Pea Organizing Services - organize clutter, simplify, Charlotte NC

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Newsletter - August 2006

Greetings!

Welcome to the Summer edition of the Pea Organizing Services Newsletter! This information will be helpful as you organize your home, office and life.

If you have an organizing question that is not answered in this newsletter, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks for subscribing and have a peaceful and organized summer!

Kristin White del Rosso

Staging Your Home to Sell

Ah, the dog days of summer –- one of the most relaxing and carefree seasons of the year. For many people, this means enjoying a cold glass of lemonade on the patio, having cookouts with friends and neighbors, and a doing an array of outdoor activities. With summer being one of the busiest times of year for the housing market, it can be a stressful season for those who are selling their house.

Having a home on the market is stressful not just because you might be anxious to sell it, but also because your home always needs to be in tip-top shape. That means, no dirty dishes can be left in the sink after breakfast, no laundry baskets left out, no shoes on the stairs and the list goes on ...

If you are in the process of or are considering putting your house on the market, my biggest advice is to clear the clutter to get the most for your house. Invest some time and resources to help stage your home to sell and to make showing your home easier on you as well.

Just a few simple changes can make a home more appealing to any buyer. It’s a win-win situation because if you decide to stay, you will enjoy a fresh and clutter free home as well.

The following are some tips to help prepare your home to go on the market:

Ask yourself what is the purpose of each room in your house. Does its layout clearly reflect that purpose?
Box up clutter. Decorative boxes keep clutter under control without fuss. Put the boxes at locations throughout the home that attract the most clutter to make clean up fast and easy.
Clear out excess photographs, collections and decorative items. It’s a matter of personal taste and yours might not match the potential buyer’s. They cannot picture themselves in a home that is full of your personal items.
Bring the outside in. Keep some fresh cut flowers and/or plants in the house.
Use fresh paint in neutral or soothing colors like sage green. Recaulk discolored caulk areas or to fill holes.
Group furniture so it is inviting and functional. Do not keep all furniture against a wall. Also lay it out to feature focal points like a fireplace or large window.
Make sure rooms have good lighting.
Make rooms appear larger by cutting down on excess furniture pieces. Take an extra leaf out of the dining room table. Take out one of the twin beds. Replace a couch with a loveseat in a small area.
Keep the house clean. This will help save precious time when you get the last-minute call from a real estate agent wanting to show your home to a potential buyer.

Organizing a Move

While the anticipation of moving into a new home is exciting, it can also be very stressful. You have boxes to pack, your current and new home to clean, and a truckload of items to unpack and set up. The key is being organized to help alleviate many of the stresses associated with moving. Here are some tips to help your move go more smoothly:

Pack a few boxes at a time so it won’t be such a chore. Set a timer or make a checklist of what to get done before you stop.
Designate one room on each floor or a space in each area for boxes only. Be sure to keep free zones where you need to walk and get around in your home until the move.
Label all boxes with the room where they are to be placed.
Purge items before packing. Don’t move things just to throw them out later.
Use house plans for you new space to draw out where items will go. Label and make signs to help yourself and the movers.
Unpack one room fully right away to create a useful and peaceful room to enjoy while the rest of the house is still in limbo.
Remember you have to carry and unpack what you pack. Use small boxes for heavy items like books. Your back will thank you!
Remember to keep on hand the moving day essentials: maps and directions to your new home, paperwork and payment for the movers, utility company information, medication for family and pets, trash bags, toiletries and a change of clothing, flashlights, telephones or cell phones, cleaning supplies, snacks and drinks, basic tools and pens and writing pads.

If you are planning to move, Pea Organizing can help by:

De-cluttering your home to help you sell your home more quickly and for the best possible price.
Sorting, purging and packing home or office contents.
Planning, unpacking and organizing your new home or office so you can easily find everything you need.

Tips for Planning a Great Vacation

With summer upon us, we are officially in vacation season. Whether it’s prepping for a long weekend at the beach, a 10-day cruise or an adventure abroad, it’s important to make the most of your time away from work and the routine of life. The key to coordinating a wonderful and enjoyable vacation is to be organized and prepared ahead of time.

Planning the little details can make a huge impact on how much you enjoy your vacation. Make it a relaxing one by following these simple tips.

· Tip #1: Create a travel file for your upcoming trip. Put all information such as tickets, maps and contact details in the file as soon as they come in. This organizing system will help you keep track of the information in a convenient way and will also enable you to grab the file and go when you’re ready to head out of town.

