By Patrick McCarran
Real Estate Broker
Once the Holidays have passed and you have a chance to rest and recuperate what a great opportunity to get organized as you put everything away. It is easy to just put it off and hibernate with some hot chocolate and a good book, I think you can do both, just do each in moderation and get organized one step at a time. Here are some tips that will help.
The primary tip is to give everything a place. As my dad used to say “A place for everything and everything in its place.” A simple thought and saying, but if you think about it, that is the very key to being and staying organized.
This applies to everything big and small — from remote controls, keys and phone chargers to paperwork, sports equipment and Christmas decorations. First designate an area and then invest in storage containers or use cardboard boxes to keep It all contained and organized.
If your home is large, assign each room a day of the week and schedule 10-15 minutes. Breaking the task down into small bites will make it manageable and help fit into your busy schedule. Stay on top of it! Do a clutter check each week. Block out an hour to sort and organize anything that’s fallen out of place.
Create a catch-all area in the main rooms such as the kitchen and living room where things tend to collect. Place a bin in these rooms and collect Items that belong elsewhere, and at the end of the week, put things away. If you find that the items in the bin are mostly toys and games, put your children in charge to put them away.
Rethink your purchases. In order to live a less-cluttered simpler life you need to consciously think about what you want versus what you actually need. Commit to maintaining a constant number of items in your home and then donate or give away a similar item each time you purchase a new one. For example, if you buy a new shirt donate one or if you want a new decoration have a place for it or donate something you already own.
Review every quarter, especially if you have children. Kids tend to outgrow clothes, games toys and other items very quickly. It is amazing how much “stuff” you never use. Sorting through items every few months will ensure that your home will stay tidy and under control.
Paperwork is a huge culprit. Think about signing up for paperless billing for your monthly bills, credit cards, utilities, etc. and then when done you can store in a folder on your computer and in the cloud, out of sight but just a search word away. Keep a hard folder or safety deposit box for pink slips and other important hard documents. However designate a place for these and your tax paperwork so it doesn’t get out of control.
The key is of course to stay vigilant and you can live clutter free. But if you find you need a larger house give me a call.
Patrick McCarran is a local Realtor and Broker DRE# 01325072. He can be contacted by phone or text at
(925) 899-5536, pmccarran@yahoo.com or www.CallPatrick.com. An independently owned and operated office.
In association with Realty One Group Elite DRE# 0193160.
Equal Housing Opportunity.
