Returning Merchandise

Hey Collectors! Do you dread returning items? Does the thought of bringing your items back into the department store make you cringe?

Don't worry, this is very common especially for collectors. I would have to say that most of my clients would rather lose money then do an ever dreaded return.

I invite you to try and do a return. Do you have clothing with tags on it that you  no longer wear or use or like? Has it been within the last year or two since you purchased these items? That's okay. I have returned items 10 years old back to Macy's.

I invite you to try and return any items that you can. Feel the anxiety, feel your blood get hot, deal with the embarrassment of people looking. Take control of your compulsive shopping by actually returning items that you no longer want or need.

In my professional experience, I have found that once my clients do about five seperate returns they are much more cautious during their initial shopping excursions. So what's holding you back? The worst that can happen is that they say no and take no returns. The best that can happen is you shed clutter and get some money back! Any items that the department store will not take - immediately donate them to your closest donation center. These clothes have exceeded their value at this point and should be moved along.

PS: this also goes for QVC and HSN! They take returns! Stand in that postal office line and deal with it. You will begin to feel much better soon. Take control of your life and your home.

Need help making returns? Hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer today!
www.collectorcare.com 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

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Just Open The Box!

Hey Collectors, a light weight rant for you. That's all this is. Pass it up if it doesn't apply to you.

I know you love your QVC and your HSN TV Show Personalities. I agree they are fabulous. They are like family to you. You invite them into your homes every day. You attend their weddings, see them pregnant, see pictures of the baby, oh you are like family.

AND -> -> Right now for a limited time only (timer counting down) on FLEX PAY you can buy every shade of that item!!!! Quick do it! Now! Time is running out! Product is running out! Everyone will have one but you. 3 Easy payments! You can do it!

www.freedigitalphotos.net

The package comes to your door, the excitement is over. You place the box on top of other  boxes and you quickly run back to make sure you did not miss the next item on TV.

What ever happened to the allure of that original item? Why have you not opened that box? There are boxes everywhere - unopened.

This intrigues me. Why? Because I end up opening those boxes, and you smirk when you see that outdated whatchamacallit you bought years before. DONATE! You demand.

I would like to invite you to open your boxes today. Just open one. Do you love it? Do you need it? Would you buy it again??? If not, donate it. Give it away to someone you know. If you love it, cherish it, wear it, use it and work it. Recycle the packaging, cause you know there is a ton. Repeat.

Love,
Rachel

PS: Need help going through those boxes?! Let's do it together!
Collector Care Professional Organizers will help you go through them all. We whisk away donations, recycling, and will even shred those shopping receipts and packing slips inside.

PPS: We want you to enjoy your purchases, be in the moment. Be mindful of why you turn on these shows. Are you feeling down? Are you bored? Try and honor your feelings of self control. Try a new hobby. Shopping is only in the moment. What can you do for yourself to make your life happy all around?

January is Get Organized Month! Make An Event Out Of It!

It's the first weekend of the New Year. You are craving order in your home. How do you get started?

Take some time today to schedule organizing into your month. Pull out your calendar, or open your calendar app, and jot down your goals for January. It's time to make organizing an event in your life.

A great way to start is by penciling in four, one hour slots to tackle clutter. I know you can handle one hour a week.
This can be going through mail and shredding or recycling what you don't need. It can be as simple as doing the dishes or as detailed as organizing your albums. There are so many things you can do in these sessions. You just have to make the time. So treat your de-cluttering like an appointment, and make the time to get things done.

And most of all Collectors, honor your desire to get organized. You deserve it.

Need help getting organized?

Collector Care Professional Organizers offer custom solutions to help you maintain a clutter free life. #collectorCareCares

925-548-7750

Hoarding and Self Care - 3 Simple Hygiene Tips

Dear Collectors,

As you know, I specialize in extreme clutter, so I see a lot on a daily basis. It's gotten really hard to be shocked these days. How extreme can it get? MEGA extreme. On a scale of one to ten, my one is probably your ten. When I spend half a day cleaning fecal matter off of walls, and can still have lunch, you know I have gotten numb to the severity. People ask me all of the time how and why I do this kind of work. You really have to have a tough stomach, I say. And a good imagination! It's all "chocolate" to me.

So what do I personally do for self care? Besides the basics (showering, brushing teeth and hair), I like massages, facials, manicures, pedicures. You can say I like to pamper myself. Work hard, play hard.

This is not me! (www.freedigitalphotos.net model)

What are you doing for self care? I know many of you cannot access your bathrooms due to clutter. How are you cleaning yourselves? Are you properly brushing? From what I have seen you are not. 
Not only are you treating your environment poorly, but you are neglecting yourselves dear Collectors. You deserve so much better. If you have no running water, or cannot properly wash or brush your teeth, below are 3 tips to help with hygiene:

1. Wipes. Wipe your face and body down with baby wipes. Throw wipes into disposal bag, and recycle. 

   

   Any kind will do, but I like this one.

