Category: Downsizing Your Home

Your Guilt-Free Decluttering List

9/3/2019

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Before you can get properly organized, it is important to declutter your home! Now wait, I can already hear you saying, "That's great Candi, but where do I START?!" I totally understand what you mean. It can be hard to decide what to give away and what to keep especially when we feel attached many items in our home. How many times have you thought, "Well, maybe I'll need this sometime in the distant future?" or "What if I regret/feel guilty about getting rid of this?" I know the feeling and that is why I am here to help!

I have compiled a short list of 15 items you should NOT feel bad about getting rid of. Whether you are planning on moving, recently moved, or just plain tired of the disorganization, this list will guide you in starting to declutter your home.

Some items on the list can definitely be thrown away, but I highly recommend you consider the condition of the item first and if it should be donated so that somebody else can benefit from it.

Your GUILT-FREE Decluttering List

1. Old nail polishes and expired skincare/makeup

2. Clothing you haven't worn in years or clothing you bought years ago but never wore

3. Games and puzzles with missing pieces

4. Old children's toys and dog toys (this is important not only for decluttering but for sanitary purposes too!)

5. Books, including recipe books, that you don't plan on reading again or reading at all (be honest with yourself here)

6. Mostly empty cleaning supplies/bottles and condiment bottles

7. Broken jewelry or jewelry you never wear including watches

8. Old receipts, coupons, flyers, notes, and paper (If there is info you REALLY need, transfer it to a document on your computer/phone!)

9. Children's art work, completed school work, and old baby clothes... narrow down to just a few of these if you want memories or take photos on your phone. I know it can be hard, but you definitely don't need all of it!

10. Pens, markers, and any other craft supplies that are old or excessive

11. Old/frayed underwear, socks, and undergarments

12. Plastic bags from grocery and shopping stores

13. DVD's, CD's, and VCR tapes as well as old electronic players

14. Old, damaged cooking utensils such as spatulas and cooking spoons

15. Old or worn rugs, towels, and blankets (I especially like to switch out my old hand towels with new ones so I always have bright white and fresh towels in the bathroom!)

Phew, and that's it folks! Of course, this isn't a comprehensive list for everything you need to get rid of, but it's a good place to start. And, let me remind you one last time, you do NOT need to feel guilty about throwing away or donating any of the items I listed!

If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. onPinterest!

Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today!
Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

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Unclog your Beauty Drawer with these 5 Hacks

5/7/2019

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Makeup: a love-hate relationship. It can be fun to experiment with new makeup products and try out the trendiest lipstick shades, but after the shopping-adrenaline wears off, the sheer number of cosmetic products we each own can be truly overwhelming. Concealers, foundations, eyeshadows, eyeliners, mascaras, blushes, bronzers- the majority of our makeup comes in small, individual containers. With all these small products, it can be hard to have a functional cosmetic organization system. Stop feeling like your makeup storage is grimy and embarrassing and follow these 5 hacks for a clean, organized space to hold your makeup goodies:

1. Throw away all expired makeup/makeup you don't use

A lot of people don't realize that makeup products expire. Each item of makeup should have a small picture of container on it with how many months the makeup is good for. For instance, the back of my bronzer says "24M" inside the picture of the container meaning it expires in 24 months. Keeping old makeup not only clogs up your pores, it clogs up your storage too! While you are checking the expiration dates on your products, also think, "When was the last time I used this?" Just because it isn't expired, doesn't mean it deserves a place in your drawer. It can be hard to part with makeup but once you throw away makeup you aren't using, it will make you more conscious the next time you go shopping. Check out this chart to help if you still have questions about when your makeup expires!

2. Categorize and label your makeup

This is a personal favorite of mine! I separate all of my makeup by which part of my face I use it on: eyes, lips, brows, cheeks, face. By categorizing and labeling makeup this way, it will shorten how long it takes for you to get ready. It can be so frustrating in the morning digging through bronzers and eyebrow gels just to find the mascara tube you use everyday. Stop the search in the morning and feel relived in KNOWING where each of your products are. The labeling system is also a great way to maintain organization by having a home for everything. Interested in knowing more about maintaining organization at home? Check out this past blog post!

3. Opt for acrylic containers

Acrylic containers are so pretty, so trendy, and so FUNCTIONAL. Clear containers help you see all of your products which prevents you from buying makeup you already have! Additionally, acrylic makeup organization makes it easier for you to find what you're looking for and reduce how often you misplace cosmetics. Not to mention, acrylic containers are easy to clean with just a swipe as opposed to containers that have fabric accents.

4. Keep products that need to be finished at the front

This tips goes alongside tip number one. When we get home with that new eyeliner, sometimes we forget about the perfectly good eyeliner that we've been using! Try to finish off the products you are currently using before moving on to the new products. This way you prevent wasting perfectly good product and get all of your money's worth! Also, jumping into your new makeup before finishing other makeup is a recipe for clutter and disorganization.

