For The Love of Containers

Hey Collectors! Bags, bins, boxes, crates, totes, purses, satchels, anything that contains! The trend with most of my clients is that they love containers.

Do you love containers? Old pill bottles, Altoid tins, jewelry boxes, gift boxes, shoe boxes, picture boxes, clear boxes, opaque boxes, paper bags, gift bags, plastic bags, reusable grocery bags, sturdy bags with handles, Ziploc bags, pouches, make up bags, eyeglass cases, I know there are more - please add to the comment section below!

My three favorite containers are the following: 

The brown paper bag. Worthy of its own blog. The brown paper bag is one of my favorite tools to use for sorting. Easy to label, easy to carry, the brown paper bag is a great way to sort documents. I like to have two in front of me one for shredding and one for recycling. The brown paper bag is great for carrying out recycling, garbage, compost, small donations anything that you need to carry out of your home and take elsewhere. Don't let your clutter pile up! 

In California these babies are $.10 apiece. I see hundreds to thousands of them a week at work. Let's put them to use!

Ziploc bags are great for containing small items. Easy to label and easy to use. Tame unruly toys, hardware, cosmetics, collections and snacks with ease!

Bankers boxes. I love the size of bankers boxes they are easy to carry around the house and easy to label for sorting. My favorite part about bankers boxes is that most of them have handles. They also stack nicely and are sturdy enough to reuse for years.

What are your favorite ways to contain stuff? Do you love brown paper bags as much as I do?

Need help going through your stuff? Hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer Today! www.collectorcare.com

925-548-7750 help@.com

Thanks to www.freedigitalphotos.net

Sifting Through Treasures

I have a collection of clients that I see on a regular basis. We sit down and we sort through anything and everything. Sometimes the sessions are four hours and sometimes they are all day. 

We go through paperwork, try on clothing, cancel mailing subscriptions, clean… Whatever it takes to get their space to a place that they love.

Together we sort. We have a donation pile, a shred box, a bag for recycling, and a bag for garbage. Very carefully we examine each item deciding whether or not we need them or plan to use them. It's empowering for them to gain control of their  clutter. The transformation  is exciting to witness!

Do you need help going through your stuff? Would you like someone who is nonjudgmental and trained to help you make the right decisions? Look no further  call me today for your FREE assessment!

Rachel Seavey, Organizer & Blogger

925-548-7750

www.collectorcare.com

3 Awesome Ways to Organize Your Jewelry

3 Awesome Ways to Organize Your Jewelry

If you’re anything like me, you have a substantial jewelry collection. Who can’t resist a fun pair of earrings?

One of the most common organizing challenges for women is how to organize jewelry. Necklaces get tangled. The backs of earrings disappear. And you can never find the cocktail ring you’re looking for when you’re rushing out the door.

How to Organize Jewelry

Necklaces should be stored individually or hung vertically so they don’t become tangled with themselves or other jewelry. Bracelets can be kept in a compartmentalized drawer or tray.

Organize earrings by type. Studs and hoops can be stored in small compartments. Dangly earrings should hang vertically to avoid entanglements and damage.

Wherever you store your jewelry, it’s a good idea to store some extra earring backs, jewelry cleaner and silver polish nearby.

If you’re feeling crafty, here are 3 awesome ways to organize your jewelry.

3 Awesome DIY Jewelry Organization Tips

1. Create a burlap earring frame.

You'll need a picture frame, a piece of burlap, acrylic paint, corkboard and a foam brush. Cut the burlap and corkboard to fit your frame. Affix the burlap to your corkboard. Then paint or stamp a design of your choice onto the fabric.

Assemble your new picture frame and you've got a stylish way to display your favorite earrings.

You can read the full tutorial at Suburble (http://www.suburble.com/2013/05/jewellery-organizer-tutorial-that-double-as-fabulous-art-pieces.html)

2. Driftwood Necklace Holder

Pick up a piece of driftwood or an interestingly shaped branch. Grab some paint, picture hangers and screw-in hooks. The driftwood design has a rustic visual appeal, but you could use any type of wood to get the same effect.

It’s a good idea to sand the wood before starting, especially if you acquired it on a nature walk. Paint the driftwood to match your style. You could keep it simple and earthy or embellish it with lots of color.

