Collector Care Tips:4.5 Tips on Hoarding and Backsliding (and how to maintain a clutter free home)

Greetings Collectors! If you have ever read any of Judith Kolberg's books on hoarding disorder and chronic disorganization, than you know that backsliding is a normal part of the process.
You have spent the majority of your life living a certain way, and now you are forced to develop new habits in order to succeed in an organized environment. It's tough. Some call it brutal.

Below are 4.5 tips to help you succeed after the organizing process:

1. Focus on the present. Maintain your space. If you are not used to picking up, maintaining a clutter free counter top is tricky. This is not the time to fine tune, this is the time to maintain.
2. Where does this stuff GO? Make sure you develop a plan for after your cleanup to ensure success. Have your organizer show you where everything is, and don't be afraid to ask!
3. Don't get held up on perfection. Just because you don't know where exactly something goes right that second, don't give up. Don't let it pile up. Don't allow yourself to procrastinate and blame others or the world for not knowing where it goes. Call your organizer and ask.
4. Do your homework. If your organizer left you with 3 boxes of paperwork to sort a month, do it. A good organizer will check in with you and offer maintenance in between.
5. Hire help! Your home is presentable now, call an insured and bonded cleaning service to

Just remember Collectors, it's normal to backslide and feel overwhelmed even AFTER you have been organized. Set yourself up for success by finding an organizer who offers maintenance and by asking for outside help.

Collector Care Professional Organizers specialize in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization, and maintenance plans. We offer FREE estimates in and around Northern California. 

www.collectorcare.com

Collector Care's 7 Tip Checklist For Planning A Garage Sale

Hello Collectors! Usually I bring you 4.5 tips, but a garage sale has a lot of planning involved. Below are 7 collaborative tips from Collector Care and other organizing experts to help your garage sale run smoothly.  

1. Heads up. A few weeks before the sale, give everyone in your family a box to fill with items they no longer want or use. If you're not sure of what to toss, Barry Izsak offers three ways to decide: "If you don't love it; it's not useful; and you haven't used it in several years, turn it into cash, " this well-known garage organizing expert says. 
2. Plan. Schedule your sale on a Saturday near the first or 15th of the month, when most people get paid. Hoarder's expert Geralin Thomas says "The best months for sales are April, May, June and September" on her blog.
3. Present. Dust, wash or clean your stuff. Make sure toys or electronics have all the pieces attached. Hang clothes on a rack, if you have one. Use plastic ziploc bags to group children's Lego's, cosmetics, hardware, and other small items. 
4. Comfort. Display your wares on tables. Don't make people bend down to look at your stuff. 
5. Electronics? Have an extension cord handy to show that appliances and electrical gadgets work. 
6. Negotiate. Be flexible when it comes to price. "If someone picks up something you're selling, be willing to deal with them right then and drop your price," says Izsak. "They might be the only person all day who wants that item." 
7. Get rid of what's left. It's already out of the house, so keep it that way. Put unsold stuff by the curb, or cart it off for donation as soon as your sale is over.

We hope your garage sale is a success!Thank you for stopping by!

Did you know we help prepare for garage sales, yard sales, estate sales, and foreclosures? Make your next event even more profitable by hiring a Collector Care Professional Organizer!
Licensed. Bonded. Insured.


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

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Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Shoe Clutter

Collectors, do you love SHOES? We know you do! Do you find yourself looking for the mate of a shoe often? Are your shoes so cluttered that you don't even know what you own anymore? Does this cause you to buy duplicate pairs? Below are 4.5 Tips on how to get your shoe clutter under control!

1. Corral all shoes into one room. Sort by 3 types. Keep, donate and trash.
2. Items to donate. Start putting these into a bag. Do not wait for the shoe to find it's mate. The donation center can handle this. Don't let perfection hold you back on this one.
3. Items to trash. Let's face it Collectors, shoes get worn. It's time to let go those heels you might take in someday to have fixed, the boots with scuffs so hard you can't tell what color they are ... etc. These are not "gardening" or "lounging" shoes, they are garbage. 
4. Items to keep. Place your favorite go to shoes where you get dressed, preferably where you can see them. Keep these in the same place always.  Additional shoes can be sorted by season or occasion and stored or organized either in the same closet or in bins. 
5. Check out our Pinterest board for ideas on organizing your

Are you ready to get organized? Hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer Today!

Collector Care Before & After's: Hoarding Cleanup

 

Hello Collectors! Below is a job that we did for a hoarding disorder client who was going through a very difficult time. Our 65year old client had lost her husband, and did not want to go back to the home they shared for 30 years.

The only reason she stopped by in the last two years was to feed her cats. She was plagued with depression, anxiety and fear. Our initial phone call was almost an hour. With the help of her realtor, we decided to go in for the assessment without her.

When I stepped into the home, the overwhelming smell of cat urine, feces, hair and dust took my breath. I could see where they had had their last meal together,
dishes were still in the sink, papers had been left out with intent to sort. The life that had once been in this home was no longer.
For 30 years the two of them hoarded all sorts of items in their home.  Clothing, books, decorative items, collectibles. The day her husband died, she never went back to her home or her stuff. She stayed with a friend until she found an apartment. She now needed to face her fears, and address the home as she was in need of selling it for money. After looking around for a while, I knew that we could help her.

Due to the poor condition of most of the items (cat urine and cat feces, there had also been a rodent, spider and cockroach infestation) we decided we could not donate anything contaminated. Below is a pic of our 40 foot yard dumpster empty...

And full ...

 

We were able to scrap most metal and recycle all e-waste which saved a huge load going to the landfill.

Here are more pictures on the job...


Tony & Cedric on demolition!
 

Time for an extreme cleaning!

