4.5 Reasons You Should Hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer

Hello Collectors! A bit nervous about hiring a professional organizer? Worried about letting someone in? Being judged? Pressured to throw things away? I know this all too well, I hear it all the time.
What I hear after we have worked  is "why didn't I call you a long time ago?!".

Would you trust your neighbor do your dental work? No, you would go to a dentist.
Would you let an 8 year old drive you home? No, you would call a taxi.
Would you hire a school teacher to do your plumbing problems?! Of course not, you would hire a plumber. So when clutter has got you down, why would you not call a professional organizer? It makes sense folks.

We are trained to be extremely thorough, efficient and professional. We handle your stuff with the most delicate of care. We are smart, funny, energetic and non-judgmental. Collector Care Professional Organizers are NAPO members and ICD subscribers. We train our staff on managing client expectations, working with clients with disabilities, and teaching OSHA standards. We pride ourselves on our work, and are always learning new methods and techniques.

Need more encouragement? Here you go Collectors!

1. Misc. clutter builds up. You find yourself overwhelmed and don't know where to start. We come over, with a methodical plan and we organize your belongings in a functional way.
2. You have a bunch of stuff in your garage/attic/kitchen/basement and you want it gone through, organized and/or hauled away. We have all the tools and skills to help you do this efficiently.
   Bye bye clutter!
3. You can't have repairs done in your home due to clutter. We will help you get your place up to par so those repairs can happen. We are not state mandated. We won't call your landlord.  We won't call the police. We won't post your pictures on the internet without your consent. We really want to help you.
4. You are limited by your disabilities.  We work side by side with our clients to develop custom systems that work. We have clients with Chronic Fatigue, Lyme Disease, ADHD, and Clinical Depression (just to name a few). We create a pleasant and healthy work space to help you feel comfortable during the entire process.
5. You don't want someone bossing you around and being in control of your stuff. Wonderful Collectors, YOU are in charge of the entire process. You say what stays and what goes. We donate to the charity of your 

Did I mention we are licensed, insured and bonded? Ok Collectors, I hope that gets your wonderful minds going. Thank you for reading this blog, most of our clients are knowledge collectors and I love hearing that you follow us on our blog and social media (hugs!).

Rachel Seavey, Owner & Blogger of Collector Care
Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin with us on Pinterest

Collector Care Professional Organizers - Hotel in San Francisco Before & After Photos

Hello Collectors! This is a project that we did in beautiful San Francisco, California. Our client just moved into her hotel room and needed help getting organized. By using a free room planning app, she was able to create the exact layout she wanted. We were very excited to make it happen and super thankful for allowing us to use these  pictures. 

Here are some before and after pictures:

View from the front door (Before)

View from the back corner of the room - not much room in this 200 square foot hotel suite.

We needed to organize the kitchen/pantry space. as well as define a living room (Before)

 

After several hours we were able to get the job done, and were just finishing up the final touches for the rest of the pictures below. I use my iPhone camera so please excuse the poor resolution. I try not to bring too much into any session with me to avoid losing items. : ) 

View from the front door (After)

Kitchen/Pantry We even deep cleaned her refrigerator! (After)

The kitchen/pantry is behind me and there is at least three feet of open space to walk around. Tony hung up pictures. We dusted cleaned and vacuumed.

ANOTHER SATISFIED CLIENT!

Thank you to our client for being so open about us using their pictures on the internet. Sometimes people just need help moving in and getting cozy ... Do you need help moving in? How about moving out?

Whatever your needs are, we try and help you reach those goals. Sometimes you might be disorganized due to moving, health issues, family drama, being too busy with work and life, other people's stuff etc. It's okay! Maybe you have always been disorganized - and feel it's impairing your life in a negative way. It's still okay! We are trained to find creative solutions for collectors with AD/HD, physical impairments and hoarding disorder. We pride on ourselves on being efficient and providing reasonable expectations. We offer affordable maintenance plans as well. Don't face your clutter alone!