· Tip #2: Plan your wardrobe and make a packing list. Check www.weather.com and get an upcoming forecast. Think about what you will be doing on your trip and plan accordingly. Over packing just adds to the stress, so really think about what you need and pack only those items. Consider pairing several different shirts with a pair of shorts or a skirt to stretch your wardrobe options. Also, find out if where you are staying has laundry facilities, so you can wash clothes if need be.

· Tip #3: Pack a carry-on bag that you can keep with you at all times. Include items to keep you and your family occupied during waiting times like card games, an iPod or travel DVD player. Take items you need for the first night (toothbrush, fresh clothes) in case your luggage is lost.

· Tip #4: Use a travel checklist and keep it in your file. Once you have created the checklist, you can use it for all future trips to save time and make sure you remember what you need to pack. For example, I find it really helps me to sleep if I take a certain pillow and a sound machine. By keeping these items on the checklist I never forget to take them.

· Tip #5: Help your children pack their own bags and make sure their luggage is small and light enough so that they can carry them. Go through the same questions you ask yourself to make sure you take what you need and do not over pack.

· Tip #6: If you are driving, make sure you have a current map and directions. Download your directions from www.MapQuest.co m, or if you are a member of AAA ask for a TripTik for the best route to your destination. If you are flying, but plan to take a taxi from the airport, make sure you have the directions to and address of the hotel for the cab driver. The more information you have the better (and it should all be in your travel file.)

· Tip #7: Make plans ahead of time to prepare your home while you are away so that your house does not look abandoned. Temporarily stop delivery of your newspaper, put a vacation hold on your mail or line up a neighbor to collect your mail and water your plants. Put your porch lights and an inside light on automatic timers.

· Tip #8: Unless you are bringing your pet (s) with you on vacation, make sure you have proper care lined up for them. If you are reserving kennel space, do so as far as possible in advance and make sure your pet’s vaccination records are current, which is a requirement of kennels. If a friend or neighbor is caring for your pet(s), prepare written instructions that include your contact numbers, the veterinarian’s number, feeding instructions and home alarm pass code if you have an alarm system. Give them a copy of the instructions with your house key and leave an additional copy inside your home so they can easily refer to it. Don’t ever leave the instructions in a neighbor’s mailbox or someplace else where it is at risk of being stolen.

Summer Dates to Remember

July 3-7: Take Charge of Change Week
August: Get Organized for Back to School Month
September: ADD/ADHD Month
September 14: Owner, Kristin del Rosso will participate on a panel for business efficiency at the National Association of Food Editors conference in Charlotte.

ADD/ADHD Information

Find my listing and those of other ADHD service providers in the National ADHD Directory, which is hosted by the national non-profit organization ADD Resources. Their Web site, in addition to the Directory, has numerous articles written by national ADHD authorities as well as adults with ADHD. They also offer membership which includes the 138-page ADDult Reader; an 8-page quarterly newsletter, ADDult ADDvice; and access to their lending library with over 450 ADHD titles in books, audiotapes and videotapes.

Visit the ADD Resources website

Quotes to Ponder

“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.” by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible." by Chretien Malesherbes

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." by Jawaharlal Nehru

Recommended Reading

“Organize Your Garage In No Time” by Barry Izsak

“The Procrastinator’s Handbook” by Rita Emmett

“How to be Organized In Spite of Yourself” by Sunny Schlenger and Roberta Roesch

POS News and Notes

[March 20, 2006] CHARLOTTE - Kristin White del Rosso, president of Charlotte-based Pea Organizing Services Inc., presented "Organizing Strategies for Hoarders and the Chronically Disorganized" to the Hoarding Support Group at the Cameron Valley Psychotherapy & Counseling Associates offices, located at 6809 and 6719 Fairview Rd.

[April 17, 2006] CHARLOTTE - Kristin White del Rosso, president of Charlotte-based Pea Organizing Services Inc., was featured on 1110 WBT’s “Charlotte Morning News Sunday Edition” with Don Russell where she provided tips on organizing paperwork for filing taxes.

[April 24, 2006] CHARLOTTE – Frances D’Amato, Organizing Consultant with Pea Organizing Services Inc., presented “Is there a Dinosaur in Your Attic? Let’s Organize for a Better Life” to the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment.

Newest Addition to Pea Organizing Services

Please join me in welcoming Carol McIntyre to our team. Carol has joined Pea Organizing Services Inc. as an organizing consultant. Her background includes a degree in Human Resources Management and a paralegal certificate. She has 18 years of progressive experience in a variety of business and service environments where she utilized her organizational skills to improve departmental efficiency. Welcome Carol!