Attach picture hangers to the back of the wood so you’ll be able to hang it on your wall. Then screw hooks into the bottom. Space the hooks about an inch apart from each other. That way, your necklaces will hang freely and avoid becoming tangled.

Get step-by-step instructions at Lovely Indeed (http://lovelyindeed.com/diy-painted-driftwood-hanger/)

3. Bangle Bracelet Holder

Bangle bracelets are tricky to store. They don’t quite fit into most jewelry boxes and they don’t hang well on a hook.

Rather than stash them in the dark corners of your dresser drawers, create a bangle holder from items you already own.

Most bottles fit bangle bracelets quite well. Simply grab a bottle — any beer or soda bottle will do — and stack your bracelets vertically around the bottle.

If you want to make your bracelet collection part of your décor, opt for a decorative bottle that’s slightly larger than the bracelets. They’ll stack nicely and rest around the bottle without falling to the bottom.

What DIY jewelry organization tips would you like to share?

Are you overwhelmed with clutter? Do you need help going through your stuff? 

Hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer to help you!

925-548-7750

www.collectorcare.com

Why are Professional Organizers Expensive?

Hey Collectors - it's been way too long! I have been super busy with Collector Care, and it's a good thing. I have been out clutter busting, training people in the field, setting up our new office, buying a new truck - and recording a podcast - life is good. Now that things have settled I plan to put more time into my blog, so you my wonderful Collectors can hear all about what's going on with organizing, hoarding, chronic disorganization, and clutter.

One question I get a lot on estimates and over the phone is "why are Professional Organizers expensive?" Well for one we are legitimate. You get what you pay for okay? You might think there is "nothing to organizing", it's "just like housecleaning", etc.

Collectors, insurance and bonding is expensive. Just think, you are having someone go in your home and through all of your personal items, god forbid they break something or hurt themselves. You get what you pay for. If you are being cheap about hiring an organizer there is a very high likely hood that they are cheap for a reason. If they were paying business insurance and dues, they would be charging much more.

Real quick, I will tell you two stories about my experience working with people after they had no success with someone they found for cheap. One was from TaskRabbit and the other was from good ole' Craigslist. The names have been changed to protect the disorganized.

Story 1: When I got to Mary's home the odor of garbage was incredibly strong walking up her driveway. The front door had disintegrating bankers boxes stacked high on either side, and the front door itself was almost off the hinges. I knocked a couple times before I heard a raspy voice yelling at me to "come in!".  New Amazon, QVC, and Google Delivery boxes were stacked up in the foyer and the smell of rotten food got progressively worse. You see Mary was diabetic and had recently fallen badly in her home and was basically stuck on her couch. She had no pathway to the bathroom or kitchen. She was still compulsively shopping. She was very distraught not only because of her current situation, but that she had hired two inexperienced, uninsured organizers off the craigslist and they basically ransacked her home. She felt as though jewelry were missing and possibly cash. She was too embarrassed about her home to call the police.

Story 2: Veronica is a busy mom. She feels like her laundry, paperwork, and clutter has piled up and she wants help decluttering and putting some systems in place so that she can manage her family and stuff easily. She hopped onto TaskRabbit and found someone to come over and help. Awesome right? No. They were super nice but they had never organized professionally before. When they were done Veronica was left with neatly folded piles of laundry, neat piles of paper and bins overflowing with toys. No systems were put in place. No transference of skills happened. By the following month her clutter had crept in again.

An awesome Pro Organizer has been trained and has experience. We have associations for our profession. We pay for our association dues, our classes, and meet often. Try and find someone who is involved in their community, the chamber of commerce, or volunteering. Check out their reviews online to see what other Clients had to say.

Additionally, when we do our larger jobs we dispose of things properly, which means more fees and specialized licensing. We use our vehicles which we have to maintain to transport all donations and debris. Yesterday Tony and Katie spent 3 hours cleaning and disinfecting our truck after rotten food managed to spill and splatter all over the inside and our supplies. No fun. We spend a lot on organizing and cleaning supplies. We spent countless hours to and from donation centers and electronic recycling centers. This is all before and after we have worked all day. These are the same fees other larger companies have to absorb as well.

Hopefully you will take into this blog into consideration when you are looking for help with your clutter. Cheaper is not always better.

Rachel Seavey

Professional Organizer and Blogger for Collector Care.

Collector Care Professional Organizers and Extreme Cleaners.

www.collectorcare.com 

925-548-7750 

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