Home Organizing Tips

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Long before it is necessary, start organizing and documenting your wishes. This means putting your wishes for “who gets what” in writing, preferable a legally binding will. Hire a lawyer to prepare the will, or create one yourself online at a reputable online company (such as LegalZoom).

For example, if the eldest son is to inherit the family wedding ring so that he can keep it in the family, document it.  Without express written decisions made in advance, family disputes can rise up. Tell your heirs your wishes so there are no unpleasant surprises after you’re gone. ​

When a family member has passed away, the will is the legal document that has primary precedence is dividing up the remaining personal belongings, according to the law. It doesn’t matter if Grandma always told everyone that Billy should get the art collection: if it’s not in writing, it doesn’t legally count.  

If the deceased prepared an informal list of their wishes  (or marked items with labels, as some people do) AND the heirs can agree to it, try to honor those wishes.  The only people who financially benefit from estate battles are the lawyers involved. ​

If an ailing, aging parent remains in the home and starts “giving away” valuables or cash, the right thing to do is share that information with all the heirs.  Often times the adult child who is the perceived “favorite” benefits from this: this is a sure way to cause family disputes in the future. Take the high road and disclose to other heirs what has already been given to you.

After a family member passes, one of the very first things the Executor should do is change the locks to the house. This measure will prevent any neighbors, service providers, or unscrupulous heirs from “helping themselves” to belongings in the house. Nothing should be removed from the house until all the heirs can go through the home together. Always act with integrity and transparency to avoid family disputes over the belongings. ​

Take the time now to organize, document and talk about your inheritance wishes with your family.  It will solve future battles before they even begin. 

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.

​Whether you are organizing one room in your house or decluttering a home full of stuff, knowing how to efficiently sort is crucial to your success.  Professional Organizers use the tips and tricks on this checklist to help clients, and now I'm sharing those hacks with you. 

Before starting any organizing or decluttering job, make sure you have all the supplies you need before you get started. ​
Tools/ Supplies Needed:

• Post-it notes (consider the heavy ones) and/or painters tape
• Color coded dots (for larger jobs)
• Sturdy boxes/Packing materials/Packing tape
• Sharpies
• Trash Bags (preferably heavy duty)
• Sturdy Step Stool
• Work gloves

Logistics to Consider:

• Work when not hungry or tired
• Set small attainable goals
• Make work area safe (trip hazards, pets, temperature, pests)
• Clean as you go or do regular spot clean-ups

The first step is to sort your "keepers" into a pile or one area. Keep items that you love and actively use.  Items that aren't actively used should be moved into a long term storage area, such as a basement or attic. 
Tools/ Supplies Needed:

• archival photo boxes and vital document storage
• long term storage solutions (like large Rubbermaid bins)
• short term storage solutions to sort into

Logistics to Consider:
*available space in actively used items
*temperature variation in for long term solutions
*transporting “keepers” to new location, if applicable

Don't love it, but you'd like to make a little money from it?  Consider selling online or offline.
Tools/Supplies Needed:

• Internet connection

Logistics to Consider:

• Selling online?  Think about packaging and shipping costs for the item.
• Consigning locally?  Research how to transport items to the shop, the details of the contract, and how unsold items are disposed of.
• Safety first!  Use caution when meeting strangers and exchanging money. 

Related Articles
6 Things to Not Bother Collecting Anymore
Nobody Wants Family Heirlooms: What to Do When it Happens to You.
​Gift These 5 Wonderful Experiences To the Ones You Love..Instead of Buying "Stuff"

Have items that don't need to live with you anymore, but are still in great condition?  Give to a local charity. 
Tools Needed:

• Post-its or colored dots
• Bags or sturdy boxes to transport the items

Logistics to Consider:

• Document, document, document.  Itemize your donations if giving a large amount.  Check outhow to easily keep track of donations here.
• Whenever possible, schedule a pick-up for items at your home.  
• No pick-ups available?  Immediately put the donations in your trunk and drop off on your next round of errands. ​

Some things just need to be discarded.  If the items can't be sold or donated, its time for the trash/ recycling bin.  ​
Tools Needed:

