Organize Archives

HOW TO REPURPOSE RETAIL BOXES

April 23, 2022

How to repurpose retail boxes for a repurposed life. Please pin or tweet to your favorite retailers. This post has been updated to reflect additional ideas so we all look to repurpose a little bit more.Happy Earth Day

I love the ease of click-and-ship purchases; the convenience, the free shipping and the no hassle returns of my favorite retailers. But, I don’t love the guilt that sneaks up on me when I toss or break down the familiar brown boxes into the recycle bin.

If you have stopped by Everyday Edits for 1/2 a minute (some of you are here less than 15 seconds) you know I love to repurpose stuff.

Like these heavy-duty Anthropologie shopping bags.

After I placed a recent order for hand soaps and candles imagine my excitement when this box was delivered to my front door.

So when I ordered my quarterly Bath & Body Works foaming hand soaps and seasonal candles I was just as excited in the plaid boxes as the pumpkin spice candles.

I had to figure out a way how to repurpose these adorable blue and white buffalo check boxes.

So for a few seasons, I hoarded Bath & Body Works boxes. I just stored them in the basement.

HOW TO UPCYCLE RETAIL BOXES

For a caffeinated fueled moment, I considered framing the flat sides of the retail boxes for my office walls. But, as the caffeine wore off, I decided to start with a less ambitious project. One that only required a roll of clear packing tape.

I folded the plaid facing sides of the Bath & Body Works boxes to the exterior side of the box and secured them with a clear, clean edge of packing tape.

That’s it! Never overthink a way how to repurpose retail boxes.

I used these sturdy boxes when I reconfigured this closet.

With a few boxes remaining (remember I saved them for several seasons) I used one side of a Bath & Body Works box and framed it. I thought it would be a cute way to coordinate the pattern in my office.

With the same idea, I combined two panels and added this inexpensive wall art to my daughter’s room.

I wonder how long until my family recognizes the familiar retailer’s packaging?

And, then I will wait for …

collective eye roll.

There is always an eye roll after mom repurposes an everyday object that deserves a repurposed life.

Seriously, are these not the cutest retail boxes ever?

Are you taking note Chewy? Target? Amazon? Nordstrom? I wish Chewy would create a box with bio-degradable ink and paw prints. How cute would that be! Someone tweet this to Chewy!

Before you go check out what I repurposed to make these placemats!

Who knew recycling could be so much fun? If you love repurposed ideas would you sign up for my easy breezy 4-minute newsletter called the Weekend Edit. It shows up on Saturday mornings in your inbox and I share my favorite finds, tips and one-hour projects.

You can sign up here.

5 Simple Ideas to Keep the Kitchen Sink Pretty

March 25, 2022

This is my busy season and the Denver real estate market is crazy! At my house, the first room to show distress is the kitchen. And, the sink is the workhorse in the kitchen. And, with my college-age son home for the summer, and his newfound love of cooking, my kitchen sink looks like a food truck after a night serving 150 burgers … with all the fixings. So in an attempt to take control of my kitchen, here are 5 simple ideas to keep the kitchen sink pretty.

IDEAS TO KEEP KITCHEN SINK PRETTY

These ideas work well in my kitchen because they are … simple.

I pulled a few key elements and switch it out for a new mood or season.

IDEAS

1. PLANT

I love real plants next to the sink because it’s near a water source. The plant’s chance of survival increases dramatically if in close proximity to the sink. I prefer small, easy to maintain (real) plants, but it is your sink, your rules. Adding a plant next to the sink is an unexpected pop of color. And, yes I am growing (real)grass in one of these jars.

5-simple-ideas-to-keep-kitchen-sink-pretty-everyday-edits

2. CONTAINMENT

Taking a cue from Pinterest, I propped the cleaning products on a cake plate from the Target dollar section. I usually have a hodgepodge of brands. But, I loved how pretty the sink looked with matching cleaning products.

Dish soaps and cleaning products made my HomeGoods favorite finds list.

3. HANDTOWELS

If there is one thing a sink needs it is towels. I found these cute Turkish towels at one of my favorite online stores here. The towel hooks are from a Pottery Barn outlet years ago. The towel hooks are actually on my island, located behind my sink so they are hidden from most of the kitchen’s angles.

5-simple-ideas-to-keep-kitchen-sink-pretty-everyday-edits

Of course, this little guy found the hand towels. He is so stinkin’ cute I just took his photo.

