Downsize and Declutter: Closets

We never have enough room in our clothes closets.  Now, before moving and finding that the downsized house has even smaller closets, is the time to sort and purge.  Here are  9 things that you should rid your closet of and never worry that you have made the wrong decision:

  1. Never keep wire hangers. They ruin your clothes
  2. Any clothes with stains that cannot come out and cannot be hidden.  You are never going to feel good wearing these.
  3. Toss those fashion mistakes. What were you thinking when you bought flesh coloured (aka pink) leggings?  Do you really wear that check jacket?  How about the blouse that shows three inches of cleavage?
  4. If you never paint or only paint once a year, why are you saving clothes for painting and why are they in your closet?  Put them to the dust bin.  They are the worst of the worst.
  5. Blouses too tight across the bust – let’s face it, breasts get smaller and bigger and sometimes they sag so that no bra will fix it.  Time to buy and wear clothes that fit.  For men, the same applies for shirts.  If the button pops at a meeting (and I have seen this happen) then toss the shirt and buy clothes in your new size.
  6. Any clothing that you bought more than  10 years ago – take a serious look at it and wonder why you are keeping it or why you are still wearing it – even if it is in perfect shape it is likely not in the right colour, cut or size.
  7. Toss any clothes with rips that cannot be decently be fixed.  Who are you kidding?  Invisible mending is not always invisible.
  8. Your fat clothes now that you are thin or thin clothes now that you are no longer a size 2.
  9. If your clothes could be costumes, then they shouldn’t be in your wardrobe.  Do you really think you have vintage clothing worth something?  Shop around and read about vintage clothing.  What you may have is just junk.

When downsizing your wardrobe you need to be cruel to be kind to yourself.

Photo credit:  Wire Hangers

Organizinger: What can I do about all those keys?

Even the smallest things in our lives can occupy considerable time and effort.  Have you ever lost your keys?  Have you ever found a key in the house and have no idea what it is for?  As you get ready to move, you may come across keys in every room.  Here are some ideas on what to do with keys.

Always put your keys in the same spot in your purse or briefcase and, when you get home, in the same spot in the house.  This will save you months of time over the years that you would normally spend searching for keys.

Tag all the keys in your house.  Sometimes we don’t use a key for a couple of years and then are left wondering what the key opens.  Especially tag the neighbour’s key and the key to your relatives’ homes so that you can find them in a hurry – should you get the emergency calls.

Many key shops sell fancy metals for their keys.  If you have trouble distinguishing keys on your chain, try having them made in leopard print, one in blue and the third one in flowers.  Have some fun.  My dad used to paint the keys with different nail polish from my mom’s collection.  Try anything that helps distinguish one key from another. 

Find a small tin can (from biscuits or candy).  Label the outside of the tin “Keys”.  Here is where you will put all of the keys that you find or own but do not use on a regular basis.  Label every key ring with what the keys do.  If you don’t know, open a small Ziploc bag and toss in the keys with no home.  If, in two years, you have never opened that bag, throw it away.  Those are keys from college, from your third last home and from neighbours that have moved.  You don’t need them!!!!!

Finally, never leave your whole key ring at the auto repair shop or with a parking valet.  Find a key ring where you can remove your car key – or better yet – give them your spare key so that you will be able to keep a car key yourself.   You can trust your mechanic but maybe not the security of company keyboard. 

Photo credit:  Lockless Keys   http://www.flickr.com/photos/plenty/5593143750/

Should I go or should I stay? Moving Decisions

Moving ranks right up there in stress producing activities.  Making a decision to move is almost worst than the actual activity.  Should you go or should you stay?

Some decisions are taken out of our hands.  The lease ends and the landlord wants the place back for his family.  Voila – you are out of there.  Your job is relocated to Timbuktu and you want an income.  Again, no brainer.  When the decision is about needs (some other person’s or your own) then moving is just about rolling up your shirt sleeves and getting to it.

Now, the hard part is when you have a list of wants and moving may or may not address them. Making the decision is stay may be about hope – I hope the neighbours move before I do; I hope the taxes stabilize, even for a few years (ha, ha, ha); I hope the renovations cost less than moving; I hope, I hope, I hope……

My advice, when moving is a want not a need, is to stay until you know for sure if you are going to go or stay. When will that happen?  I believe it happens when hope dies:

Some 12 Step programs members (and there may be one for people like me who move all the time) will tell you that you will know what to do when it is time.  Trying to make a decision, when you are ambivalent, is just an exercise in misery.   When is it time?  It is time when your hopes are met OR you have finally lost hope in the requirements to stay.  

Let go and get moving.

photo credit:  Ghetto Blaster

Cruising the Internet for BC Condos

Whenever it gets cold and I get tired of walking on icy streets, I start to look at real estate in British Columbia.  Even when there is snow, it doesn’t stay in the Vancouver area or on the south end of Vancouver Island (at least that is my dream).  So, I have been back looking on the Internet at real estate.  

If we are going to live in our next home for 20 or 30 years, then I need to take into account that yard and house maintenance will be a future issue as will climbing stairs to the second floor to go to the master bedroom.  I am looking at condos targeted to adults.  Now, here are 2 things that I have noticed when condo town homes, apartments and single homes are listed for these adult communities:  

  1. Age minimum:  19
  2. Pets:  Dogs no more than 20 pounds and no taller from the floor to the top of the head of 20″.  

Seems like there are some condo boards (called strata in BC) that have become VERY specific about the pets and about children.  I guess the definition of adult is 19 and over in BC.   What 19 year old in his right mind is going to want to live in an old folks community?  Oh yes, the 19 year old who needs free room and board.  LOL  

I got out the tape measure and the scale and with a few more walks and less treats, Hoover can meet the dog criteria.  Just one more reason for having Westies.  