• heavy duty trash bags
• floor protections for larger jobs (spills and scrapes)
• broom/dustpan and vacuum
• recycling bins

Logistics to Consider:

• Household hazardous waste disposal
• City trash + recycling pick-up and standards
• Rental of a dumpster
• Bulky item collection

Related Articles
HOW TO DOWNSIZE YOUR HOME BEFORE MOVING
4 Smart Ideas to Sell Your Stuff Offline and 1 Really Dumb One
with free printable How to Sell Items Offline Cheat Sheet
5 Tips to Sell Your Stuff Online
with free printable How to Sell Items Online Cheat Sheet

Using this checklist, you now have the tools to Keep, Sell, Donate or Discard when you are decluttering and organizing. 

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.

Decluttering your home and donating your items to local non-profit groups is a fantastic way to organize your home...and get a tax deduction. ​ 

​Disclaimer: This information is compiled from many sources and is not intended as tax, investment, financial planning or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. For tax, investment, financial planning or legal advice you are encouraged to consult with your personal advisers

When the organizing and decluttering bug strikes, separate things out to Keep, Discard, or Donate/Recycle piles.

• Keep: these should be items that are actively used, treasured, or loved.  
• Donate: make sure items being donating to charity are in “good or better” condition. Not only is it common sense to only donate quality items, but it’s also the guideline used by the IRS to qualify for a tax deduction.  So: discard/recycle sweat-stained undershirts, but donate the dress shirts that are in great shape but just don't fit anymore.
• Discard/Recycle: the hard truth is that some of the stuff in a home really is just garbage.  Old stained Tupperware that doesn’t have a lid? Toss it. The piles and piles of gift bags that get saved, but never reuse? Recycle them. ​

Trying to figure out what you can easily declutter AND have it make a difference in your local community?

• Do a quick Google search of “donation needs near me” and you'll likely hit the jackpot.
• Most shelters have their immediate needs posted on their websites. Toiletries and personal care items, including travel/ hotel size, are needed at nearly every shelter, all the time.
• Can’t find a local charity to take your item?  Post the item with a picture in the Free section of Craigslist or a Facebook group: it works!  Use caution: never disclose personal information or let strangers inside your home or garage.

Before donating, be sure you are giving to an organization that is a 501 (c)(3) by the IRS. These are organizations that are recognized by the IRS as being tax-exempt by virtue of their charitable programs.

“Big name” charities (think Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, or the Salvation Army) are no-brainers, but if you’re unsure about a group you’re thinking of giving to, you can always check their website or a site that vets non-profit groups, like Charity Navigator.

Have big stuff to donate, but no truck and/or the muscles to get it done?  Try the website Pick Up My Donation: they will find a non-profit group within 15 miles of your zip code and set up the pick-up, at no cost to you.  

Be sure you get a receipt or donation acceptance letter from the non-profit you give to. Keep a file in your glove box or console to organize on-the-go receipts, then transfer them into a permanent file in the house regularly.  

​Related Articles
Donate or Dumpster?: 3 Tips to Know What to Give Away vs. Throw Away
6 Things to Not Bother Collecting Anymore (and How to Tell What IS Worth Holding Onto)
How to Beautifully Stage Your Home So it Sells in a Flash​

Even though the standardized deduction for individuals and married couples has increased in 2018, it’s still a good idea to keep records of your charitable giving.

Keep track of what you give!  

• Small to medium load: a great way to keep track of items you give to charity is by using an app on your smartphone. The Its Deductible app lets you input your organization, then easily guides you through lists of items, complete with standardized values. At the end of each giving transaction, you can save the report and use it at tax time.
• Large load or house/estate clean out: take the time to document your donation inventory by hand. Document the item, condition, and value. Use a standardized donation valuation guide, such as the Salvation Army one, to tally up your donation.  Any Estate Clearing professional worth their salt will include this in their service package; however, if you are doing a home or estate clean out on your own, be sure to document, document, document. ​

Decluttering, donating and deducting is a great way to organize your home, while making a difference in your community at the same time. ​
​
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:
Sometimes You Can’t Do it on Your Own: When it’s Time to Throw in the Towel and Hire an Estate Clearing Professional to Help you Finish the Job.
Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When it Happens to You
5 Steps to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter
​

How do you know which things in your collections have lost value over the years, and which are worth keeping? It can be tough to tell!

