and once your emotions and thoughts are out of your head, it is easier to let the book be enjoyed by a new person. (Of course, if the book was a gift from a friend or relative who would note its absence, you might want to keep it around for when s/he visits!)

5. Look for multiple copies
Do you really need two copies of that book?  Was one a gift?  Decide which version you want to keep, and send the other(s) to a new home for someone else to appreciate and enjoy.

6. Set aside one shelf as your “deserted island” shelf

 This shelf is for the books I’d want with me if I were stranded on a deserted island, that I could read over and over again for the rest of my life. As you are sorting through the texts, move these books to a dedicated shelf.

Not only is it comforting to have a “saved” section as you pare down others, but you now have a physical boundary – you can have no more “desert island” books than will fit on this one shelf, so you are forced to really think about your collection.

Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

• Ensure you have a notebook, sticky notes, a pen, & boxes or sturdy reusable bags – If your book-rehoming supplies are not on hand, you’ll have an excuse for why you can’t sort or get rid of them.
• Stay hydrated – Keeping a glass of water nearby will help you stay alert and focused, and away from getting distracted in the kitchen.
• Set a timer – Sort through your books for no more than 30 minutes the first go-round to avoid overwhelm.
• If you begin to feel overwhelmed – Take a few minutes away from the shelves. This is a new experience for you and it takes some getting used to!
• Group books into categories – then work through one category at a time.
• Honour your emotions – Your sentimental attachment to your books is not something to feel ashamed of. Acknowledging your emotions as you sort through your books can be the first step in helping you move past that attachment and towards a more minimalist book collection.

And remember: you acquired these books over time, so it will likely take some time to sort and re-home your textual friends. By spending a few minutes per week dedicated to letting go of a few books at a time, you may find your feelings shifting towards the stories and the moment rather than the books themselves.

Last but not least, after your shelves are sorted, consider using one of my favourite rules for avoiding book clutter—One book in, one book out!

The post Over-readers Anonymous: Step One – Remove the Book Clutter! appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

Seeing (or looking for) that Robin means it’s time for… Spring cleaning!  With many years in the organizing industry, I have developed a reliable process to get the family in line to make Spring cleaning a fun and productive event:

Stay C-A-L-M (Control, Assess, Lighten Up, Maintain) so everyone can appreciate an organized house and look forward to enjoying the riches of the season that Spring brings to us each year.

Spring cleaning starts with CONTROL

Someone has to take control of the situation and if that is you, put on your coach’s cap and get the team players in line.  Perhaps starting off with a “kick off” dinner of pizza to bring the team members together to formulate the game plan and address Q&A to enable for all members to have their concerns or needs heard.

When – Try to choose dates far in advance.  Four-hour windows work well because it gives each member the time frame to accomplish at least one room if not two without getting too tired or bogged down.

Why – Explaining the importance of a clean and organized home will help get everyone on board with this Spring project. For many people this includes:

• being able to find things
• not wasting time looking for a particular item
• allow regular cleaning to be easier

Who does what – It is a family affair so everyone needs to be involved, regardless of age—delegate tasks that work with each person’s abilities, with more basic tasks for toddlers and more sitting-oriented tasks, such as sorting into “keep and discard” piles for persons with limited mobility.

I typically start with each family member working on their respective bedrooms then moving onto a group project of the family room or basement.

With game plan in place, it’s time to ASSESS

The easiest way to assess the situation is to make a list which I call the Activity Planner.  On a chart I create columns such as:
Room: the place where the activities need to be done. Equip each person with 3 cardboard boxes for sorting items into toss, donate or keep.
Activity: what tasks need to be accomplished in this room so it is in order and clean. Remember smaller tasks for children, medium tasks for tweens and teens and with adults… load it on!
Name: the responsible person for this activity. This is important so Mom is not doing all the work!
Materials: use this space to note any special needs, i.e. cleaning products, boxes, labels, etc.
Completed: this area is used to check off once the activity is completed…yahoo!

Print off copies of this activity planner and go through each room and list what needs to be done.  The Assessment should not take more than 15 minutes per room.

