Organizing + Estate Clearing - Charlotte, NC  704.856.9811
Sage Organizing Co., Professional Organizing + Estate Clearing
  • Home
  • Services
    • Rates + Packages
    • Organizing Your Home
    • Organizing Your Move
    • Organizing Your Downsize or Estate >
      • Estate Clearing Evaluation + Estimate
      • Full Service Estate Clearing
      • Do-It-Yourself Estate Clearing
      • Free Estate Clean Out Supply Checklist
    • Speaking Services
  • The Process
    • The Sage Process
    • Our Policies
    • FAQs
  • Photos
    • Before + After
    • Client Love
  • More
    • Lets Work Together
    • Sage Advice Blog
    • Free Resources
    • News
  • Home
  • Services
    • Rates + Packages
    • Organizing Your Home
    • Organizing Your Move
    • Organizing Your Downsize or Estate >
      • Estate Clearing Evaluation + Estimate
      • Full Service Estate Clearing
      • Do-It-Yourself Estate Clearing
      • Free Estate Clean Out Supply Checklist
    • Speaking Services
  • The Process
    • The Sage Process
    • Our Policies
    • FAQs
  • Photos
    • Before + After
    • Client Love
  • More
    • Lets Work Together
    • Sage Advice Blog
    • Free Resources
    • News

Organize your
​home + Life

Take advantage of Sage Organizing's library
of free organization resources. 
Get access

How to Sort like a Pro: Advice from a Professional Organizer

7/7/2018

0 Comments

 
Mother,Estate, Clearing, Cleaning, Out, Professional, Organizer, Deceased, Death, Parents, Mom, Dad, Father, Family, Service, Sell, Late, House, Home, Prepare, Sale, Hoarding, Help, Stuff, Possessions, Items, Loved One, After, Dispose, Elderly, Need Help, How to, Overwhelming, NAPO, Full Service, Do it Yourself, Family Meeting, Estimate, Evaluation, Charlotte, North Carolina, Free Resources, Executor, Administrator, Power of Attorney Hoarding Pack-rat
​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. 

Ready to learn a professional organizer's tips for Sorting? Read on...

Set yourself up for success

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

Keep

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
Mother,Estate, Clearing, Cleaning, Out, Professional, Organizer, Deceased, Death, Parents, Mom, Dad, Father, Family, Service, Sell, Late, House, Home, Prepare, Sale, Hoarding, Help, Stuff, Possessions, Items, Loved One, After, Dispose, Elderly, Need Help, How to, Overwhelming, NAPO, Full Service, Do it Yourself, Family Meeting, Estimate, Evaluation, Charlotte, North Carolina, Free Resources, Executor, Administrator, Power of Attorney Hoarding Pack-rat

Sell

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"

Donate

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. ​
Mother,Estate, Clearing, Cleaning, Out, Professional, Organizer, Deceased, Death, Parents, Mom, Dad, Father, Family, Service, Sell, Late, House, Home, Prepare, Sale, Hoarding, Help, Stuff, Possessions, Items, Loved One, After, Dispose, Elderly, Need Help, How to, Overwhelming, NAPO, Full Service, Do it Yourself, Family Meeting, Estimate, Evaluation, Charlotte, North Carolina, Free Resources, Executor, Administrator, Power of Attorney Hoarding Pack-rat

Discard

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
Estate Sales Aren't Always the Answer: Why Estate Clearing Might Better Fit Your Needs
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

YOU'RE ready to sort like a pro!

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.
Mother,Estate, Clearing, Cleaning, Out, Professional, Organizer, Deceased, Death, Parents, Mom, Dad, Father, Family, Service, Sell, Late, House, Home, Prepare, Sale, Hoarding, Help, Stuff, Possessions, Items, Loved One, After, Dispose, Elderly, Need Help, How to, Overwhelming, NAPO, Full Service, Do it Yourself, Family Meeting, Estimate, Evaluation, Charlotte, North Carolina, Free Resources, Executor, Administrator, Power of Attorney Hoarding Pack-rat
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Hey There!
    ​I'm Candi.