Items that your parents (or you) paid a lot of money for back in the day are now worth much, much less than was paid for them.  An aging population has caused a heavily flooded market,  making "valuables" less so.  

As a Professional Organizer and Estate Clearing Specialist, I see a lot of these collectibles in homes.  Some are worth keeping, but unfortunately, most are not. 

 Many American households have some sort of collectible figurines or commemorative plates displayed or stored somewhere. While values for these items once were high, that isn’t the case any longer.  Figurines and commemorative plates were often mass-produced and released slowly as “limited editions”, giving the illusion of scarcity.
Well-known brands that have lost value:
(Note: the link goes to "sold" prices on Ebay)

• Hummel and Goebel  (figurines + plates)
• Lladros (figurines)
• Precious Moments (figurines)
• Franklin Mint (plates)
• Norman Rockwell (plates)
• Royal Doulton (plates and figurines)

Although there is sentimental value to toys,  mass production and wear + tear often leads to lowered values.  In addition, a “craze” can inflate values for a period, but often decreases after the hype dies down.  For example, most Beanie Babies sell on Ebay for $5 or less, if they sell at all.
Once valuable, now not-so-much items:

• Beanie Babies
• Hot Wheels
• Cabbage Patch Kids
• Happy Meal toys
• Barbies​

A generation or two ago, newly married couples loved purchasing china patterns, crystal, and silverplate items.  Modern couples today are of the “Ikea generations”: they don’t want and don’t use this stuff.

So as the population ages, the market has become flooded with people trying to cash in on the value of these things. Don’t get your hopes up: there is very little value in most of the items in your parents’ china cabinet.
Common brands that have lost significant value:

• Lenox
• Spode
• Wedgwood
• Waterford
• Reed and Barton ​

Google is a good start to determine the value of an item, but don’t expect to sell your item for retail.  Once you've done some research, it’s easy to find comparable values on Ebay. But it is VERY important that you look at the completed sales there ( click on “show only sold items”: the sold prices are listed in green).  This shows what things actually sold for, not what they were listed for, which is usually retail price or higher.

Forbes. com gives this advice: "The most important advice we can give, and consequently the most difficult to digest, is to absolutely forget what the purchaser paid and to instead look at these possessions from the perspective of a third party — someone who knows nothing about your history or shares one shred of your taste. Once you remove the expectations of financial reimbursement and sentiment, it will be far easier to process the estate in an orderly and stress-free manner.” 

When reviewing your collections and family “heirlooms”, do your research before selling.  Because values have dropped for many collectibles over the years, you may be holding onto things that just aren’t worth it anymore. 

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:
5 Steps to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter
With Declutter + Downsize Sentimental Items Game Plan
Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
With Downsizing Your Home Emotional Roadmap

When nobody wants the family heirlooms anymore, what can you do?

As more and more of the US population ages, downsizes, and passes away there is a tremendous amount of STUFF flooding the market. Younger generations are faced with inheriting a sizable amount of family heirlooms, but their homes are already full. It seems nobody wants the family heirlooms anymore.  So what can you do when it happens to you?  
 
In this article, we'll discuss some options for what to do with the family heirlooms when nobody wants them. As a bonus for readers, we are sharing this free printable Declutter + Downsize Family Heirlooms Game Plan.
​

Perhaps the toughest thing to deal with is managing expectations about family heirlooms. ​Items that have been in the family for decades are automatically passed down to the next generation...whether they like it or not. 

Obviously, there are many family heirlooms that are truly treasured and gratefully accepted.  However, there are also heirlooms that younger generations accept out of a sense of duty, guilt, or without even being asked if they want. 

