Good Value

How much space are we wasting in our homes? How much does it cost us to store clutter?

Lets look at it by the numbers, rather than as an emotional subject. If a home costs approximately $150 per square foot to build, and a monthly storage locker costs $1.50 per square foot to rent, how much is your clutter genuinely costing you?

Lets say one storage locker, the size of a small bedroom, or 100 sq feet costs$150 per month, plus gst is $157.50. The annual cost of that is $1890. WOW.  

The argument can be made that, "I own my house so I don't pay rent to store my belongings. " Yes, that is true, however, when it comes to selling that house, the bigger the better. Buyers are looking for spacious homes. The more living space the better. A cluttered house of 1200 sq feet can look like an unkempt house of 900 sq feet.  It's a matter of perception. How will your house be perceived? The smaller something appears, the less a buyer is willing to pay. A home that looks open and spacious and well kept will always sell for more money.

What if, spending $500 and less than 10 hours of your own time working with a professional organizing team, could increase the sale price of your home by $3000? Would that be worth it?  That's why it is absolutely critical to de-clutter when planning to prepare your home for sale. It also makes the actual move a lot easier. With clutter sorted and pared down, and items neatly packed away those items are already ready to move. Wouldn't that be great... moving 30% less stuff?

It's a win-win situation when you hire a professional organizer as part of your moving and sales team.

What have I started?

All I wanted was to hang some new curtains. But that meant putting up new and more modern curtain rods. Well, that of course left marks on the walls from the old curtain rods. And since I happened to be that close to the wall, I noticed additional unsightly scuff marks on that wall. So it was in that moment I decided I should paint the wall. Of course nobody thought I meant "now", like that very minute.
The next thing I knew, I had plastic on the floor, a head scarf over my head and there at 9PM I started painting... much to the amazement of my family. When they agreed with my statement "this wall needs a coat of paint" nobody thought NOW.
Once everybody got over the shock and helped move the couch it was an easy job. I had a fresh can of paint I had picked up earlier in the week. Albeit it was for a completely different purpose and not my first choice of colour for the living room. However a fresh coat of white paint sure beats what it looked like before.
Now less than 48 hours later, I have a freshly painted living room wall, new curtains, clean pictures (were very dusty - ick) and am quite proud of myself. It looks good, and I feel even better.
Little CJ has asked, "Mommy, can we do my room next?"
Oh no. What have I started now?

Mondays

I actually like Mondays. For me it's a fresh start. Whatever happened last week is over. What will be this week, is yet unwritten. Sundays, for me, are a day focused on family. Today we spent is at the rink. Both kids had hockey games and then we attended the Wheat Kings game. The Wheaties won tonight. It was the first time in 12 games that they'd won. Not for a lack of effort of course. They'd been very close. Infact the last 2 loses were in overtime shoot-outs. In any case, the broke the spell tonight in commanding fashion. 6-2 was the final score.

So today I hope to accomplish 3 things.  1) make a Christmas t-shirt for my little one. It's actually an easy project with huge results. I simply take one of their favourite drawings or a picture from a colouring book they've finished and scan it. Once their artwork is scanned in, I print it on t-shirt transfer paper, then follow directions and iron it on a clean white t-shirt.  In less than 10 minutes your child is wearing their very own artwork. It never ceases to thrill them at my house.

2) Tidy up the house.

3) Ice the cookies we made this weekend. This task is best done when the kids are in school, so at least some cookies make it into the gift containers.

Here's to Mondays!

A Big Day

Ok, time to take a deep breath. Some sleep would help too. Clarity... and added bonus. Energy? Hardly necessary.  Adrenaline is doing the driving now anyways.

Today's a big day. Likely one I'll remember for a while anyway. I'm opening a new business, and we throw open the doors to the public today. In about 9 hours.

The new business is called Sort & Sell, eSales and Services. What is it? One part "Sort", the other part "Sell".   The Sort is an in-home organizing service lead by a trained professional. The Sell is a small retail space where we will act as a drop off and sales depot for local on-line classified sales.

I've had a lot of great friends helping me out taking this original concept and running with it. Jeff designed the logo that I absolutely LOVE. Shelby did the website so very skillfully. Carli has been taking courses,  studying and training as a professional organizer. Calder, has attended countless business meetings and had to share my attention. So many more who have supported me that I should mention... Des, Greg, Connie, Harry, Marlow, Ashley, Neil. Thank you everybody.

Check out our web site. www.sortandsell.ca

Cheers!

Many good things

The light at the end of the tunnel is temporarily unavailable. Please contact your system administrator.

Yep, it's been that kind of day.

I'm not sure what to write. Does anybody really want to hear me drone on about a challenging day when each and everyone has their own obstacles to overcome?  No. So, rather, in the spirit of the season... a season of good wishes, gifts, friends and family rejoicing... I shall rejoice. And rejoice with a list of my favourite things.

In absolutely no order whatsoever:

A hug from my child, for no apparent reason.
Blueberry pie.
When the truck starts and it's so cold that you believe for a second that it might not actually start.
Bailey's Irish Cream
Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks
A note from my best friend.
Crab legs with lots of fresh lemon.
Words of encouragement.
Clean sheets
A sloppy kiss on the cheek from my horse. Always makes me giggle. For a creature so huge, he's gentle.
A card from my dad.
Lunch with my husband.
A bargain.
When hard work is rewarded.
$5 in a coat pocket.
A challenging game of scrabble with a friend
The Bahamas.
My uncles
A close hockey game.
Baby pictures of my kids
That my mom texts
Hanging out with my brother
Chocolate turtles.
Making cookies
Photos. I love photos
Peacefully sleeping children


Thanks. Now I feel better. Hope that light comes on again soon.

The Junk Drawer

My junk drawer finally had its day. I opened the ugliness and tackled it head on. Sure, there were some random treasures, like a walking tour book for the architectural and historical treasures in our city, but most of it was junk. I guess that's why it's universally knows as THE JUNK DRAWER.

It was my 5 year-old who was most amazed by what was in the drawer. We found a couple marbles, a tiny sewing kit and several tokens for the local arcade. There were coupons that had expired in 2006. Yikes. Had it really been that long?

Once the treasures were picked over, and as much as the useful junk salvaged, we unceremoniously dumped the rest and wiped out the drawer.

Reconstruction included several little shallow dividing baskets. One for pens and pencils, another for coupons and tokens, a third for pins and paperclips.

Most importantly, we felt we had accomplished something great. In 15 minutes we tackled that hidden junk and made it livable, useable space again. We were so proud, we  showed it to the other members of the family the minute they walked in the door. Everyone rejoiced in the fact we found 3 pairs of scissors. Yes, the ever elusive scissors have been found - and given a place of honour now, in their own basket, in the not-so-junky Junk Drawer.

Small steps I say... small steps! LOL