5-simple-ideas-to-keep-kitchen-sink-pretty-everyday-edits

4. CANDLE

I love candles. But, I love a candle by the sink because it keeps the surrounding area (garbage disposal) smelling seasonally fresh.

5-simple-ideas-to-keep-kitchen-sink-pretty-everyday-edits

5. OUT OF SIGHT

I buy a few cleaning products in bulk like baking soda and vinegar. Both products are stain and odor-fighting agents for puppy accidents. But I don’t like to drag them out from under the sink because they tend to stay on the counter. So I repurposed empty cleaning bottles and keep them near the sink-where they hide in plain sight.

Speaking of under the sink. This is my go-to staple for under the sinks in my house.

The sink and the surrounding area stays clean because all the essentials are on display and within reach. Not excuses. What tricks do you have to keep the kitchen sink clean?

DONE

5 EASY WEEKEND HOME MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

January 20, 2022

We finished Season 4 of Yellowstone. As we settle into the winter months some of us get antsy for spring yard projects. But here are five home maintenance projects you can finish in a weekend. We are getting antsy here in Colorado. But here are 5 home maintenance projects you can finish in a weekend. These ideas are all inside tasks so you can put on Netflix and get to work.

EASY

The skill level is set to easy, but some of you may break into a sweat when you read #3. But you can do it!

Show your home a little love and it will reward you when it is time to sell! #realtorlife

HOME MAINTENANCE PROJECTS ON A WEEKEND

We all know the home projects that we find every reason not to complete. You know like cleaning the baseboards or touching up the knicks and bumps the walls endure during the year. The ones that we ignore until we decide to list our homes or just get the list done.

Well, these projects work for those of us with no plans to move but getting antsy in the winter.

I talked about these ten things to do now before spring cleaning or a potential move.

Who has watched It’s a Wonderful Life? Remember every time George Baileyran up or down the stairs he ended up with the newel post in his hand. And, equal amounts of frustration.

THE LIST

FIX WHAT’S SQUEAKS & TIGHTEN BALLUSTERS ON STAIRCASE.

I wonder if George Bailey thought about staining or painting his staircase once he got the bank situation figured out?

On a side note; Where do you weigh in on stain vs. painted staircases? I go back and forth between paint and stain. Of course, it worked out great when I painted our stained front door.

2. ORGANIZE PAINT

Maybe this is the weekend to sort through the dozens of paint cans in the garage. Can you imagine what we could do with the space created if we stored the1/12 of the remaining paint in mason jars?

3. FURNACE FILTERS

Fun fact: The first thing I ever ordered on Amazon was a box of furnace filters?

I know right? What does that say about me? My friends and family are not surprised.

I know it sounds silly, but it was a home maintenance task I tossed to my husband (and then I would remind him to change it a dozen times).

Now I manage the filters! It calms me.

This was the old filter. Ewww……

I wrote a post on how to change the furnace filter.

4. CLEAN + TOUCHUP BASEBOARDS

What about your baseboards? The ones with scuff marks and yellowed edges from where the mop meets the base. Put on a Netflix movie and scoot yourself around the room with a paintbrush and a can of glossy white paint.

paint the baseboards for a weekendhome maintenance project

But, make sure to wipe down the baseboards.

I ordered these microfiber towels. I use and toss in the wash.

Freshly painted baseboards are one of my go-to home improvement projects. It’s also something buyers look at when touring a home. It kind of offers a glimpse of what the closets will look like. #realtorlife

5. CAULK WINDOWS

Next up, with Bridget Jones streaming in the background, grab the caulk and caulk the drafty windows and baseboards that need a fresh bead of caulk (after you paint the baseboards)!

What does it say about me that I love a fresh bead of caulk? I have a 1/2 dozen tubes of caulk in this closet.

What home maintenance projects do you dread, but know you will feel so much better once they are complete?

What projects would you add to this list?

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MY FAVORITE APP TO GET ORGANIZED

December 30, 2021

With the new year comes goals and promises. For me, my goal (every year ) is to get organized. Usually, closets are the first thing on my list to organize in January. This is a favorite closet clean up project. So this year I am going in a different direction with a goal to organize my files and paper trails. My goal is to eleminate folders of receipts and immunization forms dating back to the first run of Friends. Today I want to share my favorite tech hack to stay is an app on my phone.

MY FAVORITE APP TO STAY ORGANIZED

SOLVES A PROBLEM

TurboScan

TurboScan eliminateded the adrenaline rush when I got calls like this one, “Mom, I need a copy of my immunization forms or I can’t try out for the tennis team. ”

Or, texts like this one, “Do you have a copy of the furnace receipt from last spring?”