5. Get creative with what you use to hold your makeup

Don't feel discouraged if you don't want to spend a lot of money on fancy, makeup specific organizing products. Get creative with your makeup products and think about other affordable organization products you use at home. Spice racks, utensil organizers, magnet boards, mason jars, candle jars, letter organizers, wine racks, hanging shoe organizers, even ice cube trays are just a few options to use for your cosmetics.

With these 5 tips, you'll be able to keep your makeup drawer or vanity in tip top shape. These tips also are useful for haircare and skincare products as well. Makeup organization is a great way to keep clean which is especially important when is involves what we put on our skin! Additionally, it can help reduce wasting money on products we already have (not that I have ever done that before *sarcasm*! Eeek!) and help us create a more efficient makeup routine. It's hard to know which products work best for you when you struggle to find them or are using expired ones.

If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest!

Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today!

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

Related Articles:
Hoarder, Pack-rat, or Just Messy: 3 Ways to Tell the Difference
   Declutter, Donate, and Deduct
  6 Things to Not Bother Collecting Anymore

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How to Know if it is Time for you to Downsize

4/11/2019

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Many of us grow up dreaming about the big, beautiful home we are going to have with our spouse and future children. We drive through neighborhoods in our hometowns thinking about what our ideal home would look like and fantasize about each family member having their own bathroom!

However, there comes a point in time where we reconsider what we truly want. Is a big home really what we still want later in life? It is normal to think maybe it is time to downsize once all the kids are grown, but it is also hard to let go of the house we have a sentimental attachment to and where sweet memories were created.

Though it can be emotionally confusing, downsizing may be a great decision for you. Sage Organizing Co. is here to give you a few ways to know if downsizing is right for you.

1. You're struggling to keep up with the maintenance and necessary repairs

Whether it be financially, physically, or emotionally, if keeping up with home maintenance and repairs is difficult, it may be time for you to consider downsizing. It can be terribly frustrating when it feels like there is ALWAYS something to be fixed in your house. Right when you're done fixing and paying for one repair, another thing breaks! Not only is this frustrating but constant repairs and maintenance is time-consuming and expensive. The smaller the house you live in, the fewer things there are to break and keep up with.

2. You're planning on retiring soon and live far from family

Many people decide to downsize once they retire as this leaves more flexibility in retirement income. Additionally, it gives you more time to focus on your health and happiness. Many people who plan on retiring soon decide on a smaller home without steps that will be hassle-free. Downsizing is also a perfect opportunity for retirees to move close to children and grandchildren who can help in the future.

3. You feel overwhelmed with all of your "stuff"

We often feel a need to fill all the empty space once we move into a big house. As time passes, "stuff" accumulates. Sometimes you look around the house and don't even realize all the things you own! Other times we prefer to live in denial and never open the forbidden cabinets that have an unknown number of items in them. Once you've truly accepted that less really is more, it may be time for you to downsize. A smaller home will force you to reduce the stuff you have and really focus on what you truly need.

4. You feel "house poor" and sacrifice dreams because of it

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If housing costs are preventing you from traveling and enjoying life's luxuries, downsizing is probably a good option for you. Moving into a smaller home or even an apartment/condo/townhome requires little maintenance which makes it possible for you to travel for longer periods and have the money to do so! Even if traveling isn't your thing, downsizing frees up money that can be spent on the things you are really wanting to try.

Even if you now see that downsizing is right for you, you may be worried about the stress and complication of the process.
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Not only do you have to move your things, you also have to decide what you want to keep and what you want to discard. THEN, you have to figure out the best way to discard your unwanted things.⠀
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Skip the stress and call Sage! Sage Organizing Co. will help you organize your valuables, pack them, and donate your unwanted items to local charities. ♻️⠀Comment below with any questions!
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Let Sage make your downsize go smoothly and put your unwanted things to good use around the community. Contact us for more information!

Related Articles:
HOW TO BEAUTIFULLY STAGE YOUR HOME SO IT SELLS IN A FLASH
5 STEPS TO SELL YOUR STUFF ONLINE (WITH PRINTABLE CHEAT SHEET)
HOW TO SORT LIKE A PRO: ADVICE FROM A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER

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How to Beautifully Stage your Home so it Sells in a Flash

10/7/2018

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If you want to stage your home so it sells in a flash, 93% of Realtors highly recommend that you declutter and organize the house first. Having a house that potential buyers can imagine themselves living in takes some work, but it pays off in higher sale prices and shorter time on market.

In this article, we'll be sharing ideas for organizing and staging the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen, so you you can sell you house faster. AreaReal Estate professional Leigh Bryant, of The Temple Team at Keller Williams, will also share some of the tricks of the trade with our readers.

Source: National Association of Realtors 2017 Profile of Home Staging

Here are 9 home staging ideas to sell your house quickly...