We organize the entire Bay Area including Livermore, Pleasanton, Brentwood, Antioch, Concord, Walnut Creek, Danville, Castro Valley, Hayward, Oakland Alameda, Berkeley, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sonoma, Vallejo, Palo Alto, Milpitas, and if we have not listed a city here, just call and ask us!

925-548-7750

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin with us on Pinterest

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Organizing Tools

Hello Collectors! Have you ever needed a tool and could not find it? Perhaps you have a lot of tools and want to begin to organize them? Household tools are necessary and they should be treated as such. Below are 4.5 tips on organizing household tools.

1. Designate one drawer for household tools. Screwdrivers do not belong in your junk drawers and hammers do not live where ever you were last using them. Save yourself time by always keeping your tools in the same place.
2. If you have a lot of household tools - buy a toolbox. Keep this tool box in the same place for easy access. Peter Walsh suggests "when organizing your toolbox, or tool bag, put the tools you use most often in the top compartments and those you use less down below". 
3. Are you overwhelmed with tools? Take account for all tools in your home and garage and purge the ones that are no longer serving you. 
4. Create a workspace in your garage for tools. Pegboard lets you store everything in plain sight. Any storage that you have already can work if you are on a budget. Rolling bins, buckets, and empty paint cans serve well as organizers. By keeping all of your tools in one place you save time.
5. Put your tools away after each project. Do you leave tools all over the house? Make sure you put them

Need help organizing tools? Hire a Collector Care organizer today! www.collectorcare.com 

Collector Care Interviews Linda Samuels - Organizer, Author and New President of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization

Hello Collectors! I am very excited to bring you this interview. In some of my other blog posts I have mentioned the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD)  and what a wonderful resource it is for those with clutter and for professionals like myself. If you have not subscribed to ICD yet - I suggest you do!  http://www.challengingdisorganization.org/. In addition to her work with the ICD, she is a hands on organizer, amazing blogger and author!

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Linda Samuels, new ICD prez elect a couple of weeks ago at a convention. She is an absolute ray of sunshine inside and out. Dressed in vibrant ICD colors and a sparkling personality, I was immediately drawn to her. As a fairly new organizer I am always humbled to meet our veterans - and was even more humbled when Linda asked me to join her in an ICD commercial/interview! The ICD is a true collaborative of professionals, that all support each other and Linda Samuels is proof that even the most experienced and savvy organizers are kind and helpful to us "newbies".

http://www.ohsoorganized.com/

So now on to the interview! I hope you enjoy!

Rachel: I love that you still work hands on with clients. What is your favorite thing about working hands on with someone who is chronically disorganized?

Linda:Whether my clients are chronically disorganized or not, what I enjoy most are the wonderful relationships that develop. Particularly with my CD clients, these relationships are long lasting. I feel very lucky to be invited into my clients’ lives and be partners with them as they navigate change and witness the “ah-has.” Since I tend to work with my clients for an extended period, I experience many life transitions with them. I love the variety, the challenges, the connection, and the creative aspect of my work.

 

Rachel: What was one of your biggest mistakes as a new organizer?

Linda: Perhaps the biggest mistake I made as a new organizer was that I didn’t have clear enough boundaries. I found myself in uncomfortable situations too many times. It took me a while to establish guidelines so that there would be no unwelcome surprises for my clients or myself. I used the difficult situations as learning experiences, but it would have been better if I had anticipated at least some of these issues ahead of time. One of the most valuable classes I took to help me think about these issues was “Boundaries and Ethics”, which was co-created by my colleagues Sheila Delson and Terry Prince for the Institute of Challenging Disorganization (ICD).

Rachel:  The ICD has the most fabulous classes.  Thank you so much for this information! Setting boundaries has been one of my biggest challenges. It's nice to know that there are resources for new organizers that address this, and that even the best have gone through this challenge.

Rachel: What advice do you have for new organizers wanting to work with the chronically disorganized?