My “favorite” call was from my son (my righty) to tell me I forgot to sign his field trip permission slip. And, he will be the only child who can’t get on the bus unless that permission slip was received in the next 12 minutes.

The reason I no longer panic is because of TurboScan. This app changed my life.

TurboScan to the Rescue

Turbo Scan is an app (I use the free version) that allows me to photograph (scan) paper documents with my phone.

TurboScan App

HOW IT WORKS

You might be wondering, “Can’t I just take a photo?”

Here is how it works! Details

TurboScan changed my personal and work life. It’s a free app in the Apple app store. The official name is TurboScan™ Pro – document & receipt scanner By Piksoft Inc. There might be a paid version, but the free app works for my needs.

It takes a scan (photo) of a document, permission form.. anything. It creates a border around the image to make sure you capture what you need. And, even when the image looks gray or grainy it almost always captures a clear image.

Turbo Scan allows me to save documents directly to my Dropbox (another favorite) and/or email a copy in a pdf format to my email or to the recipient. It keeps a copy of any scanned documents too, but I always save a copy to my Dropbox account. I’m just a bit of a control freak.

My husband first shared this app with me a few years ago. And, I use it almost every day.

And, if you are just a smidge like me, your desk (my command center) begins to look like this as the new year approaches.

Take a photo inside the app. It takes 3 photos.
Next the app prompts if you want to email or save as pdf.
I always save as a pdf & send to my email. This allows for a seamless file share for work or personal use.
The document is also stores a copy inside the app until you delete it.
This is a nice backup (or plan B as I am all about a Plan B). #realtor life.

I regularly use this app for home repair receipts, vaccination updates.

Oh and the best part is when someone needs me to fax somthing (rarely these days) but it still happens. Now I just ask for an email and send it as an attached pdf. It’s a clean copy with no blurry images.

I just pile up the paper until January rolls around to get organized.

Clear the clutter by snapping a photo of the paper, document. It’s more professional because it saves it as a pdf for clients, the front office or service providers. The one suggestion I have with this app is to turn off the overhead light above the document or receipt. The light can add a shadow to the document.

Please pin!

After a week using this app, I ditched my fax/scanner (donated to one of my son’s teachers). TurboScan is the best iPhone app for the new year. Let me know if you download it and what you think? Do you have a favorite app to stay organized? Please share in the comments.

Here is another hack for Sunday.

DO THIS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

September 16, 2021

Sharing simple tips to prep the salt and pepper shakers simple before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving will be here before you finish the Halloween candy. It will be here because Hallmark and Starbucks tell us it’s fall (in August). So now is the time to do all the things you will wish you had done before Thanksgiving.

Pin this under tips!

PREP THE SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

STEPS TO PREP SALT +PEPPER SHAKERS

Gather all of your salt and pepper shakers and your salt and pepper.

Next, here is a tip I tried and it worked well. Place a damp paper towel on the counter and then set out your salt and pepper shakers. The damp paper towel holds the salt and pepper

HOW TO LOAD THE SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS

Next, load those petite seasoning vessels with salt and pepper. Now the debate starts here. Yes even salt and pepper shakers are a hot topice. The question is do we still want to use the two hole shaker for the pepper or is it better to use the two hole shaker with salt?

I found my pour was better when I raised the pepper above the mouth of the shaker. I mean it’s still messy, but the paper towel gives you a fighting chance.

You will feel great knowing it’s done because no one wants to pause while prepping the Thanksgiving table and fill (spill) salt and pepper over every kitchen surface.

Sidenote: Who decided shakers require microscopic holes the size of a needle.

I know what some of you are thinking. There is plenty of time to do Thanksgiving and holiday prep details. Right?

But, right now between Hallmark’s Autumn Leaves and White Christmas go ahead and haul out the salt and pepper shakers and get ‘er done before Thanksgiving.

What are some other time-saving tips you like to do now before the calendar says it’s two more sleeps until Thanksgiving?

Please share in the comments!

Here’s another weekly hack (tip) to start your Mondays!

In the meantime, stock up on the salt and pepper. Who knew ground pepper was so pricey.

Please pin for later on your Thanksgiving or Tips or Hacks Pinterest boards!

Looking for more seasonal tips? Please sign up for my newsletter! Or sign up a friend or family member (just give them a heads up).

