Organize + Energize: 6 Things to do to Prepare for Your Move
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Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert
Many of my clients are on the move this year. They’re decluttering and organizing before they move. If you want to have a seamless, stress-free move, then you need to get a plan together and then put it into motion. Being pro-active and planning ahead will be a win, win all around. You’re getting your home ready to sell, but you’re also making the process of moving much easier. Moving doesn’t have to be stressful. Don’t wait until the last minute to tackle this project.
Here are 6 ways to prepare for your move:
Declutter and organize every closet in your home. Everybody wants great closet space and if your closets are cluttered and disorganized, buyers won’t get a vision of how the space can be utilized. Now is a great time to take everything out of your closets and go through them. This will also help you with your packing process. Pack away what you can.
Declutter and organize your kitchen. We all want a big kitchen to store appliances, prepare meals, and entertain. If your kitchen, food pantry and cabinets are cluttered, the buyer won’t feel comfortable in your kitchen. Again, declutter for your purposes too. Only take with you what you know you’ll be using.
Get rid of anything that is a dust collector. Pack away your collectibles and chatzkies. Get rid of the piles of paper, and anything else that is cluttering up your home. Remember, you’re not only prepping your home to sell, but you’re also making the process of packing everything up much easier.
Declutter and organize your children’s rooms. Buyers want to imagine themselves living here and it will be difficult to vision if they don’t have a clear picture of the space. Check what your kids have outgrown and get rid of anything they’re no longer using, including books and toys.
Declutter and organize your bedroom. Bedrooms are for sleeping and relaxing. Make this room the most peaceful, serene room in your home. Declutter the nightstand, tops of furniture, and get all clutter off the floor.
How much do you really need to take with you? Think about what you actually need in your new home. Are there items you haven’t used in years and actually forgot you had? Do you really need them? Be sure to purge before you pack. Do not pack anything you won’t be using in your new home. The transition of moving will go much smoother if just take with you the items you need. Once you get to your new home you can unpack and set up your organized systems, making the transition a breeze.
When you’re selling your home, the last thing a buyer wants to see is a home that is disorganized and cluttered. Clutter is a distraction and your buyers will not be able to focus on the selling points of the home when they are faced with clutter and/or disorganization. Selling a home is the best time to get organized, because you have to physically go through everything you own and make a fresh start!
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. She has also given over 70 presentations throughout the state. Watch Kristin LIVE every Thursday at 3pm here on GoLocal LIVE with Molly O’Brien.
Related Slideshow: Organizing Products For Your Closet
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Flip flop organizer
How many flip flops do you own? Are they thrown all over the closet floor? How long does it take you to find a match to one of them? Bed Bath and Beyond has a $9.99 flip flop organizer that holds 6 pairs of flip flops and hangs nicely in your closet. This is a must-have if you have more than 5 pairs of flip flops. I’ve purchased these for my clients and they work great!
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Scarf organizer
You love your scarves, but it takes you forever to locate one and you have to throw 5 around to find the one you are searching for. Use a scarf organizer and you will be able to see all your scarves and find them at a moment’s notice. Bed Bath and Beyond has a few different types of scarf organizers, including this one for $9.99.
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Belt organizer
How are you storing your belts? Are they in a tangled mess? Purchase a belt organizer for a cheap solution—they can be as inexpensive as $6.99 from the Container Store.
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Tie organizer
Keep your ties organized and hanging on a tie rack, or keep then rolled in a drawer organizer. Whichever way you choose to organize them, treat them with care. To take care of both your belts and your ties in one fell swoop, check out this organizer from the Container Store.
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Drawer organizer
This is a must for your underwear, socks, bras, nylons, etc. Drawer organizers will help to maximize space in your closet. You won’t believe the amount of space you will have once you contain these items in drawer organizers!
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Jewelry organizer
Are you always trying to detangle your necklaces? Think about how you grab your jewelry and then purchase an organizing system according to how you function. Before you purchase your container, take inventory of what you own and purchase accordingly.
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Shoe rack
Did you know people who didn’t own shoe racks were 7 times more likely to show up late for an event? Are your shoes in piles on the floor? Get them off the floor and contain them in a shoe rack. There are many options out there, like this one from Bed Bath and Beyond. Choose the shoe rack that is going to fit what you need to hold and fit in the space you are working with.
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Hangers
Are you hanging your clothes on the wire hangers from the dry cleaner? Those hangers will ruin your clothes. Get rid of them and store your clothes on the hanger of your choice, but be consistent and stick with one type of hanger.
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Handbags
How are you storing your handbags? Are they stored all over your closet? Are they in bins or crumpled up on the floor? It’s time to organize your bags. There are many options depending on the space you are working with. You can stand them up on a shelf, you can hang them, or if they are small, you can store them in a canvas bin. The choice is yours. Think about how you function and develop a system from there.
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Baseball cap organizer
How many baseball caps do you own? How are they organized in your closet now, and how long does it take you to find one? The Container Store (pictured here), Bed Bath and Beyond, and other stores sell this baseball cap organizer. I have a few clients that have purchased them and they love them!
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Function over flash
There are many variations on these products. Choose the product that is right for you. There are some organizing products I would never use, but other people might choose to use them. Choose the one that is going to be the most efficient and productive product for you and your family. Don’t choose a product because it’s pretty, choose it based on functionality. Search online for different products before you rush out and purchase a product. You may find that one store is more expensive than another. Don’t forget if you are going to Bed Bath and Beyond to use their 20% off coupons. If you don’t want to purchase these items, get creative and re-purpose items around the home, or make your own!
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Kristin MacRae
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.
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