Linda: The best advice I can share for any organizers, new or veteran that wants to work with CD clients is to seek out education. Without knowledge and training, organizers run the risk of doing more harm than good. The best source for information, education, and strategies for those that work with the CD population is ICD. This association attracts experts that share their resources, strategies and research about chronic disorganization. The ICD website has info including free fact sheets, teleclasses, publications, and conferences.

Rachel: When you aren't organizing, writing books, speaking or blogging, what do you do for fun?

Linda: I love to have fun! This includes taking Comedy Improv classes, dancing in our living room or at Zydeco gigs, taking walks by the two rivers and in the woods, laughing with my husband and daughters, baking, getting together with family and friends, going on road trips, watching movies, and having adventures with my wonderful husband of almost 30 years.

Rachel: I love your website, and of course read your bio. I wanted to ask you - why a purple front door? What does this mean to you?

Linda: From early on, I always loved the color purple. I enjoy other colors too, but have a special “thing” for purple, which has only intensified as I’ve grown. Embracing all that we’re passionate about whether that’s color, people, or work, is essential to living joyfully. Let the things you love surround you. Let the work you love be part of your days. Let those you love know it. Embrace your passions.

Rachel: My favorite color is purple as well,  it started when I realized that the amythest was my birthstone. I love your doorway idea, what a beautiful way to celeberate this marvelous color. Thank you so much for this interview.

About Linda:

 

 

Linda Samuels, CPO-CD^® is a compassionate, enthusiastic professional organizer and coach, founder of Oh, So Organized! (1993), author of The Other Side of Organized and blogger on organizing and life balance. She has been featured in The New York Times, Woman’s Day, Bottom Line Personal, Westchester Magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and Enterpreneur.com. Connect with Linda on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, blog, or website. Sign up for a free monthly e-newsletter with bonus tips at ohsoorganized.com.

Linda’s Contact info:

Email: linda@ohsoorganized.com

Phone: 914-271-5673

Website: http://www.ohsoorganized.com

Blog: http://theothersideoforganized.com

Twitter:  @LindaSamuels

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oh-So-Organized

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/ohsoorganized/

Collector Care 2013 Tax Preparation Checklist

Tax Preparation Checklist

If you are reading this, it's tax season! This is all current information as of April 1, 2012.

Each section has sub sections, feel free to print out and check off what you have or what you need. Need further assistance? We are happy to help you go through all of your paperwork and help you keep what you need. This is especially important for taxes.

Personal Information

• Your social security number
• Your spouse's full name and social security number
• Amount of any alimony paid and ex-spouse's social security number
• Add Your 2012, 2011, and 2010 tax return(s). Your Tax Professional can check them for accuracy

Other people who may belong on your return

• Dates of birth and social security numbers
• Childcare records (including the provider's ID number) if applicable
• Approximate income of other adults in your home (not spouse, if you're filing jointly)
• Form 8332, copies of your divorce decree, or other documents showing that your ex-spouse is releasing their right to claim a child to you

Education Payments

• Bills from the educational institution or anything else that itemizes what you paid or received loans for versus what was covered by scholarship or other financial aid
• Forms 1098-T and 1098-E, if you received them
• Scholarships and fellowships

Employee Information

• Forms W-2

Self-Employment Information

• Forms 1099-MISC, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099s.
• Records of all expenses — check registers or credit card statements, and receipts
• Business-use asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation
• Office in home information, if applicable

Vehicle Information

• Total miles driven for the year (or beginning/ending odometer readings)
• Total business miles driven for the year (other than commuting)
• Amount of parking and tolls paid
• If you want to claim actual expenses, receipts or totals for gas, oil, car washes, licenses, personal property tax, lease or interest expense, etc.