On ‘cleaning day’, LIGHTEN UP on…

Meal Prep—
• Start the day with a nutritious meal
• Have plenty of accessible, grab-and-go healthy snacks on hand throughout the day
• Place a container of water in each room so everyone stays hydrated

Volume control—Set up a radio or two or make sure the mp3 players are charged ahead of time and the headphones are handy.

Your wallet—Perhaps an allowance can be doubled by a child being speedy–or how about ‘no attitude for the day’!!
Alternatively, you could create a treasure hunt by hiding coins in corners especially where the dust bunnies hide!  I personally throw a handful of coins under their beds!

Your words—You love your family and want the spring cleaning to be successful and enjoyable (and annual!), so use words of encouragement and positivity to each member of the family throughout the day.

Their curfew—For tweens and teens who are being responsible for their activities, perhaps you could extend Saturday night curfew, or allow them to take on another extracurricular activity.

After the Spring Cleaning is complete, you’ll want to MAINTAIN

Make sure you create a maintenance plan so the Spring Cleaning doesn’t have to be repeated as Summer Cleaning!
Your plan might include:

1. Each person takes 5 minutes at the end of their day to put away their items.  This is easier now that each item has its place
2. “One thing in, one thing out” so clutter does not accumulate—if you buy that “must have” pair of shoes then an old pair of shoes needs to be donated or trashed
3. Putting together a check list for the back of the bedroom door for each child so they can check in to repeat the cleaning tasks, and promote a good habit. (This one is my personal favourite.
4. Put a box or bin in the front hall closet for donations; once it is full it is only a couple of steps to take it out the door
5. A monthly quick review with the team to share the house progress so everyone is on the same page. Perhaps through this process they have some organizing ideas that they have come up with.

Once you have finished on the inside of your house, it’s time to start thinking about an activity list for outside cleaning when warmer weather arrives. Also if you want to entice your own first Robin of the season fill up the feeder with fruits and suet because Robins don’t eat seeds! Or better still, water the grass and the Robins will flock to your lawn for the worms!

Organize Me Please
“We help families create order”
rose@organizemepleasecanada.com
905-681-1659

The post Spring Cleaning in an Organized & Fun Fashion appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

With the holiday season upon us the following organizing tips gives us the opportunity to give to the less fortunate.

Food Organizing

During the holiday season the kitchen can be one of the busiest spots in your home. Go through your non-perishable food items and group “like for like”. With extra items that are not being used, check the expiry dates and if applicable put them in a box marked for the food bank. Items such as tuna, peanut butter and soups are at the top of the list for food banks so be generous.

With these actions:

• You have your food items in order.
• You have an idea of what is needed for your holiday food list.
• Most importantly, you are helping your fellow man. 

Winter attire organizing.

This time of the year there is a great need for winter clothing in local shelters.

Go through all coats, jackets, hats, mitts, boots and assess what is not being used or what has been out grown. Make sure you check all pockets & if necessary launder soiled items. Pack all items into clear plastic bags and drop off at charity locations such as The Compassion Society (Burlington), Scott Mission (Hamilton), Covenant House for youth. Also blankets and sleeping bags are greatly appreciated at this time of year.

With these actions:

• You have room in your front closet to put guest’s coats instead of throwing them on a bed!
• Your closets are all in order.
• Your donations will keep someone warm this winter.

Christmas ornament swap, it’s a festive event!

Spread some holiday cheer this year and invite family and friends over for a Christmas ornament swap. Have folks go through their existing Christmas ornaments and select 5 to 10 items that they can let go of. Serve appetizers and cocktails while everyone chooses a few new ornaments for their Christmas tree this year.

With these actions:

• Something old is something new for people.
• Perfect way to let go of sentimental ornaments because you will know the new owner!
• Christmas ornaments make great gifts for teachers, babysitters etc.
• Ornaments that are left over can be gently wrapped and given to charities.

Christmas baking swap.

Invite 10-12 friends and/or family members to come to your home and have each one bring 10-12 dozen homemade cookies. Pick one of your favorite cookie recipes and bake up a batch and exchange with fellow bakers! This way everyone leaves with a variety of goodies for Christmas entertaining – and perhaps a new recipe or two.