Burden vs. Joy
If you're soon-to-be-inheriting, carefully consider what you honestly want to accept.  Accepting a family heirloom should be a joy, not a burden to carry. If you do not have the space for the item, respectfully decline to take it. If the item causes you emotional or financial distress, don't take it. Think of it this way: would your grandmother want you to have to pay for a storage unit so you can keep her dining room table? 

The Guilt
Often times, it is guilt that forces us to take things we really don't want. Human beings have the tendency to merge their emotions for a person into the THINGS that person owned.  But remember: it is just a THING, not a person.  Your love for your great aunt isn't lessened because you don't want her silver tea set.  You still love her...you just don't love tea sets. 

Things Nobody Ever Wants
There are things that get held onto and passed down that nobody ever wants.  Letters written in anger, racist antiques, and ashes of the deceased top the list. If an heirloom makes you feel sad, ashamed, or unjustly burdened, give yourself permission to get rid of it.  The things that live in your house should make you feel happy.

Tacky and outdated collections are another thing nobody ever wants.  Consider selling or donating items you know you will never even take out of the box. 

Related articles:
Help Organize Your Aging Parents (While They are Young + Healthy)
Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
Declutter, Donate, and Deduct

​If you have family heirlooms in your home, consider different options for using them.  For instance, if you inherited gold rimmed wine glasses, think about using them for your everyday glasses. Sure, the gold will wear off, but if nobody wants to take the glasses in the future, isn't it better to get some use out of them?

Another idea is to frame the heirloom and display it in your house.  Baptismal gowns, old letters and recipes, photographs, and military awards all lend themselves to display in shadowboxes. Have items professionally framed to preserve them. 

Perhaps one of the best ideas I've come across is giving the item a "Victory Lap". Let's say you've inherited the family wedding china...which has been packed away and sitting in your attic since you got it.  Using the Victory Lap concept, you would make an event out of using it one last time.

Unpack the china and set your table with it.  Invite as many family members as you can for dinner to use the china, even if it's just takeout pizza. During dinner, reminisce about the family member that owned the china and take lots of photographs. Offer each family member a place setting to take home. Pack up and donate the remaining pieces to charity.  Be sure to share the photos with your family. 

​If you've inherited a large collection that you do not want or have the space for, think about cutting it down.  For instance, if you've come into a large collection of Depression glass, choose 1 or 2 meaningful pieces and sell or donate the rest. 

If it is a collection you'll never use or display, give yourself permission to let it go.  You may feel guilty for selling or donating am family heirloom collection that a grandparent spent years building, but remember: theses are just THINGS, not a person.   You still love your grandparent even if you donated their Depression glass collection.

​Consider the historical significance of family heirlooms or collections and donate items where they will be treasured.    For example, wartime memorabilia may be appreciated by the local VFW post.  Old sports trophies and yearbooks may be of interest to the local high school. Research local historical societies, museums, universities, and service organizations. Things that nobody in your family wants may be welcomed elsewhere. 

​When selling antiques and family heirlooms, it is important to do your research.  Sometimes a simple online search will give you a rough idea whether an items holds any financial value or not. 

The best advice is to consult with a reputable certified appraiser.  Having a professional appraiser look at your items is worth the reasonable fee they charge.  Professionals can keep you from throwing away things your thought were fakes (such as jewelry) and give you an idea of what an item may be worth. 

If selling items yourself, use extreme caution. Be sure to only accept cash from buyers, meet at a safe public location, and have another person with you.  You can never be too careful.  

​Related Articles:

• Mom, We Have to Talk: 5 Ways to Discuss Downsizing with your Aging Parents
• Assess the Mess: How to Plan out Downsizing a Home
• 4 Smart Ideas for Selling Your Stuff Offline...and 1 Really Dumb One
  
• ​​Sometimes You Can’t Do it on Your Own: When it’s Time to Throw in the Towel and Hire an Estate Clearing Professional to Help you Finish the Job.

When nobody wants the family heirlooms, it can be difficult to figure out what to do.  You have several options, from saying "no" to taking the items to selling the items. Weigh your options carefully and make the decision that works best for you, your family, and your circumstance. 

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.