Rental Income

• Records of income and expenses
• Rental asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation

Retirement Income

• Pension/IRA/annuity income (1099-R)
• Social security/RRB income (1099-SSA, RRB-1099)

Savings and Investments

• Interest, dividend income (1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-DIV)
• Income from sales of stock or other property (1099-B, 1099-S)
• Dates of acquisition and records of your cost or other basis in property you sold

Other Income

• Unemployment, state tax refund (1099-G)
• Gambling income (W-2G or records showing income, as well as expense records)
• Amount of any alimony received and ex-spouse's name
• Health care reimbursements (1099-SA or 1099-LTC)
• Jury duty records
• Hobby income and expenses
• Prizes and awards
• Other 1099

Itemizing Deductions

• Forms 1098 or other mortgage statements
• Amount of state/local income tax paid (other than wage withholding), or amount of state and local sales tax paid
• Real estate and personal property tax records
• Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid
• HUD statement showing closing date of home purchase
• Cash amounts donated to houses of worship, schools, other charitable organizations
• Records of non-cash charitable donations
• Amounts paid for healthcare insurance and to doctors, dentists, hospitals
• Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes
• Expenses related to your investments
• Amount paid for preparation of your 2010 tax return
• Employment-related expenses (dues, publications, tools, uniform cost and cleaning, travel)
• Job-hunting expenses

IRA Information

• Amount contributed for 2012 (and 2013, if applicable)
• Traditional IRA basis
• Value of IRAs on Dec. 31, 2012

If you were affected by a federally declared disaster

• City/county you lived/worked/had property in
• Records to support property losses (appraisal, clean up costs, etc.)
• Records of rebuilding/repair costs
• Insurance reimbursements/claims to be paid
• FEMA assistance information
• Check FEMA site to see if my county qualifies for individual assistance

Courtesy of H&R Block

Manja the hamster needs to get organized! She needs Collector Care Professional Organizers!

Even this tiny little hamster knows who to call when she needs her home or office organized!

Collector Care Professional Organizers Serving the Bay Area! Call us today and make that step to get organized. We love paper, overflowing closets, hoarding, and helping!
More Services:
Home Organization
Office Organization
Storage Units
Tax Help
Handyman work

Check us out at www.collectorcare.com
or call 925-548-7750 today!

Need Help Getting Organized? Collector Care Commercial

You heard the man! 

Call us today at 925-548-7750

or visit us at www.collectorcare.com

www.facebook.com/collectorcare

www.twitter.com/collectorcare

www.pinterest.com/collectorcare

Overwhelmed With Clutter? Do You Feel Like This?

Collector Care goes Charlie Chaplin Style Part Duex!

Collector Care Goes Muppet - Professional Organizers In The San Francisco Bay Area

Collector Care Goes Charlie Chaplin Style - Organizing Fun

Hello Collectors! If you know me, you know I have a sense of humor. I have collaborated with some talent and we came up with this video. Do you ever feel like you are always searching for items in clutter? You are not alone. At Collector Care, we understand!

This video may not be sold or redistributed - Copyright Collector Care 2013
However please feel free to share using the social media links provided on this blog, thank you!

Got Clutter? Call us today! 925-548-7750. Clear clutter and start enjoying your new space in no time.
Now offering hauling and on-site shredding!

 

Tax Season: What Can I Deduct?

Keeping your deductions in a designated folder or box is the first step.

Within this you should keep any business receipts and expenses, donations, mortgage interest rate, property taxes, new car info, energy upgrades for home or office, dependent care information, childcare (including preschool which is 100% tax deductible).

Please feel free to comment and submit any more tax deductions, thanks!

WELCOME TO COLLECTOR CARE'S BLOG

My name is Rachel Seavey and I work in and around Pleasanton California.
I specialize in hoarding disorder and chronic disorganization. Are you feeling overwhelmed? I will assess your situation and provide you with honest timelines and expectations at a reasonable rate. Together we will tackle the clutter and free your mind. You deserve it.

Welcome to my blog. I decided to start my new organizing business last year. I thought it should include a blog with my thoughts and interests om personal organizing.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest