Home Organizing Tips

Hiya fellow Quarantine Queens!
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I've been seeing a lot of posts swirling around the internet about banana bread, Tik Tok dances, and other activities to keep us busy at home. Many of my friends have texting me asking, "Alright Candi, I finally have some time to get my life together. I want to get an organizing project done but not sure what to tackle?"

I don't know about you all, but being in quarantine has not only freed up some time for me, it has also made me think about organizing some of the essential "crisis" paperwork. Now, you may be wondering, "Candi, my favorite professional organizer, what in the world is 'crisis' paperwork!?" Well, I am so glad you asked! I'm about to fill you in. 

Crisis paperwork is paperwork that is important and and helpful during . . . you guessed it. . . a crisis- I'm here all night ladies and gentleman, well, and morning and afternoon, actually right now I'm here at home everyday all day. Okay okay, back to paperwork organization. Crisis paperwork, you may find, is what many consider death or doom + gloom paperwork. However, I have found:

Using the phrase "Death Papers:"
-Major bummer
-Feelings of sadness
-Denial settles in

Using the phrase "Crisis Papers:"
-Confident
-Feelings of preparedness
-Ready to take on the world

As an estate clearing professional, I have seen the tremendous confusion and concerns that have arisen when a crisis occurs and necessary paperwork/important documents are either uncompleted and/or can't be located. During a crisis, emotions are already running high and stress is inevitable. Make it easier for you and/or your loved ones by identifying and completing your crisis paperwork NOW and organizing it in a designated space away from other miscellaneous paper.

Here are the three categories of paperwork to organize your life for a crisis:

1. Healthcare Forms
Healthcare forms that are essential to have finished and organized before a crisis include Healthcare Power of Attorney AND a Living Will. These two documents often go hand-in-hand and help protect your wishes as far as health and medical care while you are still alive. There are many situations and crises that would involve you being alive but unable to communicate what kind of medical treatment you want.

Now, let me tell you why it's important to have BOTH of these documents. A Living Will lists out your desire or refusal of medical treatment if you are either permanently unconscious or terminally ill. This is an important document to organize before a crisis like the above to reduce emotional stress on loved ones as best as possible and to ensure you are being cared for the way YOU want. However, a Living Will is only used if the patient is deemed permanently unconscious.

If you are temporarily incapacitated and are expected to recover, a Living Will does not take effect, therefore; the only person who could make medical decisions on your behalf (even if you're in a freakin' coma) would be a pre-designated Health Care Power of Attorney-- this is why it is ESSENTIAL to have both of these forms completed. I have conveniently included a link to your Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will combined form ONLINE here. Take the time now in quarantine to go online and complete these essential documents to protect yourself and reduce the strain on family members.

PRO TIP: Once you're done completing the forms, make sure your Health Care Power of Attorney has the original copy deeming his or her authority, you have a copy, and your healthcare providers also have a copy to put in your medical records.

2. Vital Life Documents
This category of documents includes:

• Birth certificates/Adoption certificates (Make sure to have the certificates for yourself, your partner and children- especially if they are still at home)

 

• Marriage licenses/certificates, divorce decrees

 

• Driver's licenses, passports, social security cards

 

• Death certificates of family members

 

• Property and Auto Records including leases, deeds, and titles

I HIGHLY recommend ordering an accordion file folder like this one on Amazon to keep all of your vital life documents together. Take advantage of the labels and use the bullets I listed above to create labels for each pocket. One step further, add a large label to the outside of the folder that says "Vital Life Docs." You don't need a fancy label maker, paper and tape work great! If you have a home office, store the accordion file there. If not, find another easy to access place.

3. Legacy Documents
Legacy documents you should organize in case of a crisis are Last Will + Testament, records of all banking accounts, and list of all insurance policies.

A Last Will and Testament is defined by LegalZoom.com as "A legal document that lets you, the testator (the person making the will), designate individuals or charities to receive your property and possessions when you pass away. . . A last will also allows you to name a guardian to care for minor children. The main purpose of a will is to ensure that the testator's wishes, and not the default laws of the state, will be followed upon the testator's death."