    485, 5 star, AARP, ADD, ADHD, Administrator, After, Aging, Alzheimer's, Angies List, Arboretum, Arboretum, Assist, Aunt, Award, Ballantyne, Baxter Village, BBB, Bedroom, Belmont, Best, Better Business Bureau, Blakeney, Bonded, Box up, Boxes, Brother, Burden, Buying, Calm, Caring, Carmel Commons, Carmel, Carolina Mall, Carolina Organizers, CD, Certified Professional Organizer, Certified, Charge, Charlotte, Cheap, Chore, Christian, Chronic Disorganization, Chronic, Class, Clean out, Clean, Cleaning, Clearing, Closet, Coach, Company, Compulsive, Compulsive, Concord, Confidential, Consign, Containers, Cost, Cousin, CPO, Cry, Crying, Dad, Daughter, Dead, Death, Death, Deceased, Dementia, Died, Dilworth, Dirty, Disaster, Discount, Discreet, Disorder, Disorganized, Dispose, DIY, Do it Yourself, Downsizing, Drop Zone, East, Eastover, Edit, Elderly, Embarrass, estate clearing, Estate, Estimate, Evaluation, Executor, Executrix, Expert, Fair, Faithful Organizers, Family Meeting, Family, Family, Father, Favorite, Five star, Fort Mill, Free Resources, Friendly, Full Service, Garage, Gaston, Gastonia, Greater, HD, Help, Help, Help, Hoarder, Hoarding, Home, Honest, Honest, Horrible, Hourly, House, How start, How to do, How to, How, Huntersville, I-485, I-77, I-85, ICD, Indian Land, Indian Trial, Inexpensive, Insured, Interior, Items, Jewish, Job site, Job, Job, Joy, Judgement free, Kind, Kindness, Kitchen, Kondo, Kosher, Lancaster, Late, Laundry room, Legal, Linen Closet, Liquidation, Living Room, Loved One, Low cost, Luxury, Luxury, Marie Kondo, Marie, Master Bedroom, Matthews, Mcmullen Creek, Mecklenburg, Messy, Metro, Mom, Mom, Money, Mother, Move, Moving, Much, Mudroom, Myers Park, NAPO, NASMM, Near me, Need Help, Neutral Party, Neutral, Nightmare, No judgement, North Carolina, North Carolina, North, Northwest, Obsessive, OCD, Old, Organization, Organize, Organizer, Organizer, Out, Over 60, Overload, Overwhelming, Pack-rat, Pack, Package, Packages, Packing, Pantry, Parents, Passed away, Passed on, Personal, Personal, Piedmont, Pineville Pineville, Piper Glen, Plan, Possessions, Power of Attorney, Power of Attorney, Prepare, Price, Privacy, Private, Private, Pro, professional organizer, Professional, Project, Providence Plantation, Public, Quail Corners, Raintree, Rated, Rating, Realtor, Reasonable, Reasonable, Recommend, Recommended, Relative, Reliable, Relo, Relocation, Resource, Retire, Retirement, Reviews, Rock Hill, Sale, Sell, Senior Citizen, Senior, Senior, Service, Services, Shame, Shopping, Shows up, Sister, Son, South Carolina, South Charlotte, South, SouthPark Mall, SouthPark, Southwest, Spark, Speaker, Speaking, Specialist, Staging, Stallings, Steele Creek, Stonecrest, Strategy, Stuff, Sun City, System, Task, Teach, Team, Testimonial, Therapist, Toringdon, Train, Training, Trust, Trustworthy, Trustworthy, Uncle, Understanding, Union, University City, University, Unorganized, Unpack, Unpacking, Uptown, Video, Waxhaw, Waverly, Weddington, West, What to do, Where to start, Widow, Widower, Winner, Winning, York,
    I'm an Estate Clearing Pro + Certified Professional Organizer®, helping people with family in senior care or that have lost someone to clear out all the contents of the house within a week.