With these actions:

• You save time & money because you only need to buy ingredients for one recipe.
• Your baking is done for the season!
• You get to visit with friends and family and the guests bring the cookies!
• You can donate an assortment of cookies to a local shelter or a senior centre.

Regifting for the season.

Regifting is becoming more socially accepted and a perfect way to recycle items that you do not want. In fact the “celebration” of regifting was started by Money Management International in 2006 to save people from coming out of the holiday season (and into the New Year) in debt. Regifting Day falls on the third Thursday of December (this year, Dec. 19) the day when the most office holiday parties are held (according to MMI’s own research). Regifting can also be done with teachers, paper boy, mail person, babysitters etc. Just ensure you follow a few etiquette rules when regifting such as, items are not unused or homemade, or too horrible that you are just trying to get rid of it!

With these actions:

• Saves money and time
• Lessen the stress of holiday shopping
• Perhaps the regifted item with be used by the new owner!
• If you have additional items they can be donated to local charities

Coming from a large family the gift exchange task between siblings was given up many years ago however; “The Secret Santa” game has taken its place! Check the internet under www.SecretSantarules.com  and start a new traditional with your family that does not cost very much but puts the true spirit of the holiday season in our hearts.

May your holiday season be filled with joy from the act of giving to people in need.

The post Christmas organizing ideas from your Burlington Organizer appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

Your weight loss success begins in your home starting with the kitchen……

As you know the kitchen is the heart of a home and for good reason:  cooking, cleaning, study hall, party hang out, paying bills etc.  So with this amount of use it’s no wonder that this room attracts a lot of clutter. When there is clutter the proper function of this room is jeopardized.

The kitchen is most important to your weight loss goals.  Creating a kitchen that has clear countertops with plenty of space for preparing food.  A pantry stocked with healthy foods that are easily located for any recipe.   An organized refrigerator full of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables.  A comfortable, uncluttered eating area for family members. Just imagine how you will look forward to preparing and eating healthy food in this environment!

What you will experience with a functional, decluttered kitchen are the following:

You will have control over your weight loss once and for all.  When we are frustrated it is easy to lose control thus eating what we should not.  When a kitchen is decluttered such junk foods can be eliminated so if you must eat you will have healthy snacks on hand.

You will have less stress. Preparing healthy meals takes time and energy but when you are doing it with a functional decluttered kitchen meal preparation becomes a breeze.

You will have time to get active. When your kitchen is in order it take less time to prepare meals and less time to clean up which gives you time for the important things in life such as an exercise plan to compliment your weight loss program.

You will have your health. It is not just what the number is on the scale that counts but what is going into your body.  Healthy food will give you energy, beauty and happiness. Healthy bodies keeps such risks as diabetes, heart disease and stroke in check.

You will have a happy and healthy family.  Children are very observant, when they see parents eating properly so will they.  Obesity is running rampage in our younger generation but now you will have the power to ensure your children do not end up with a weight problem.

With our 10 step organizing program we will have your kitchen in a functional decluttered fashion so you can get ready for your new slimmer life.  Just one to two days organizing your kitchen can make this a reality.

The post Weight Loss Program – Professiona appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

 #1 Safety – Clear all walkways/hallways. Friends and family do not know your home like you.  Keeping them safe means no accidents.

 #2 – Physical preparations.  Everyone should start with stretching exercises.  No one needs pulled muscles. Stop and rest your body during the day.  Remember the primary lifting rule BEND AT THE KNEES – KEEP YOU BACK STRAIGHT!  Have bottled water & food available for all helpers. Take breaks!

#3 Create a working space in every room so you can work freely to group, purge and pack your items.  Beds are also suitable for packing; just cover the top of the bed with a sheet of plastic in case items are dusty or dirty.

#4 Do the walk around – Arm someone with a garbage bag, clear bag, and blue bag. Garbage = obvious, clear = give aways, blue = recycling.  Note: Kitchens & basements will usually be recycling treasure troves. Touch it once. A full bag goes to the car immediately = ready for Value Village or Goodwill on the way home.

