AS THE WORLD RETURNS TO NORMAL, WE CAN’T GO BACK TO BUSINESS-AS-USUAL.

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So, now that you have cleaned out your closets, drawers and
basements. What do you do with all this STUFF! This is a system I did
not invent but I have come close to perfecting. Some people do
another pile for trash, I throw it away as I go. This makes it easier for
me when I look at the piles to not feel so overwhelmed!
I know It’s not easy to let go of the objects you’ve accumulated over
the years, but there is a way to determine which items should stay and
which items should go. Ask the following questions to see where your
items fall into the three designated piles below:
● Will I Need It? I know: you can’t predict the answer and that’s the
whole point!
● Can I Get It? If you thought you needed it at some point in the
future, but you didn’t have it, would it be easy (and cheap) to get
it again?
● Is It Serving You? If it’s not serving you, it’s clutter.
Now that you have all the items in their designated piles. Let’s talk
about where we can easily consign or donate.

CONSIGN
Consigning or selling online can be very time consuming but getting a
little extra cash can also be worth your time, if done right! I prefer to
just use my local Facebook groups. Snap a picture,sell it and set it out
on the porch. The next thing you know there is money under the mat.
If that is not your jam, you can take it to a consignment shop and they
will sell your items and keep part of the money for doing so. This is a
good option if you have a lot of items, especially clothes. I use Clothes
Mentor. They buy your items out right for cash, or you can choose to
take more money but you take it in a credit for their store. My next
favorite place is Second Chance. They do not pay you until your items
have sold and they keep a percentage of the profit. If your items do
not sell you choose to pick them up or they will donate them.
For furniture and housewares, I use One More Time. They are located
in Grandview and will pick up large pieces of furniture and again will
pay you when the piece sells. One more favorite is Grandview
Mercantile; they specialize in higher priced items and art.

DONATE
Our excess can become a blessing to other people! The items in our
closets, our drawers, and our basement are almost always still usable
or can be used by somebody. I personally use the Goodwill,
Volunteers of America, or The Kidney Foundation of Central Ohio. The
latter will actually come to your house and pick up the items you have
to donate.
Here is the link to schedule the pick up. As well as a list of things they
do and do not take.
https://outofthecloset.org/donate/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwrsGCBhD1ARI
sALILBYpp4xdpfK1z175ivurAg8TZ-vUyd_zqyLABE636gPSx3gob
gbo3kBEaAm76EALw_wcB

KEEP
Finally, the keep pile is all the items we have to manage to put
back in the drawers, closets, or basements. We do this by now making
sure we have the best containers or organizers for the space. I talked
about this in my basement organization blog a few weeks ago, go for
clear containers so you can see what you have as well as use a label
maker to organize things even more.

All homes need a spruce up in the spring, I like to start with giving our yard (front and back) a good raking. There are always some dead leaves and branches on the ground, just getting those off the grass will give the exterior a clean look. Depending on your area your grass might be a bit on the long side. So, give it a mow and you will notice how much neater everything looks.

Focusing on the exterior of the home, not only making sure the yard and flowers look great, but what about the siding, sidewalks, and your garage door? Getting these power-washed to get the dirt and winter grime off is a great way to make your home look ready for spring, and summer months, and is also important in the up-keep of your home. You always wash your car when it’s dirty right? Same thing with your home. We have partnered with a local business, Siding Sudz, and they are offering 20% off on services when you schedule and tell them you’re in communication with us! Give them a call, or text today to schedule! Siding Sudz – 614.918.7588.

Flowers are a great way to add a splash of color to your home. You might not want to make a huge investment in flowers this early in the spring season, especially living in Ohio and we are never sure when we will get that last freeze.  A great alternative are planters at the front of the house and if you have patio space out back, some planters out here go a long way in making things feel tied together as well. 

You may be wondering what flowers can handle this unpredictable spring weather? Potted Pansies are a great option, they are sturdy and colourful and if you take care of them, they will last all summer.  A bit of height is a good idea when creating your planters – in the spring we love forsythia – the pop of yellow draws the eye in! Ivy is a great all weather spill plant. Remember these 3 words when creating a planter: Spill, Fill and Thrill!

Troy sits down (virtually) with Chris Lundak, from Lundak’s Gutter Cleaning, and ask him some great questions, and gets a little more in-depth on the importance of making sure gutters are maintained, and covers a few more recommendations from the expert. Take a look at the video below, and meet Chris.