    Let's Work Together
    485, 5 star, AARP, ADD, ADHD, Administrator, After, Aging, Alzheimer's, Angies List, Arboretum, Arboretum, Assist, Aunt, Award, Ballantyne, Baxter Village, BBB, Bedroom, Belmont, Best, Better Business Bureau, Blakeney, Bonded, Box up, Boxes, Brother, Burden, Buying, Calm, Caring, Carmel Commons, Carmel, Carolina Mall, Carolina Organizers, CD, Certified Professional Organizer, Certified, Charge, Charlotte, Cheap, Chore, Christian, Chronic Disorganization, Chronic, Class, Clean out, Clean, Cleaning, Clearing, Closet, Coach, Company, Compulsive, Compulsive, Concord, Confidential, Consign, Containers, Cost, Cousin, CPO, Cry, Crying, Dad, Daughter, Dead, Death, Death, Deceased, Dementia, Died, Dilworth, Dirty, Disaster, Discount, Discreet, Disorder, Disorganized, Dispose, DIY, Do it Yourself, Downsizing, Drop Zone, East, Eastover, Edit, Elderly, Embarrass, estate clearing, Estate, Estimate, Evaluation, Executor, Executrix, Expert, Fair, Faithful Organizers, Family Meeting, Family, Family, Father, Favorite, Five star, Fort Mill, Free Resources, Friendly, Full Service, Garage, Gaston, Gastonia, Greater, HD, Help, Help, Help, Hoarder, Hoarding, Home, Honest, Honest, Horrible, Hourly, House, How start, How to do, How to, How, Huntersville, I-485, I-77, I-85, ICD, Indian Land, Indian Trial, Inexpensive, Insured, Interior, Items, Jewish, Job site, Job, Job, Joy, Judgement free, Kind, Kindness, Kitchen, Kondo, Kosher, Lancaster, Late, Laundry room, Legal, Linen Closet, Liquidation, Living Room, Loved One, Low cost, Luxury, Luxury, Marie Kondo, Marie, Master Bedroom, Matthews, Mcmullen Creek, Mecklenburg, Messy, Metro, Mom, Mom, Money, Mother, Move, Moving, Much, Mudroom, Myers Park, NAPO, NASMM, Near me, Need Help, Neutral Party, Neutral, Nightmare, No judgement, North Carolina, North Carolina, North, Northwest, Obsessive, OCD, Old, Organization, Organize, Organizer, Organizer, Out, Over 60, Overload, Overwhelming, Pack-rat, Pack, Package, Packages, Packing, Pantry, Parents, Passed away, Passed on, Personal, Personal, Piedmont, Pineville Pineville, Piper Glen, Plan, Possessions, Power of Attorney, Power of Attorney, Prepare, Price, Privacy, Private, Private, Pro, professional organizer, Professional, Project, Providence Plantation, Public, Quail Corners, Raintree, Rated, Rating, Realtor, Reasonable, Reasonable, Recommend, Recommended, Relative, Reliable, Relo, Relocation, Resource, Retire, Retirement, Reviews, Rock Hill, Sale, Sell, Senior Citizen, Senior, Senior, Service, Services, Shame, Shopping, Shows up, Sister, Son, South Carolina, South Charlotte, South, SouthPark Mall, SouthPark, Southwest, Spark, Speaker, Speaking, Specialist, Staging, Stallings, Steele Creek, Stonecrest, Strategy, Stuff, Sun City, System, Task, Teach, Team, Testimonial, Therapist, Toringdon, Train, Training, Trust, Trustworthy, Trustworthy, Uncle, Understanding, Union, University City, University, Unorganized, Unpack, Unpacking, Uptown, Video, Waxhaw, Waverly, Weddington, West, What to do, Where to start, Widow, Widower, Winner, Winning, York,