#5 Boxes – forget the liquor stores! Buy 3-4 varied sized boxes that are uniformed. Buy lots. Movers refund the returns. Be safe; keep the weight down per box. Choose boxes with handles for obvious reasons. Uniform boxes look much neater when stacked especially during open house appointments. They also stack better in moving truck & storage space & PODS.

#6 Supplies – Keep all your moving supplies in one area of the house; this way everyone knows where they are and you can keep an eye of your levels.

#7 Get packing! Buy a tape gun and quality tape (3M, Scotch are my favorites). Trust me, better tools and products = less frustrations during the day.

Sharpies – black markers with chisel tips last longer & are inexpensive. Red markers for marking the weight (H= heavy weight, M= medium weight, L= light weight. This way the movers know how to quickly stack boxes in the truck.

Labels: print clearly the location and general category i.e. Kitchen / dishes

Help the movers! Label the top and two sides with details.

Note: Add to labels where the items came from helps people to quickly identify the contents.

#8 Colour Coordinate! Each room gets a colour i.e. yellow = kitchen. Same colour sticker on each box. Same sticker colour on the entranceway of room at the new house.  Movers charge by the hour so beat them at their game! Add a “Boxes here” on the walls at the new house so it leaves room for furniture.

#9 Educate yourself with movers, cleaners, landscapers and organizers. Create a list and call to compare. Call the references! Anyone can create a website and have a truck but that does not constitute a moving company.

#10 Purge and contain. Do not take what you want, take what you need! Checking Kijiji or ebay will help you learn what has value. Use the moving opportunity to not clutter the new home. Still can’t give it up then have a reversed housewarming party. Instead of people bringing a house warming gift they choose one of your treasures & take it away with them!

Bonus tip – Organizer clothing gear – love cargo pants because you can carry items such as markers, small measuring tape, exacto knife and gloves. This way you can move freely around the house and tackle packing tasks with ease.

Wishing you and your family well in your moving endeavors & new beginnings!

The post Burlington Professional Organizer’s moving tips. appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

(Note: Italics for quick scanning of document.)

Hello Mr. Robertson.

This is a review of the main concerns that we covered and discussed during our recent consultation.  The following points can serve as a guide to keep us focused on your objectives:

Frustration to be eliminated, obstacles to be overcome, problems to be solved…..

1)  House has been sold and closing date is May 22nd.  Belongings must be packed and moved before this date.  Condominium rental begins on April 15^th so a moving date will need to be decided upon.

2)  Assessment of new living space needs to be determined.

3)  Family members maybe involved but client wants OMP to direct members so his wishes are upheld with regards to possessions.

Comments following from the above objectives:

1)  With the closing date of the house being May 22nd we need to start on the following:

–      Hire movers once a moving date has been chosen.  OMP have movers that provide an excellent corporate rate which is passed on to clients.  Would prefer a moving date in the middle of the week and not at the end of the month because of condo elevators and movers availability.

–      Compose a list of items that are moving to the new place so the movers can give us an estimate of hours for cost purposes.

–      Put process together for packing and moving(see below)

–      Provide an action list for each room so if family members are offering their help we can refer to this list.

2)  Your new condo has three bedrooms so there is ample living space. Part of the process will be doing a review of where furniture pieces will be placed and what new pieces will be necessary.  Please note that OMP has access to furniture pieces that maybe used in the new residence.  As far as I can see shelving units and a bed are items that are needed and OMP may be able to provide these pieces and the only cost involved with be moving charges.  This will be discussed in more detail as we get closer to the moving date.

3)  As noted in the consultation your valuable possessions are: books, files and garden supplies.  We understand that you do not want family members making decisions without consulting beforehand.  If family members are involved with the packing process, OMP will review all activity and ensure client’s wishes are upheld.

Opportunities to focus upon and turn into your advantage.

1)  Terrific that your new location is so close to existing home.  This will give us the opportunity to move small items to the condo prior to movers.  When we assess items we will ensure they are packed, labelled correctly and put in an orderly fashion on the main floor so it is easy for movers to transport thus lower costs. Your new condo does not require a lot of furniture so we will choose the precious pieces that you want to take by putting “green stickers” on them.  One of the bedrooms can be used for your books but shelving will be necessary. 