This form is pretty self explanatory on why it is extremely important to have completed and organized before a crisis. You can easily create your Last Will and Testament online with Legal Zoom here.

You'll also need to create a list of bank, investment, retirement/pension account numbers to ensure that all accounts are protected and resolved in case of a serious crisis. Lastly, compile all of your insurance policies-- most importantly your life insurance policy! Again, I highly recommend grabbing a second accordion file for this category of paperwork and following the instructions in step two for these documents.

Phew, and that's all I got for you today folks! I GUARANTEE if you take the time to complete and organize the above documents, you will feel like you have your life together and more importantly you will be PREPARED in case of a crisis. Quarantine time really puts things into perspective and reminds us how fragile and valuable life is. Take care of yourself and make things easier on trusted family and friends by organizing the above "Crisis Paperwork." 

Have questions on any of the listed forms or documents? Comment below!

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

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.

​At some point, every family in America will be faced with the task of helping their aging parents downsize a home that has probably been lived in for decades.  Whether the downsize is to move to a smaller home or an assisted living facility, it can be a tremendously overwhelming process. Where things get tricky, of course, is figuring out what to do with a lifetime of possessions. A home is museum of your family’s life, so it can be emotionally difficult to let things go.
 
In this post, I’ll share the 5 keys to success for a downsizing project.  As a bonus, I’ve created this FREE Discussion Cheat Sheet.  Click to download. 

Don’t try to downsize the whole house at once: just take it one room at a time. For the first room, choose a room that has the least amount of items in it.  That way when you’ve completed that room you have a small success under your belt and it will motivate you to keep going.

Be aware and respect the fact that there is emotional weight attached to many of the items in every house.  You will probably hear “that belonged to my mother/grandparent” more times than you can count. Be patient and take breaks if you start to feel frustrated. 

It will take some strict self-enforcement, but as you review items, stick to Yes or No, but never Maybe.  If you allow Maybes, it becomes the “dumping ground” for things that you will have to review again.  Anything that is a Yes should have a specific place, purpose, or plan for the new home. A No should be separated out into Donate or Discard. 

​Related articles:
Assess the Mess: How to Plan out Downsizing a Home.
with free printable Room-by-Room checklist
Mentally Prepare for Downsizing Your Home: 4 Tips to Control Your Emotions
with free printable Emotional Roadmap
5 Secrets for Solving Family Inheritance Disputes

The thought of getting rid of 75% of your possessions can be distressing, at the very least and traumatic at the worst.  I have 2 ways to frame the job that I suggest trying:

1. “Let’s choose the items you want to treasure” instead of “What can we get rid of?”. Just the simple mind-shift can ease the emotional impact.  Make this your mantra.
2. “Donating these items to Habitat for Humanity (or whatever charity is close to your parents’ heart) will be such a blessing to someone.”  Knowing that the things in your home will benefit someone else can make it easier to let go. 
   
   

When choosing what day-to-day items will make the move along with your parent, choose the items they use daily.  For example, if your Mom has old worn juice glasses that she has used every day for 25 years, those should go to her new home.  Don’t choose the fancy juice glasses she got for a wedding present and never used, and surely don’t go buy a brand new set of glasses, either.  Having familiar items in the new home will help ease some of the transition anxiety and provide comfort.

To read more about Organizing Your Aging Parents, click here.

​Have a strategy for dealing with collections, because there simply will not be room to take everything to the new home. Whether it is a collection of salt and pepper shakers or antique tools, try these three tips.

1. “Choose your one favorite piece to treasure”.   It is important to give your aging parent some control in what they want to take with them. Moving to a new home is very stressful and can make your parents feel that they aren’t in control of their own lives anymore.
2. “Let’s pack this one items to take with you, and we’ll create a photo album of the other items”.  Photographing treasured pieces of a collection, printing them out and creating an album is a good way to preserve the memories.
3. “Let’s start gifting these legacy items now”.  For example, if a family member is going to be the eventual recipient of the antique tool collection, give it to them now.  If your parent knows that their wishes are being carried out, it helps with the anxiety. 