WEEKLY IDEAS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

ENTRY CLOSET HACK

January 21, 2021

an entry closet hack is basically a career change for a closet

Can we agree that closets are essentially oversized cabinets? And for me, a perfect Sunday includes snow, a Nora Ephron movie and uninterrupted time to organize my kitchen cabinets.

So it was only a matter of time before I would decide to create an entry closet hack.

If you follow Everyday Edits on Instagram you know I love to hashtag #brownstoneinthesuburbs.

Our home has four flights of stairs and an entry closet that never sees coats because everyone except our friends, parents and siblings enters our house through our garage.

You can see Chloe in front of our entry door.

The coats ended up in the built-in benches next to the entryway off the garage. This is where Chloe and Elliott like to wait for someone to come home.

It sounds complicated but this entry closet hack is anything but complicated. It was essentially a career change for a twenty-year-old closet that wanted a new purpose after storing out of season coats and mismatched gloves.

ENTRY CLOSET HACK

My obsession with cleaning products like this new favorite was looking to upsize from their tiny under the sink cabinet storage.

STEPS TO CREATE AN ENTRY CLOSET HACK

1. Clear out everything in the closet. Everything.

2. It goes without saying, but if my boys were in charge of cleaning out the closet they would skip the step that says sweep + mop closet floor.

3. I added these boxes to my closet and took inventory of what I stored in the entry closet. Spend a few minutes at the must-haves you want in the closet.

4. I made easy peasy labels with a vintage software program. Do any of you remember Microsoft Word?

I used clear packing tape to adhere the labels to the front of the boxes.

We are not solving chemistry problems here at Everyday Edits.

5. I saved the top shelf for all my collection of tiered trays. Tiered trays take up valuable cabinet space so I store them here. I know: #firstworldprobs

Sidenote: I love this tiered tray hot cocoa bar.

5.1 This is my signature piece! It is from the Container Store and this storage unit has been on the backs of several doors in our house.

She has stored wrapping paper, crafts and she found her forever purpose with paper towels and cleaning products. Here is a cheaper option at Walmart.

You guys I am so in love with my closet hack! I keep things in one spot so there is no more running around looking for the stash of paper towels or lightbulbs.

Oh, wait, one more thing. If you are thinking of selling your home this closet hack is a great place to start! #realtorlife #sellersmarketrightnow

Please pin for later!

WEEKLY IDEAS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

How to Repurpose a Paint Can in One Step

October 20, 2020

You would have think I found time to sort through dozens of near-empty paint cans when I came home and discovered this oozing from under the door of our entry closet.

But now that my husband may never leave his home office I need to control something. So I decided to organize and repurpose stuff.

I was this close to tossing the empty paint cans when I got one of my repurposing ideas that drives my husband crazy.

It’s like when Daphne Moon got one of her visions (Frasier on Peacock network).

. That is what my repurpose ideas are like for me .. a vision.

I put aside a few empty cans and forgot about them until I was working on my fall front porch. I was running back and forth from the garage to find a strand of lights for the porch.

And, then I got distracted by the 1/2 dozen empty paint cans. You know the drill, right. Distraction… distraction from the distraction. I am like a squirrel …with a cup of coffee.. on a swing.

Does anyone else get distracted while working on one project and end up on a completely different project?

I abandoned my search for twinkly lights and grabbed an empty Home Depot and headed to the porch.

HOW TO REPURPOSE A PAINT CAN

This repurposed project is a reminder to keep a bin or closet or corner to toss containers into until boredom or a total distraction leads to a practical upcycle.

Like this paint can.

I buy most of my paints at Home Depot with the formulas for the brand’s paint color. It’s convenient to get my paint at the Depot because I can wander the aisles while I wait for 2 gallons of these paint colors.

Save Empty Paint Cans

2. Make sure the paint can is empty & dry.

The best part of this idea is you don’t have to give up your kitchen sink for a half a day to soak the paint can in soapy water to remove the label.

3. Nope, you just pull off the label

and there is this perfect vessel just waiting for a makeover.

That’s the simple tip.

The almost smooth finish is hiding under the label. There is a line of adhesive where the label was attached, but that was easily hidden behind the pumpkin.

It’s like a before and after reveal.

Under the paint drips and the rusty lid is this perfect shade of a chalky black can. It is perfection for a girl who loves to upcycle the most random objects.

It’s like Cinderella getting out of the garage and onto the front porch.

4. Add flowers.

And, congratulate yourself for finding a new use for a can of paint. Villa shared a few more paint can upcycle ideas too.