2)  If family members are available to assist in the moving process then I will ensure there is a detailed job list that they choose from.  I always say more the merrier which also works in your favour from a cost perspective.

The plan and path…..

With the initial start-up of this project, your availability will be paramount because of the decisions and directions that need to be made.  With that said I will need to start the week of April 27^th.   I normally work 8 to 10 hours a day but that does not mean I need those types of hours from you.  However, I will leave homework for you after each session which will be necessary due to the nature of the items (i.e. making decision on number of bottles files and books to be kept etc.)

Here is the process we will be following for the next couple of weeks:

1)  Remove all recycling and garbage items from home and prepare for pickup (i.e. recycling items – old magazines, cans, bottles; garbage items – rusty tools, broken/used items)

2)  Prepare spots in each room for organizing activities to be performed. Examples: Dining room table – to be used for kitchen items to be sorted.   Coffee table (livingroom) – for sorting paper items. It will also be imperative to clear all hallways/stairs of items to prevent accidents.

3)  Each room will need to have its items grouped, assessed, and either taken to new home, charity, or possibly a family member.  Listed below are the approximate hours for each room.  Hours could vary with the help of an assistant which can be discussed as the project progresses.

Livingroom – 5-6 hours

Diningroom – 4 hours

Kitchen – 5-6 hours

Back room (off of kitchen) 5-6 hours

Bedroom (Seed room) 10-15 hours

Bedroom (not viewed during consultation) ? hours

Basement (not viewed during consultation) ? hours

Second floor (not viewed during consultation)*

Breezeway 5-6 hours

Garage – 4-5 hours

Areas of concern:

–      Cannot gauge time factor for second floor or basement until they are reviewed.

–      Dumpster may be necessary for pieces of furniture and debris.  Please note I will use the public garbage system as much as possible to keep costs down. Note: garbage tags are needed after the third bag of garbage ($3.10 per garbage tag).

–      It is always difficult to make decisions especially with a house that has been your home for many years.  OMP works very quickly but will always respect the time it takes for client to make comfortable decisions.  With that said, gauging of hours can sometimes be incorrect, OMP will ensure that time is used wisely so you receive the best possible service.

–      Being that there has been water in basement, safety precautions will be necessary. i.e. masks, limiting exposure etc.

New residence – set up activities and estimated times.

–      Kitchen – being that client does minimal cooking, all that needs to be done is setting up a functional, save environment.  We will be moving some items from old kitchen and adding new items so client can have a good start in this area. – 4 hours

–      Livingroom – this will just require location of furniture plus adding pictures, knickknacks etc – 2 hours

–      Dining room – adding furniture to eating area 2 hours

–      Bedroom – assemble bed and add sheets. Put clothes in closet and dresser.  5 hours

–      2^nd bedroom, this location can be used for files and books.  Shelving unit will be added so items can be placed in an orderly fashion. 5 hours

What Organize Me Please brings to this endeavour:

Rose Ritchi has eighteen years of experience in the IT Administration industry.  I have seven years as a professional organizer.  That experience has allowed me to assist people with customized solutions to increase the efficiency of their home, their office or their individual requirements.  A highly motivated self-starter who combines enthusiasm with a strong work ethic to achieve outstanding results and excellent client services.

Key competencies:

• · Listening skills
• · Multitasking
• · Proactive problem solving
• · The production of accurate and detailed work

References

I have two references that I can provide that have had the same services from OMP.  Let me know if you prefer email addresses or cell#s

Pricing

Consultations: $99 (minimum of 2 hours, waived if services are employed)

Hourly rate $49

Administration hourly rate $35 (i.e shopping for moving items, producing activity or asset lists)

Moving (Additional costs) – items such as bags, tape, boxes, garbage tags will be purchased by OMP but we will advise before any purchases are done. Costs for a moving company plus dumpster services will also be discussed with client prior to hiring any company services.

Organizing assistant: Pricing various depending on the level of expertise.

Invoices are issued on Mondays for the previous working hours.  For this project they will be submitted to lawyer so invoices are paid at the time of closing (May 22nd 2011). In order to proceed with this project OMP would need confirmation from client’s lawyer that invoices will be paid at closing which is May 22nd 2011.