Dogs and Kids but with limits. 

If People Knew How Much Work Was Involved, Would They Move?

  I have read that the human memory is a miraculous thing.  It does not remember the feeling of pain.  You remember that things hurt but you cannot relive it.  Now, that same memory is working when you move.  You remember that it was a hassle but you cannot remember how much work, physical effort, stress and organizational skills were required.  Thank Goodness!!!!!

Let’s just stop of a minute and think of the work involved in getting your home ready for a sale.  You start by paring down on the things in each room and then clean it the house to a new level of immaculate.  You may have to organize people to come in and get the home ready – certainly a real estate agent and a home stager, painters, handymen, installers, gardeners, movers (to shift some of your things to a storage locker), and pest control people.  The list goes on depending upon what you need to do to have your home ready. 

Once your home is on the market you are going to need to keep it clean and tidy.  You never know when someone will want to see it and you have already left for work.  Your morning routine will now include getting the home ready to show, each and every day.

Finally, you get an acceptable offer and have a set date to remove yourself and all of your things from the home.  For many people, leaving a home is like leaving a very good friend.  There is an emotional attachment and a grieving process that is involved as you drive away for the last time.  I know my husband would have hugged one of our favourite homes as we spent our last minutes in the driveway saying good-bye to the neighbours. 

So why move?  Well, there as many reasons to move as there are houses on the market.  Outgrowing the house or needing to downsize are likely the most common reasons to move.  Of course, being transferred is a moving force.   Economic reasons whether going up or down cause people to want and need to move.  Finally, there are some people who love change and are looking for the elusive perfect house.  We all know people who spend a part of everyday house shopping on the internet and never miss an Open House day.   A quick internet search showed that North Americans move anywhere from 10 to 16 times during their lifetime (depending on what site you are visiting).  That is an astounding number of moves! 

The good news about moving is that, over time, you will forget the pain and stress of doing it.  Take heart!

Photo credit:  Moving Day

Two peas in a pod

Have you rented a pod to fill up with your clutter & stuff while your house is on the market?  Please do not leave that pod on your driveway when the For Sale sign is posted.  It is an eye sore.  Potential Buyers and your neighbours will be put off.  Have the pod removed to storage while you wait for the Sold sign.

Store until your sale is in the bag.

Housewarming Gifts – 3 Ideas For the Newly Divorced Person

For the person setting up their new home after divorce, the choices are endless.  In most cases, the person only has a half a household so there will be a need for so much. 

1.  What person, having gone through divorce, is financially better off after the process. I suggest a pIggy bank and start the recipient off with enough money for a pizza and a pizza coupon.

2. For those hours that will now be available for the gym give a Nano ipod loaded with from a great list of music for divorces: 

3.  For those evenings when it would be nice to have a laugh or a tea give two or three romantic comedies (full of hope, I hope) When Harry Met Sally,Four Weddings and a Funeral, There’s Something About Mary, As Good As it Gets, A Fish Called Wanda , Moonstruck and Bridget Jones’s Diary .  If sad or sombre is better then give some divorce movies and a box of microwave popcorn.  Give The First Wives Club, Waiting to Exhale, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jerry Maquire and War of the Roses.  

Photo credit:  Piggy savings bank @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/2638883650/

Get Moving – Middle of the week

If you have options on the days to move, see if you can arrange your personal life to coincide with a move in the middle of the week move.  You will get a better rate and have more time and focused attention from the movers.  If you are renting a truck, the rates and availability are better in the middle of the week. 

It is true that that moving companies often hire from day labour centres for loading and unloading vans.  While these men may be strong, they may not have a lot of experience getting heavy and awkward furniture into stairwells, elevators, around tight corners, etc.  Ask a lot of questions about the move from prospective movers. 

This is really a case of……..

Mover Beware

Photo credit:  Allison and Lee’s Moving Van @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/loyaldefender2004/2487530201/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

Get Moving – Your LIFO Box

 

What should you have in your “last on the van, first out of the van” box?  These are the things that you are going to want first.  There are some things that are just necessary in an empty house (before the boxes are unpacked). If you are not moving locally, you will want a box that will be the first thing you open at your new house so that you can have a drink of water and use the washroom.  Here are some items I consider important for your LIFO box:

 

Your LIFO Box will save your sanity.

Photo credit:  Bright red tea kettle (brand new) @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickey_glitter/2205306872/

Get Moving – Pick your Packers

If you are going to pay for a move (rather than be moved by your company), decide how much you want to pay to have your things packed.  Most companies will not insure things they have not packed.  If you can, pack all the non-breakables yourself.  Now decide what of your breakable items would you want to replace if broken (such as the glass on your pictures and the crystal collection from your wedding. 

Go to a moving company and buy some moving boxes, sturdy tape and the large roll of unbleached paper.  It is not costly and the packing paper is superior to newsprint that will stain all of your things with ink.  Do not fold your boxes open or closed.  Use the tape.  If you fold, then it will be impossible to slide the boxes one on top of the other. 

Packing books and papers?  Remember that these weigh a lot so keep your smaller boxes for printed material.  Use the large boxes for bedding, winter coats, pillows, etc. 

Now that you have packed some of your own stuff, get the movers in for any really valuable dishes, glasses and crystal.  Have them pack your framed artwork. 

Pack your papers and pick your packers.

Photo credit:  boxes @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmajane/65585561/

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