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER PAINT & WHY

October 15, 2020

how to store leftover paint in mason or recycled jars

Even with three months at home, I found excuses to not organize the gallon size cans of leftover paint in the garage. But I found time to watch 97 episodes of the Gran Hotel with English subtitles.

But after six months with my husband happily working from home I found a reason to spend a few hours in my garage sorting through the leftover paint.

In the garage, staring back at me I had over a dozen gallon size paint cans and just as many quart size cans.

If my right elbow twinged when I picked up the paint I stored it back on the garage shelf. That meant there was more paint than a jar could hold.

If there was no “give” in the paint can the paint had dried up from a lazy paint lid?

But if there was less than 1/4 of a can of paint I gave it a proper mason jar and screwtop lid.

Here is how I store that last 1/8 of a Hale Navy or Kendall Charcoal paint can. You guys some of these (Made in the USA) mason jars have stored paint for more years than the paint color was on the walls.

My daughter’s bedroom was pink for a very hot minute.

Can we agree that everything looks better in a mason jar?

Most of my nearly empty cans or plastic containers looked like this when I pulled them out of the garage shelf.

See below for a quick review of how I store leftover paint.

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER PAINT

Round up mason jars or recycled glass jars with lids.

Tip: Use the wide mouth and/or shorter mason jars for touchup paint tasks.

Mason or recycled jars work best for that 1″ of paint at the bottom of the can.
Label the color and finish. I include the paint # too because Home Depot color matches the top brands.
I used these labels and it includes a chalk pen.
Store the jars in a cool or temp stable spot. I store my mason jars in this closet.

Tip: I keep a few foam brushes in the closet so I can grab a jar of paint and make a quick touchup.

But a funny thing happened when I transferred the paint into mason jars.

It had nothing to do with paint. It was like when the Grinch realized Christmas wasn’t about packages and bows. Well, neither was the task of how to store leftover paint.

Nope, the best reason was organizing the leftover paint motivated me to clean and tackle those nagging home maintenance tips like the taunting you paint touchups.

Once I sorted through the paint I ended up with empty shelves. Empty!

And, then once I had the leftover paint in mason jars with cute labels it motivated me to tackle those nagging paint touchups. With the leftover paint in jars I no longer postponed touchups because of the thought of sorting thru paint cans and hauling up paint cans for a dozen touchups.

It was liberating!

Mason jars make everything prettier and more manageable. I now keep touch-up paint in mason jars in this closet.

And, for those wondering if that paint “keeps” in a mason jar. The short answer is yes. I found these jars online and sometimes they are on sale at Kroger.

5 Items to Clean More Often

February 24, 2020

Sharing 5 items around the house we should clean more often.

Ewww….! The older I get the more freaked out I get about everyday household items that missed the Lysol. I can think of three family members that should read this list. In some ways, this list of items stems from my wee bit of OCD tendencies. The tendencies that shifted into a higher gear when my kids left for college. Translation: I had more time to think about bacteria. Today I am sharing …

5 ITEMS TO CLEAN MORE OFTEN.

Why only five items? Because I don’t want anyone to feel overwhelmed by this task. Besides, #2 on the list will set you into a cleaning frenzy.

And, if you are a dog owner and read this post you were busy last week.

Grab the bleach wipes!

5 Items to Clean More Often

These are the items that we forget about versus the ones we forget about; I know I need to change the furnace filter, but I fuh-get-about-it.

1.Mattresses:

Think about this- we clean our sheets weekly, but then we put those freshly laundered sheets back on the mattress. On a good day, my mattresses get a swipe of Lysol. But, we share our bed with Chloe (Elliott’s older sister). She sleeps on her brother’s bed during the day. So there’s all that in the mattress.

Solution: If I am short on time the mattresses get Lysol. If I plan ahead and buy baking soda in bulk. I add baking soda to the mattress while the sheets are in the laundry.

I do not drag a vacuum cleaner over the mattress. Because our vacuum has picked up stuff that does not need to be in contact with our bed.

Now, I need to add the vacuum cleaner to this list.

2. Salt & Pepper Shakers:

I know, right? Have you checked the salt & pepper shakers? These salt and peppers shakers are grabbed and shared every day. Eww… if you need a visual just think about where your hands were during an afternoon of errands.

3. Door Handles

One of my kids came home for the holidays with bronchitis. His physician said dorm rooms are breeding grounds for germs. I sent my son Lysol wipes with instructions to wipe down the inside and outside of his dorm room’s door handle. I do the same thing on our most popular doors and entry doors.