Project time: My estimate time at this point will be 12 to 15 business days.  Organize Me Please will use every avenue possible to implement cost reduction solutions.

Look forward to providing organizing services for your move and your new home.

The post Consultation Report #3: Senior downsizing and on the move. appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

Note: for quick scanning purposes see the italic areas.

This is a review of the main concerns that we covered and discussed during our recent estate consultation.  The following points can serve as a guide to keep us focused on your objectives:

Frustrations to be eliminated, obstacles to be overcome, problems to be solved………..

1)   Home needs to be put in selling mode so that once the estate has been through the probate process you are in position for the real estate market.

2)   All household contents need to be grouped and assessed so family members can make decisions going forward.

Comments following from the above objectives:

1)   Selling mode for this home means “clean sweep” with no debris and as uncluttered as possible. Mould smell is at a level 9 on a scale of 10. This issues needs to be addressed before any activity is done in the home.  My recommendation is to pull out all the contents of basement and place under the deck and cover with a tarp.  Then start with picking up any loose debris on basement floor.   I am reluctant to sweep in this basement because of the spread of spores.  Once these tasks are completed a fogger needs to be rented (Home Depot rents them $18 for 4 hrs, $26 for 24 hrs) Using a mould control substance the area is sprayed with the fogger which coats all exposed surfaces.  Once solution dries the surface is mould free and mould resistant.  This is a MUST activity.  Mould causes a lot of illnesses and if we are asking friends and family for help we need to have a healthy environment. Not to mention that potential buyers would not be able to look beyond the smell in the basement. With the basement aerosolized it can now be our storage space for items that need to be kept until the house is sold/closes.  The existing furniture can be used to stage the house and enhance its appeal.  Also this gives us the opportunity to put the furniture in ready mode for consignment or for family members.  As you are aware the house maybe sold for property use only.  With that in mind our next area of concern will be the front and back yards.  With removal of debris and trimming of existing foliage we create a safe area for potential clients to walk around and view the property.

2)   Since there is a sibling (Mary) that lives in Burlington the task of dividing contents can be a little difficult since the estate location is Toronto.  My recommendation is to provide a detailed list of all contents and send via email to each sister.  If necessary for Mary, pictures can be send of contents that she is not familiar with.  The detailed list of contents will show names of sisters, charities, garbage and storage items. (see attached example) The whole purpose of the content list is so we can quickly go through all items and have a detailed list so there are no misunderstandings between family members especially during this grieving time.

Opportunities to focus upon and turn into your advantage.

1)   You have all made great head wave with your parents’ home in the last few months.  As you know it is a very exhausting and time consuming task since you cannot be impartial and emotions tend to take over.  Just terrific that you have containers and boxes and have started the sorting process in all rooms.  You are 50% of the way there!!

2)   Since all sisters have email addresses this will be a great way to communicate and resolve the issue of furniture and other contents. With digital pictures it also works to our advantage when trying to identify items.                                  

The plan and path………………….

With the initial start up of this project your availability will be paramount because of the decisions and directions that need to be made.  However before that can be done the basement has to be dealt with before anything can be accomplished in this home.

Here is the process that we will be following for the next couple of weeks:

1)   Fogger and mould containment activity to be completed. Once done prepare basement to be used as storage for items on 2^nd and 3^rd floor.

2)   Remove all garbage and recycling items in home

3)   Group all items and designate a spot in home for each group.

4)   Create a detailed list of all items in each group. Send list to family members for decisions to be made.

5)   Create a detailed task list of activities that need to be done to each room which puts the house in selling mode

6)   Items that have been designated for charities, arrange for pick up.

7)   All items that will be moved to basement for storage are contained and labelled and placed against one of the walls. I would like to group boxes by names so it gives each sister an understanding as to how many items they will be taking away.

8)   High level staging to take place on 2^nd and 3^rd floors.  Keep in mind that we are trying to create a clean and pleasant smelling home for potential builders.

