More Organizing Tips and Information

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September 1, 2008

It's already September - where did the summer go? It's been a busy few months - hardly any extra time to keep up with with my House Therapist Blog. So many new ideas, so many things to do, so many people to keep in touch with.... and a few new projects to tackle, too.

It seems that there are frequent topics or themes that keep popping up in my life and with my clients lately. They are getting organized, downsizing, clearing clutter, and refreshing or redecorating existing spaces. The economy seems to be a major factor lately, including real estate, gas & oil prices, and making the most of what you aleady have. More people are staying home, cutting back on travel, and trying to figure ways to simplify their lives.

Many people are also downsizing, thinking about retirement, selling bigger homes, or moving into senior or assisted living facilities. Many of my friends are "sandwiched" between caring for their parents as well as their own children (and sometimes, grandchildren). Not an easy time for many people.

I have started to work on a "House Therapy" project for an elderly aunt who lives in central CT.

She is in her 80's, single, never married, with no children. Her health has been failing and she will probably have to move into senior housing within the next year or so. My siblings and I are attempting to help her get organized so she can make the move. The project is not without challenges - and working on this particular project has really made me think about things.

This particular project will be a major challenge for all involved. Primarily because my aunt is a "collector," a "pack rat," and is also very disorganized, keeps things way beyond their useful life, doesn't like to throw things out, had a lot of hobbies & interests, and has emotional attachments to almost everything she owns. Each object "has a story" and her idenity seems to be linked with her possessions instead of who she is as a person. She's been having a difficult time letting go - and did I mention that she's also a control freak? She has definite opinions about things and doesn't like to listen to people whose opinions may differ from hers. As I said, a challenge to deal with.

So, over the next several months, we have a plan in place to systematically go through everything, room by room, identify what to keep, what to sell, what to donate, and what to throw out. It's a 13-room house on 3 floors that she has lived in for more than 45 years, so it won't be an easy task. The house is completely crammed with "stuff" -- including the basement and garage. Of course it doesn't help that the house also used to belong to my grandparents, so there is still a lot of family stuff stored there.

Since I am "in the business" of organizing (among other things), I'll probably be the "go to" person and have already started to pull together a plan and schedule to make this happen. Hopefully, she'll be open to our suggestions and allow the process to go smoothly and in a timely fashion.
Here are some things to consider when assisting an elderly relative who is downsizing or moving into assisted living:

• Try to be compassionate and cognizant of their feelings and attachments to certain things.


• The process can be overwhelming - so take it one step at a time. Don't try to go in and get it all done in a few hours. Pace yourself. Don't spend more than 4-5 hours in one day trying to get it all accomplished at once. Better to take a break and come back to it.


• Be firm about getting rid of anything that no longer has any real value to them. Determine first what they will actually need once they move. Start with the basics, then add a few well-chosen items.
  
• Anything that cannot be used when they move into new space should be sorted into the following categories: Sell, Donate/Give Away, or Trash


• If there are items of value to be sold, such as antiques, art, furniture, household items, jewelry, cars, appliances, etc. the appropriate "sales vehicle" must be found. Get an experienced, trustworthy, and knowledgeable appraiser in to help you. Don't wing it. You could end up being sorry later.


• There are numerous ways to sell items, depending on what they are and their value. Auctions, estate sales, tag sales, consignment shops, Ebay, CraigsList, classified ads, art & antique dealers, junk dealers, used furniture dealers, flea markets, etc. Lots of options to choose from. You have to decide which method will work the best. A lot will depend on the type of items to be sold and your geographic area.


• The next way to get rid of items is to donate them. If they are in fairly good condition, still usable, but don't have a very high monetary value, they can be donated to places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, a community warehouse, Habitat for Humanity, a local homeless shelter, etc. Many non-profits can take used furniture, household items, older appliances, etc. and will give you a donation form which you can use for tax purposes. You can also donate clothing that is in good condition. Some schools may take art & craft supplies. Animal shelters always need old sheets, blankets, bedding, etc.


• You could also give away some items to family members and friends, as well as have them purchase some of the items (depending on the value).


• Anything that is being sold or donated should be inventoried. Keep a running list of various items as well as their potential value. Depending on how you are planning to sell various items, you may have several lists.
• You can prepare a "master list" on an Excel spreadsheet and then sort it down into separate categories.


• The rest of the stuff has to be trashed or thrown out. There are a few options depending on the amount of "stuff" to be thrown out and what type of "stuff" it is. If it includes old electronics, TV's, appliances, paint, household chemicals, then check your local regulations regarding disposal.


• You may also be able to recycle a lot of items, especially old newspapers, magazines, bottles, cans, glass, etc. You could also rent a dumpster and make arrangements for your local trash hauler to pick it up and dispose of once you're done.


• Old paperwork, files, checks, documents, etc. should be shredded to avoid having personal information get into the wrong hands.


• You may also be able to get a scrap metal dealer or junk dealer to haul things away - and possibly pay you for some of the stuff they are taking away.

After all the organizing & sorting work is done, then you can start to prepare the house for resale. That topic will be covered in a future post.

In the meantime, check my website for a list of services I can provide if you are planning to downsize or need help getting organized. I can also help you to stage your home to get it ready for resale.

You can also find some great products for organizing on my website. Go to my on-line shopping page for some great resources. My monthly specials include some great organizing sources, and you can also find books about organizing, clearing clutter, and simplifying your life on my website.

Until next time!