    Categories

    All
    Back To Schoool
    Before & After
    Closet Organization Ideas + Hacks
    Decluttering Your Home
    Downsizing Your Home
    Estate Clearing
    Family Heirlooms
    Family Schedule Logistics
    Free Download
    Garage DIY Organization
    Garage Mudroom
    Grocery Planning
    Holiday Organizing
    Home Organizing
    Later Life Planning
    Meal Planning
    Organizing Aging Parents
    Selling Offline
    Selling Your Stuff
    Sentimental Items
    Weekly Family Routine

    Looking for something?

    Archives

    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017

    485, 5 star, AARP, ADD, ADHD, Administrator, After, Aging, Alzheimer's, Angies List, Arboretum, Arboretum, Assist, Aunt, Award, Ballantyne, Baxter Village, BBB, Bedroom, Belmont, Best, Better Business Bureau, Blakeney, Bonded, Box up, Boxes, Brother, Burden, Buying, Calm, Caring, Carmel Commons, Carmel, Carolina Mall, Carolina Organizers, CD, Certified Professional Organizer, Certified, Charge, Charlotte, Cheap, Chore, Christian, Chronic Disorganization, Chronic, Class, Clean out, Clean, Cleaning, Clearing, Closet, Coach, Company, Compulsive, Compulsive, Concord, Confidential, Consign, Containers, Cost, Cousin, CPO, Cry, Crying, Dad, Daughter, Dead, Death, Death, Deceased, Dementia, Died, Dilworth, Dirty, Disaster, Discount, Discreet, Disorder, Disorganized, Dispose, DIY, Do it Yourself, Downsizing, Drop Zone, East, Eastover, Edit, Elderly, Embarrass, estate clearing, Estate, Estimate, Evaluation, Executor, Executrix, Expert, Fair, Faithful Organizers, Family Meeting, Family, Family, Father, Favorite, Five star, Fort Mill, Free Resources, Friendly, Full Service, Garage, Gaston, Gastonia, Greater, HD, Help, Help, Help, Hoarder, Hoarding, Home, Honest, Honest, Horrible, Hourly, House, How start, How to do, How to, How, Huntersville, I-485, I-77, I-85, ICD, Indian Land, Indian Trial, Inexpensive, Insured, Interior, Items, Jewish, Job site, Job, Job, Joy, Judgement free, Kind, Kindness, Kitchen, Kondo, Kosher, Lancaster, Late, Laundry room, Legal, Linen Closet, Liquidation, Living Room, Loved One, Low cost, Luxury, Luxury, Marie Kondo, Marie, Master Bedroom, Matthews, Mcmullen Creek, Mecklenburg, Messy, Metro, Mom, Mom, Money, Mother, Move, Moving, Much, Mudroom, Myers Park, NAPO, NASMM, Near me, Need Help, Neutral Party, Neutral, Nightmare, No judgement, North Carolina, North Carolina, North, Northwest, Obsessive, OCD, Old, Organization, Organize, Organizer, Organizer, Out, Over 60, Overload, Overwhelming, Pack-rat, Pack, Package, Packages, Packing, Pantry, Parents, Passed away, Passed on, Personal, Personal, Piedmont, Pineville Pineville, Piper Glen, Plan, Possessions, Power of Attorney, Power of Attorney, Prepare, Price, Privacy, Private, Private, Pro, professional organizer, Professional, Project, Providence Plantation, Public, Quail Corners, Raintree, Rated, Rating, Realtor, Reasonable, Reasonable, Recommend, Recommended, Relative, Reliable, Relo, Relocation, Resource, Retire, Retirement, Reviews, Rock Hill, Sale, Sell, Senior Citizen, Senior, Senior, Service, Services, Shame, Shopping, Shows up, Sister, Son, South Carolina, South Charlotte, South, SouthPark Mall, SouthPark, Southwest, Spark, Speaker, Speaking, Specialist, Staging, Stallings, Steele Creek, Stonecrest, Strategy, Stuff, Sun City, System, Task, Teach, Team, Testimonial, Therapist, Toringdon, Train, Training, Trust, Trustworthy, Trustworthy, Uncle, Understanding, Union, University City, University, Unorganized, Unpack, Unpacking, Uptown, Video, Waxhaw, Waverly, Weddington, West, What to do, Where to start, Widow, Widower, Winner, Winning, York,

    Want to work together?