Timeframes

With this being the 23^rd of August I will assume everyone will be going into full time working schedules in September.  With that said I recommend we start this project on August 30^th.  During that week OMP will use the fogger in the basement and complete tasks that are listed for the basement.  We are looking at a full week of grouping and containing.  I would request involvement from family members to give approval of any items being trashed or given away to various charities. Please note that OMP services are first come first served.  I do not intend this to be a deterrent however it is the nature of the business.  Also note that all windows will need to be open for a few sessions and our warm weather will not be with us for long.

Resources

Trading Places – furniture consignment store located inOakville

Ebay, kijiji and Craig’s list for furniture sales

Storage facility – Storage Mart located on Norseman (first month 99% free, storage space ranges from 2 x5 = $95 to 5 x 10 = $140. Climatized storage available

Metal scrappers – have two men available for metal items which is a free service

Canadian Diabetes pick up – next pick up for the area is Sept 9^th, will also pick up small pieces of furniture

City garbage will pick up extra bags of garbage providing garbage tags are on them ($3.10) they can be purchased at any Toronto Canadian Tire.  Next garbage pick up is August 31^st

Hydro Round up – will pick up any working refrigerator or freezer for free. (Note, the freezer is in working condition however it is an energy guzzler!)

ShredEX has home pickup or mobile shredding services. Depending on number of boxes will determine the cost.

Organize Me Please Rates

Consultations $99 (waived if services are employed)

Hourly rate $55

Hourly rate $52 (after 50 hours)

Hourly rate $30 (for junior assistant)

Hourly rate $25 (for administrative tasks)

Hourly rate for shopping $25

Deposits are required with clients when product purchases are necessary.

For referrals, OMP will offer two hours of organizing services free of charge.

References are gladly given.  Will provide client references that have had similar services from OMP.

What Organize Me Please brings to this endeavour:

I have eighteen years of experience in the IT Administration industry. I have five years experience as a professional organizer. That experience has allowed me to assist people with customized solutions to increase the efficiency of their home, their office or their individual requirements.  A highly motivated self-starter who combines enthusiasm with a strong work ethic to achieve outstanding results and excellent client service.   Key competencies:

• Listening skills

• Multitasking

• Proactive problem solving

• The production of accurate and detailed work

• Compassion

I look forward to the opportunity to organize your parents’ home so you can all have peace of mind.

The post Consultation Report#2: Estate Organizing Project appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.

The question, “What is a professional organizer?” has come up so many times in conversations that I feel the need to address this question. Answering such a question with an example always brings a greater understanding for people. My examples will be previous client consultation reports.  These reports are examples of projects that have happened over the last couple of years and will give you an excellent overview of what happens in the world of a professional organizer.  My main areas of expertise are dealing in what I call the 4 Ds, Death (Estate organizing projects), Disabilities (can range from ADHD to Alzheimer’s disease to Parkinson’s disease), to Divorce (division of assets) to Downsizing (for our Boomers and seniors folks).

Coles notes provided for the busy people.       

Since these reports are a few pages in length I don’t want the Blog Kings to give me an “F” on my Blogging report card so I will provide the Coles notes by putting certain areas in italics for you to easily scan with your eyes.  Please note organizing services are a personal service so detailed reports are important to clients especially in a crisis situation. Prior to any consultation we always ask clients what their 3 biggest concerns are so OMP can be prepared for the consultation plus we have the opportunity to make sure all their concerns have been answered during the session. All reports have been adjusted for confidentiality purposes but they will provide you with a great understanding of what can be done for your particular life situation.

Informative Organizing Reports

My aim is to blog about these reports as quickly as possible so 1-2 reports per month.  These reports all deal with the 4 “D” categories but have different circumstances pertaining to the client.  If you have any questions regarding a report, ask away!  Also comments are appreciated, whether they are good or bad because it is how we grow as a company knowing what you like and don’t like.  Please note since Organize Me Please deals in life circumstances that are not always pleasant, we ensure that every client is heard and their needs are met BUT we make sure that we take time to laugh during the organizing project because life is a journey and laughing is allowed along the path!

First example report deals with a senior downsizing and such tasks as decluttering, purging, packing, moving and setup their new home.  Stay tuned!

The post What does a professional organizer do? appeared first on DeClutter | Organize | Downsize | Estates | Burlington Organizer | Organize Me Please.