Lundak’s Gutter Cleaning

614-588-4500 lundak1147@gmail.com

Troy has put together some great information in a couple short videos that provide an insider look into the current real estate market, along with highlighting why the time is now to sell your home… and the best ways to navigate buying and selling in today’s market. Check out the videos below!

Lundak’s Gutter Cleaning LLC

Spring is right around the corner, and that means a whole host of outdoor chores for homeowners. One of the most important but often overlooked tasks is checking gutters for winter debris and damage.

A properly functioning gutter system protects your home from water damage by draining water from the roof and funneling it away from the house. When the gutters and downspouts are clogged, however, water can back up and damage the roof, fascia, soffits, and siding.Experts like Chris Lundak, of Lundak’s Gutter Cleaning, agree that regular examination and maintenance will help reduce the need for gutter repairs and replacement. Looking up at the gutters from the ground it is very difficult. Having an expert get on your roof is best as most problems with built-up debris are only noticed when on the roof. If this is left unmanaged along with spring rains it will cause damage.

Lundak’s Gutter Cleaning LLC

6155 Jaycox Rd

Galena, OH 43021

614-588-4520

lundak1147@gmail.com

Jamie Vagnier

I will admit basements tend to be the catch all for everything that does not have a “home” in our house. “Hey mom, where does this go?” … Put it in the basement!!  “Hey honey, where is the____?” … Check in the basement!!

So if you are ready to put some organization to your chaos in the dreaded basement here are a few tips:

First of all a basement does not have to be finished to be functional. The shelves above are adjustable which is great, they are also metal which can be wiped off easily. Next it’s all about the BINS…Let’s be honest: the most fun part of an organizing project is picking cute bins, right?!?

It’s so tempting to start a project by heading to the store and buying all of the organizing tools, gadgets, containers, and more. But when I start with buying organizing pieces, I often end up with many pieces I don’t need. Then, I find myself running back to the store again and again because inevitably I discover that there’s a piece I could use but don’t have.

I’ve learned that it is important for me to go through all of my items first, discarding anything we no longer use or need, and sorting the remaining items into categories. (I will share my 3 category technique for sorting through cluttered areas in a later blog.)

Once I have everything organized I can determine the best containers for them. I see what I have to store in each category, then I can make a plan for what size and shape bins I need and go out and buy them (or even better, use what I already own)! 

The other important thing about the bins is that I find they work best when they are clear so you can see the contents.This makes rummaging through a bin to find your favorite blue scarf so much easier. We can also take this one step further as you can see in the picture above, I love to label. I generally just put something like ‘fall decorations’, which makes it easier to grab when it comes to changing over seasonal decorations!

As you can see the basement does not have to be a place of chaos. With a little time and money well spent you can feel a sense of accomplishment as well as make it easier on you and your family when trying to locate that one thing you are looking for. 

See you next week when we tackle bedroom closets!

Jamie Vagnier

DRAWER ORGANIZATION – Kitchen 

No matter what size your kitchen is, staying organized can be challenging. As  we discussed in the last blog food and pantry items are easy to organize as long as you use (FIFO) first in first out. Now let’s move on to our kitchen drawers and cabinets!  Whether you’re navigating tiny cabinets, narrow drawers, or an overall lack of storage space. There’s a lot to contend with when you’re trying to keep your kitchen tidy while also making sure everything you need is still accessible.

As I have shown above, I love the bamboo expandable drawer organizers. They are great because they expand or contract to be the perfect fit for most drawers. The way I start any organization project is by taking everything out of the drawer and cleaning it. I love the crevice tool on the vacuum cleaner. (Oy I never thought I would say that!!) Then I wipe out the drawer inside and out. Next I put the organization piece or pieces in the drawer or cupboard. Finally I make sure to declutter the items that are going back into the drawer. What goes back in the drawer or cabinet is entirely up to you, but the endgame is to keep each like items with like items once you return everything to the cabinets or drawers.

One last thing I want you to remember is that just because your silverware drawer has always been in the  island…IT DOES NOT HAVE TO STAY THERE. WHAT WHAT???. Yes, we often set up kitchen cabinets and drawers when we first move into a house but we don’t change them when we figure out our personal workflow. This is important from an organization standpoint as well as just a time stand point when it comes to cleaning and cooking. 

The more often you do this, the more functional and beautiful your kitchen will be.  

Please, join me next Tuesday when we tackle the basement.