Living Room

Paint your walls a neutral color: now is NOT the time to show your personality through color. Potential buyers want to be able to envision themselves living in the home; it's tough if they are distracted by blazing lime green walls. Freshen the space up with a new coat of a soothing, neutral color.
DECLUTTER: this is the number one piece of advice Realtors give to their sellers. Warning: Do NOT "hide" the excess clutter in closets....buyers look in closets, too. Remove excess clutter, box it up and put into storage.
Help buyers imagine living there. Create "cozy" vignettes, like a quiet reading nook in the corner.

Pro tip from Real Estate professional Leigh Bryant of The Temple Team at Keller Williams: The day the house is photographed for the online listing is the most important day of the selling process. The house should be perfectly staged for photos: those pictures are what cause buyers to want to visit your home...or not.

Need help Decluttering?

Master bEDROOM

Remove all personal items. Yes: even your wedding photos, photos of your children, and any religious icons. Same goes for any clothing, personal care items (like perfume bottles), and artwork. There should be no evidence of the people that live in the home.
Stage the closets, too. Buyers are always thinking about storage space; show case the available space in the closets. Real Estate professional Leigh Bryant suggests that clients "channel Martha Stewart" whenorganizing their closets before photographs and showings. A good suggestion is to have the closets 50% empty.
Make the room calming and spa-like. The room should be well-lit, be spotlessly clean, and smells pleasing. Creating vignettes, like a reading area or a window seat, helps the buyers envision how they would use the space.

Pro Tip from Professional Organizer Candi Ruppert of Sage Organizing Co.: to make your closet appear larger, use hangers of the same color throughout the whole closet. Organize the shortest garments at the front of the closet and the longer items toward the back.

Related Articles:

4 Kitchen Organizing Secrets That Will Blow Your Mind

KITCHEN

Pay special attention to decluttering and organizing the cabinets and drawers. Home buyers can and will look inside your cabinets to assess the storage space. Cabinets and drawers should be 50% empty, clean and look like a Crate and Barrel display. Box up and put your excess kitchen items in storage.
Only leave 2 appliances on the counter-top, at the most. A coffee-maker is acceptable, but make every effort to not have anything else on the counter. Your counters should be clean, empty, and showcase the space.
Create a pretty scene at the sink. Your sink should be spotlessly clean and smell like heaven (run lemons through the disposal if odor is an issue). Have a pretty dishtowel, some fancy dish soap and a new washcloth/sponge laid out.

Pro Tip from Real Estate Professional Leigh Bryant: Don't let the decision of whether to hire a staging expert come down to money. 90% of the time, the cost of hiring a stager is recouped in a higher sale price or shorter time on market.

get help decluttering and organizing

Related Articles:

Ready, set, Stage!

Using these 9 tips and ideas will help you beautifully stage your home so it sells in a flash!

Leigh Bryant is the Director of Sales and Expansion Partner for The Temple Team in Charlotte, NC. Contact her here.

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Organize your
home + Life

Your Guilt-Free Decluttering List

Unclog your Beauty Drawer with these 5 Hacks

1. Throw away all expired makeup/makeup you don't use

2. Categorize and label your makeup

3. Opt for acrylic containers

4. Keep products that need to be finished at the front

5. Get creative with what you use to hold your makeup

How to Know if it is Time for you to Downsize

1. You're struggling to keep up with the maintenance and necessary repairs

2. You're planning on retiring soon and live far from family

3. You feel overwhelmed with all of your "stuff"

4. You feel "house poor" and sacrifice dreams because of it

How to Beautifully Stage your Home so it Sells in a Flash

Here are 9 home staging ideas to sell your house quickly...

Living Room

Master bEDROOM

KITCHEN

Ready, set, Stage!

Hey There!
I'm Candi.

Categories

Looking for something?

Archives

Want to work together?

Company

Social

Support

Sign up for our Free Organizing Tips

Organize your​home + Life

Your Guilt-Free Decluttering List

Unclog your Beauty Drawer with these 5 Hacks

1. Throw away all expired makeup/makeup you don't use

2. Categorize and label your makeup

3. Opt for acrylic containers

4. Keep products that need to be finished at the front

5. Get creative with what you use to hold your makeup

How to Know if it is Time for you to Downsize

1. You're struggling to keep up with the maintenance and necessary repairs

2. You're planning on retiring soon and live far from family

3. You feel overwhelmed with all of your "stuff"

4. You feel "house poor" and sacrifice dreams because of it

How to Beautifully Stage your Home so it Sells in a Flash

Here are 9 home staging ideas to sell your house quickly...

Living Room

Master bEDROOM

KITCHEN

Ready, set, Stage!

Hey There!​I'm Candi.

Categories

Looking for something?

Archives

Want to work together?

​Company

Social

Support

Sign up for our Free Organizing Tips

Organize your
home + Life

Hey There!
I'm Candi.

Company