2. Travel toothbrushes. They make them with toothpaste built in and are safe to swallow. Brush your teeth daily and recycle disposable brush.
3. Dry shampoo. Rock stars use it, so should you. Get fresh feeling hair fast. 

Now.  DO NOT BUY IN BULK. I don't like suggesting things for you all to use, if you are going to buy it in bulk. These are hygiene tips, not a chance to go out and spend. Let's control ourselves Collectors and be mindful when we acquire.

Hopefully the tips above will give you a little confidence boost and you will be pleased with yourself for treating yourself better.

www.collectorcare.com Professional Organizers & Extreme Cleaners SF Bay & Worldwide

925-548-7750 #collectorCareCares licensed. bonded. insured.

Collector Care Offers Maintenance

You had the big clean out, or your have worked diligently with one of our team members. It's quite possible you have used another company, or maybe you had help from friends or family. You are now organized. Now what?

Collectors, it's time to talk about maintenance.
If your home was severely cluttered to begin with, it's possible that you might backslide after you have been organized.

A Professional Organizer can help you create a better looking home, but it's up to YOU to keep it going. You now have to maintain this clean and organized space. That is pretty hard if you are not used to it. That is why we offer our maintenance plans.We provide you with short bursts of energetic organizing sessions designed to refresh your space and your perspective on stuff.

Collectors, you need this extra help. Especially if you have Hoarding Disorder or Chronic Disorganization. I know you want things to change overnight, but they won't change unless you do. Ongoing help is key to your success.

Are you looking for a fresh start? Are you tired of being surrounded by CLUTTER? Give us a call! 925-548-7750
www.collectorcare.com #collectorCareCares licensed. bonded. insured.
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Coming Out Of the Clutter Closet

Hey Collectors, especially my fab and fierce Gay /Lesbian/ Bi /Trans Collectors!
What  compelled me to write this post, is the amount of shame that goes into "coming out" about hoarding or being a clutter bug. I just recently attended the San Francisco Mental Health Assoc. International Clutter and Hoarding Conference (say that five times fast!) I ran into some very cool peeps. Specifically two gay men who told me that coming out about their clutter was harder than coming out about their sexuality. This is not the first time I have heard this. Or the second, or third ...

During my organizing sessions some people choose to share more than others. Thank you to all who supported me in writing this blog and for sharing your stories. Thank you for appreciating my interest in your world. This blog is simply to provoke thought, it's not any sort of scientific data or intended to offend.

When I asked my Clients which was harder?  Coming out about being gay, or coming out about being a clutterer? Hands down clutter was more embarrassing. I was even allowed to quote a few.

Jeffrey:

"I came out to the world in high school about being gay. It was no surprise to any of my real friends. My father took a while to come around and accept me. It was a hard time, but I had support" 

Jeffrey on his clutter habits -  "Only my best of friends know I am a hoarder. The stigma that is attached is just too much for me to face, it's embarrassing. Gay men are "supposed" to be tidy and organized, and I am far from."

Matthew:

"I love being gay. Everyone knows I am gay. I feel like I have always been gay. Coming out was hard when I had to tell my folks and grandparents. Other than that everyone accepts me the way I am."

On his clutter habits - "I would rather have died than have let anyone into my home at it's worst. Being a clutterer is embarrassing and is holding me back in life. "

"Nadine" - a current Client of mine. Nadine filled her house to the brim with garbage. She feels like she will never find a partner who will deal with the mess. She disappointed a lot of people when she came out as being a lesbian. She does not want to let a soul know about the state of her home.

Nadine, Matt and Jeff are all college graduates and have terrific jobs. They all feared more about coming out about their clutter vs. coming out about being gay. They live in fear about what people think. Sound familiar?

Why is there such a stigma with cluttering? What makes the amount of stuff someone owns a justifiable cause to judge them? Since when did we get so mean to each other Collectors?

I encourage you all gay and straight alike to stand up with your shoulders back and let the world know you are disorganized. Come out of the closet today. Ask a friend, family member, hire a professional organizer, do what you need to do to make your space comfy for you. It's your time to shine Collectors, I know you can do it!

Rachel Seavey,  Blogger
Professional Organizer & Extreme Cleaner

www.collectorcare.com
925-548-7750
FREE ESTIMATES!
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Thank You Collectors! A Poem for You ...

Thank you for being Collectors. Everyday my life is brightened because of you.
I wanted to write a poem about being thankful to my Clients so here goes. Feel free to chime in and add your own poem of thankfulness in our comments section!

Thank you for allowing us into your houses,
Thank you for buying multiple blouses, 
Almost the same but each slightly different,
Why buy one when you can have fifty?
Still in the bag, with tags not removed,
At the back of your closet under new shoes.

Expiration dates are merely a suggestion, 
Unless it's exploded it's fine for ingestion.

Paperwork scattered  on top of all surfaces,
One simple twist tie with so many purposes.

Thank you for always making me smile,
Never forget you ARE worth the while.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer & Extreme Cleaner
www.collectorcare.com
+collectorcare
#collectorCareCares

925-548-7750 FREE Estimates!