    We love helping busy families organize thier homes + their lives. 
    Lets Work Together
    485, 5 star, AARP, ADD, ADHD, Administrator, After, Aging, Alzheimer's, Angies List, Arboretum, Arboretum, Assist, Aunt, Award, Ballantyne, Baxter Village, BBB, Bedroom, Belmont, Best, Better Business Bureau, Blakeney, Bonded, Box up, Boxes, Brother, Burden, Buying, Calm, Caring, Carmel Commons, Carmel, Carolina Mall, Carolina Organizers, CD, Certified Professional Organizer, Certified, Charge, Charlotte, Cheap, Chore, Christian, Chronic Disorganization, Chronic, Class, Clean out, Clean, Cleaning, Clearing, Closet, Coach, Company, Compulsive, Compulsive, Concord, Confidential, Consign, Containers, Cost, Cousin, CPO, Cry, Crying, Dad, Daughter, Dead, Death, Death, Deceased, Dementia, Died, Dilworth, Dirty, Disaster, Discount, Discreet, Disorder, Disorganized, Dispose, DIY, Do it Yourself, Downsizing, Drop Zone, East, Eastover, Edit, Elderly, Embarrass, estate clearing, Estate, Estimate, Evaluation, Executor, Executrix, Expert, Fair, Faithful Organizers, Family Meeting, Family, Family, Father, Favorite, Five star, Fort Mill, Free Resources, Friendly, Full Service, Garage, Gaston, Gastonia, Greater, HD, Help, Help, Help, Hoarder, Hoarding, Home, Honest, Honest, Horrible, Hourly, House, How start, How to do, How to, How, Huntersville, I-485, I-77, I-85, ICD, Indian Land, Indian Trial, Inexpensive, Insured, Interior, Items, Jewish, Job site, Job, Job, Joy, Judgement free, Kind, Kindness, Kitchen, Kondo, Kosher, Lancaster, Late, Laundry room, Legal, Linen Closet, Liquidation, Living Room, Loved One, Low cost, Luxury, Luxury, Marie Kondo, Marie, Master Bedroom, Matthews, Mcmullen Creek, Mecklenburg, Messy, Metro, Mom, Mom, Money, Mother, Move, Moving, Much, Mudroom, Myers Park, NAPO, NASMM, Near me, Need Help, Neutral Party, Neutral, Nightmare, No judgement, North Carolina, North Carolina, North, Northwest, Obsessive, OCD, Old, Organization, Organize, Organizer, Organizer, Out, Over 60, Overload, Overwhelming, Pack-rat, Pack, Package, Packages, Packing, Pantry, Parents, Passed away, Passed on, Personal, Personal, Piedmont, Pineville Pineville, Piper Glen, Plan, Possessions, Power of Attorney, Power of Attorney, Prepare, Price, Privacy, Private, Private, Pro, professional organizer, Professional, Project, Providence Plantation, Public, Quail Corners, Raintree, Rated, Rating, Realtor, Reasonable, Reasonable, Recommend, Recommended, Relative, Reliable, Relo, Relocation, Resource, Retire, Retirement, Reviews, Rock Hill, Sale, Sell, Senior Citizen, Senior, Senior, Service, Services, Shame, Shopping, Shows up, Sister, Son, South Carolina, South Charlotte, South, SouthPark Mall, SouthPark, Southwest, Spark, Speaker, Speaking, Specialist, Staging, Stallings, Steele Creek, Stonecrest, Strategy, Stuff, Sun City, System, Task, Teach, Team, Testimonial, Therapist, Toringdon, Train, Training, Trust, Trustworthy, Trustworthy, Uncle, Understanding, Union, University City, University, Unorganized, Unpack, Unpacking, Uptown, Video, Waxhaw, Waverly, Weddington, West, What to do, Where to start, Widow, Widower, Winner, Winning, York,

​Company

Privacy Policy
​About
Code of Ethics
​Blog

Social

Support

Call Us
Email Us
FAQ
Terms of Use

    Sign up for our Free Organizing Tips

Subscribe to Newsletter
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.