After one exhausting day we were able to completely restore the home to selling condition. We had an incredible team of haulers, scrap metal-ers, organizers and house cleaners to make this happen.


We had to remove the carpet and padding to make this work.

Our client has still not gone back to her home, but feels as though "an incredible weight has been lifted". She has begun therapy and has managed to keep her apartment tidy. Her home is now on the market, and we wish her luck!

Follow this job on our YouTube page for video of us in action!

This client was rare in the case that she wanted to keep nothing. The point of this blog is to show our Collectors just how quickly we can make your wishes happen. Do I wish she was more involved? Absolutely. I encourage every client to make decisions! But this is not about me, is it?!

Free yourselves Collectors!
www.collectorcare.com licensed. bonded. insured. discreet.
925-548-7750

Collector Care's 2014 TimeTimer Giveaway!

Happy New Years Collectors! Do you struggle with time management? Do you find it hard to sort through your clutter for long periods of time? At Collector Care, we love the TimeTimer and suggest it as an auditory and visual aide to use while decluttering.

Why use the TimeTimer while decluttering? You get carried away sorting your clothing and you end up being late to an event. The TimeTimer dings and shows you your time in red so that you know when you need to stop. Also, if you are decluttering in short bursts, the TimeTimer reminds you when your 15 or 30 minutes is up, and you can go on about your day.

We are giving away 2 TimeTimers this January! To enter the giveaway please comment on our blog and let us know why you think you need this tool. On January 31st we will draw two lucky winners!

Now is the TIME for you Collectors!

Read Rachel Seavey's interview with TimeTimer
Read more about why we love TimeTimer
Purchase a TimeTimer

Ready to get organized? Hire a Professional Organizer Today! 

www.collectorcare.com

925-548-7750

Free Estimates. Licensed. Insured. Bonded.

Collector Care Chronicles: Miriam

Last month we went into a home of an 85 year old disabled woman that was a level 4 on the ICD hoarding scale. 

When she called she stated she had no family nearby, and that she was afraid for her safety after she had fallen .  it was hours before she could regain her strength and pull herself up. She was terrified I would call protective services, and I assured her we are NOT state mandated and that I was there to help. She finally gave us her address after 45 minutes on the phone.

The front yard was unkempt, the blinds in the window were twisted together bound by dust and mold. Inside, cobwebs decorated the home like giant sheets of cotton candy and the smell of rotten food was beyond overwhelming. Trash was waist high, and very narrow pathways allowed access into the home. One of the two bedrooms was completely blocked by garbage and debris.

It was the first time ANYONE had been invited in for over 10 years and she was clearly defensive and embarrassed.

Through the pain in her eyes we connected and I knew she was willing to accept the help. 

Our team worked 2 days and from top to bottom the place was spotless and sanitary. All trash was hauled. We were able to salvage quite a bit and organized her remaining possessions where she could reach them. It took myself, Tony, Cedric, three house cleaners and 100 contractor bags to restore the home.

She was honory at times, making sure we threw nothing out of importance. We sifted through her items carefully and meticulously, finding cash and checks mixed in with the garbage. She kept us laughing with her constant stories about her life as a young actress in the 50's. Before her husband had died she was quite the high roller. 

I realized that the majority of her mess was because of her not being able to bend or lift. Years of being plagued with arthritis left her in a major depression. She had no children or family to help her. Besides two friends at the senior center - she knew no one.

By posting an ad online, we found a trustworthy neighbor who could come by to take out her trash and help around the house at an affordable rate. Her home was in such good condition after we were done,  the neighbor never knew of the chaos before. Miriam was proud to have help in her new clean home. We set her up on our monthly maintenance plan in order to ensure her success. This includes phone calls and visits.

I spoke with her last night, and she is having a friend over today to visit. We are very excited for her! 

My point of this blog is that no one should have to live in squalor. There is help for those who suffer from hoarding disorder. 

We did not come in and throw everything out with shovels and bags, instead we created an organic plan to ensure our clients success. 

Collector Cares goal is to restore your home and help you maintain it, so that you never have to suffer again.

We are here for you! 

Discreet, honest and professional, we pride ourselves on creating custom clutter solutions for our clients.

www.collectorcare.com 925-548-7750

We offer free estimates!

COLLECTOR CARE:GARAGE GARDEN TOOL RACK GIVEAWAY!

Happy Holidays Collectors! This year we are giving away a garden tool rack for the garage (pictured below). Are you a gardener? Do you need a safe and efficient rack to help you organize your gardening tools? Most of us do! No more tripping over those rakes and hoses!
If this sounds like something you NEED leave a comment on this blog before 12/22 and let us know why! On December 23rd one lucky Collector will be chosen to win this awesome gift! Totally Free!!!

This could be yours ... just leave a comment!

Thank you so much to Monkey Bars Central Coast/Bay Area for hosting this giveaway!
The Monkey Bars Garage Storage System is the most affordable and versatile storage system available in the bay area. Our customers receive a custom system versatile enough to change as their storage needs do, all at a price that meets their specific budget.
Smart Storage - We separate your storage into long-term and short-term so that you no longer have to dig through boxes and totes to find the items you need.
Manageable - We eliminate the need to use an attic, basement, or storage until. Having your items stored in an accessible manner makes your life simpler.
Custom Designed For Your Garage - Every Monkey Bars System is designed and built to meet your specific needs. We know that your storage needs are going to be different then your neighbors. We have the garage storage Bay Area families love and recommend.

Need help organizing your garage? Let us help you clear the clutter and meet your organizing needs. Need help going through boxes? We are trained, skilled and extremely efficient.
We donate all unwanted items to Shepard's Gate in Livermore,
a non profit for battered women and children; or to the charity of your choice. 

Licensed. Bonded. Insured. 

www.collectorcare.com

925-548-7750