Be realistic about how you’re going to get rid of 75% of a home’s possessions. It is a significant amount of work to coordinate all the logistics. Your main options are to sell or to donate.
Selling items
Most families have the desire to sell some of the possessions, but aren’t sure where to start.  You can try services like EBTH or estate sale companies. Always check with the Better Business Bureau and check references of any service you retain to sell your items.  Some families choose to consign household items: be advised that there is quite a process involved.  Another route is to list things on Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, etc., but be aware that the sheer number of items you’ll have to manage is overwhelming. The technology and selling items one-by-one is tedious and can be a barrier.

Related article: Help Organize Your Aging Parents While They Are Still Young + Healthy, includes Free Printable Checklist
Donations
Do a google search for local charities in your area to find out where you can donate items.  You can find good homes for nearly all of the things in an average home.  For example, local pet shelters and animal hospitals always accept sheets, towels, linens and laundry detergent.  Local schools are happy to accept office supplies and food banks accept unopened food, food wrap, etc.

If your parents have collections that may have interest to a museum or school, consider donating the entire collection.  For instance, a large collection of military memorabilia may find a new home in a local museum, military school, or veterans center.
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Find charities that will pick-up donations at the home. Each group usually has their own guidelines about what they will and won’t accept, so take a minute to research them. Discuss with your parents whether they want to be there as items are being carried away or not.  

​Having a neutral party help with the process can ease the amount of family tension. There are often family dynamics that make the downsizing process complex, so bring in a professional to help navigate.  Do a Google search for local Professional Organizers and be sure to check references.  When hiring a professional, be sure you are clear about your timeline, any concerns you have, and most of all, be honest. 

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.

​If you’re in your 30- 40’s, chances are that you have both sets of parents and they are in relatively good health. I am fortunate that my parents and my in-laws are all enjoying their retirements, traveling, and hobbies.  We haven’t yet had to face any declining health, etc. with our aging parents (knock on wood). Although it may be awkward, now is the perfect time to start having the preliminary discussions about their Later Life Plans. In this blog post, I’ll set out some baby steps to get you started. As a bonus, I've created afree printable discussion guide to help you get started. 

Helping your aging parent is not an easy task. ​Just like life insurance, it’s much easier to talk about Later Life plans before anyone needs it. If you can start the  family conversation process while everyone is still young + healthy, it gives you the luxury of time. Waiting until someone is suddenly ill, broke, or dead is only going to cause stress, misunderstandings, and very often, family strife.

Raise your hand if any of these are your reasons for NOT talking about Later Life Plans with your aging parents (APs). 

• For APs, NOT TALKING about things is the norm.
• Ditto that for many families.  And if you come from the Midwest (like me), we truly excel at not talking about things!
• Talking about Later Life Plans means eventually talking about Death.  And nobody likes to think about that.
• There is legal paperwork involved and it’s too complicated, expensive, confusing, and/or overwhelming to start.
• There’s some sort of family discord and somebody will definitely object, be offended and/or hurt by the efforts to discuss Later Life.
• Everyone assumes that the adult child living closest to Mom or Dad will take care of it all. 
• Money.  Discussing financial plans for Later Life is awkward at best, taboo at worst. 

​I hear your reasons why you can’t do it.  I get it.  But I’m here to tell you to suck it up, Buttercup, and get it done.  No more excuses.  Call, email, Skype or visit your aging parent in the next 2 days and start the conversation.  

​Pick a time when there are no distractions or other obligations, so you can focus entirely on the conversation and give it your undivided attention. Note: the middle of your nephew’s graduation or during Thanksgiving dinner are AWFUL times! Same goes for when anyone involved has been drinking.   Choose a quiet moment when there is a lull in family activity so you can focus on the conversation. 

​EXPLICITLY state that you want to help your aging parent fulfill their wishes and they can depend on you.  Be very transparent that you aren’t looking to influence their decisions, lay claim to the family jewels, or any other shenanigans. I’d recommend transparency with your siblings, too.  You don't want it to get weird.

You are probably not going to figure out the Later Life Plans for both your aging parents in one talk, so plan for the next step.  Set a timeline, an attainable goal, or assign someone responsibility  to complete something. 

​For example, you could say “Next time we talk, I’ll bring along a printed copy of a blank Living Will for us to discuss”. You also want to make sure you have an agreed-upon plan if your loved ones can no longer make decisions or in the event in an emergency.

A great resource is  this free conversation guide, created by A Place for Mom.

​Your aging parents have probably lived in their home for years, if not decades. That means it is CHOCK FULL, right?!? Your older parents' home probably has a mixture of items in it. 

Things They are Holding Onto (and SHOULD)

• Jewelry
• Sterling Silver (but not silver plated items)
• Coin, stamp, artwork, gun, crystal or other valuable collections
• Truly unique, high-end antiques that are in pristine condition
• Family photos
• Sentimental items (christening & wedding gowns, military memorabilia, etc.)

*Note: I am not an expert appraiser.  Always have your valuables checked by a professional.  A great resource is for online and in person appraisals is The Estate Lady. 

Things with Perceived Value, But Unfortunately Not Much Financial Value Anymore
The best way to describe this is to quote this article from Forbes magazine: “Sorry, Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Stuff”.  Start planning now for what will become of: 

• “Brown” furniture
• Most mass-produced china and glassware
• Tchotchkes
• Organs (the musical instrument, not your innards)

Things That I Beg You to Throw Away or Donate

• Greeting cards, magazines and newspapers with no historical significance
• Old Tupperware, appliances with frayed cords, and cookbooks
• Flower delivery vases
• Plastic souvenir cups and empty Cool Whip bowls.  Trust me: your aging parents have these.
• Your school papers, textbooks, and every drawing you ever did. Keep your diploma, let the rest of it go. 
• 80% of the stuff stored in the garage
• Clothing that hasn't been worn in decades

That's where I can help!  Click here to learn more about my in-person downsizing services.

Related articles
Clutter Puts the Rage in Garage
The 3 Commandments of Closet Organization 

*Note: I am a not a licensed attorney or financial adviser.  Any advice I give is of a personal nature.  Please consult with a professional regarding your legal and financial needs.
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There are 4 important legal documents you should ensure your aging parent has.

• Will: An up-to-date Will is an important document.
• Living Will (also called Advance Health Care Directive)
• Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care:
• Durable Power of Attorney for Finances:

There are a couple topics that may or may not be included in the above forms, but you should discuss with your aging parent.

• Organ Donation registration
• Final Disposition Instructions (funeral and burial wishes)
• Digital Legacy Plan

​The best way to find out exactly what sort of documents are required by your state is to google “Advance Directives (Your State)”.  Then choose a site that is an official state website, NOT a for-profit business. You can print most of the forms free of charge. 

• Come follow me on Pinterest: I have a great collection of information to help you + your aging parents. 
• Join the Sage Advice Monthly E-News.  Every month I share a easy tip to help organize your aging parents. 

​Once you’ve confirmed that all the paperwork is complete, you’ll also want to make sure that all the key decision makers are aware of the wishes of your aging parent and they have Xeroxed copies. This means people named as executors/agents/proxy, family members, healthcare providers, etc.  The simplest way to do this is to make a list of who all gets a copy, then seal copies in  an envelope and deliver to them.  The recipient of the documents should secure the documents in a safe or safety deposit box. 

​Starting the talk with your aging parent about their Later Life Plans can be a difficult topic.  But please: don’t put it off!  The next time to call or visit with your aging parent, ask permission to help start the conversation with them. Once you start talking, the ball will be rolling.  

Later this year, I'll be offering a Later Life Planning Guide, workshops and one-on-one coaching. Contact me now if you'd like to join the wait list!

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.