4. Handbags

Here is a fun assignment. Grab a damp paper towel or a cleaning wipe and wipe the bottom of your bag. Give it a few passes and see what shows up on the wipe? And, then swipe the handbag’s strap.

5. Steering Wheel, gear shift, lock switches, radio, etc.

I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the pocket of the driver and passenger sides of my car. Now, I do believe in building up an immunity to germs (I am the daughter of a nurse) so I use this after leaving places that feel particularly icky.

I should probably take a look at the back seat too! #elliott

This is a great spring cleaning reminder. Here is another list of items that work for soon to be sellers, people thinking about a move or those of us who just need to box up some of the stuff. Make sure to clean the items before you box them!

And, if you want to watch a how to clean a mattress video tutorial, set to a Mad Men music vibe, click here.

10 Items To Pack Before the 1st Showing | Video

January 21, 2020

We all think about it, right? Listing our house. It’s the middle of winter and we have spent the month of January binging DIY shows. Maybe it is time downsize or move to a quieter location and live a Hallmark movie lifestyle. #wink Or, maybe you want to move to the city with an elevator and a parking garage. I get these calls from clients who just want to talk through a potential move. And, often that talk ends with my suggestion of the 10 items to pack before the 1st showing.

When my sellers get an offer (and go under contract) they never say, “I am so glad we didn’t pack any of this crap up before we listed our home.” Never.

10 Items to Pack Before the 1st Showing

Whatever your plans may be, here is a list of things to pack before the first showing. And, the best part of this list; it’s just a reminder to re-evaluate and ask the questions: Do we games with missing game pieces or

Will, I re-read American History from freshman year in college. Or for some of us, the question might be “Will I read my American History college textbook?

There are many reasons to pack everyday items before listing your home. I remind my sellers that buyers want to visualize themselves in the seller’s home. Potential buyers do not want to see 12 years of accumulated games, books and personal hygiene products in their future home.

10-items-to-pack-before-your-1st-showing

One of the biggest mistakes sellers and listing agents make is in the excitement of getting the house on the market, the home likely needs two more rounds of the “pack & stack” method.

The pack & stack method is my version of Marie Kondo’s method.

With just a few additional days or weeks, sellers can thoughtfully pack and stack boxes in a garage pane, basement or storage unit. It gives the seller time to make trips to the donation center or to make arrangments to haul out the big stuff.

This process makes rooms appear larger and cleaner. Here is a list of items I recommend to my clients to pack before the home is listed.

10 Items to Pack Before the 1st Showing

This list works to organize the clutter for a future list date too. No pressure.

1. Books

Books can be a distraction in home offices. Buyers start to look at the jacket titles and all of sudden they are more curious about the homeowners than the house. Books in kids’ rooms get confused with clutter when a buyer’s eye scans the room.

2. Trophies

Like books, trophies, are distractions. They inadvertently tell a story about the current family. The goal is for the buyers to create their own stories of their (your) home.

And, just like books, trophies scream clutter.

3. Barware & Serving Pieces

Unless you are selling your home during the holidays, go ahead and pack the majority of barware and serving trays. It is a good time to sort through the red and white wine glasses and those 1999 wine glasses with chunky stems.

4. Linens & Closets

Storage is a big deal for most buyers and a stuffed linen closet in a small home is a visual that buyers remember. Organized, lean stacks of linens and empty cabinets give buyers a chance to envision their own stuff in those same closets.

And, yes buyers do open closet doors.

5. Toys & Games

See items 1 & 2. Toys & Games are rarely neatly stacked on a bookcase. Usually, there are smashed covers, random cards and dice. Put aside a few favorites (in a neat closet) and either donate or pack and stack.

6. Holiday & Seasonal Decor

If you are listing your home in April, the goal is to be under contract before Memorial Day. So if you are selling in April and your listing price matches the similar sold numbers you will be out of your current home before the 4th of July (depending on the market you could be out Memorial Day weekend).

So pack & stack the pumpkins, the flocked Christmas trees and the Thanksgiving garland.

7. Seasonal Clothes

They say, okay I say, a closet is a peek into a person’s state of mind! Ha!

You should see my closet right now. It drives my husband nuts.

Wardrobe boxes make it easy to hang clothes and store them in the garage. Of course, it makes sense to hold onto a jacket or puffy vest, but you may not need the snow boots in June. Of course, in Colorado, it is not unusual to get snow above 9000 ft. in July.

8. Paper & Junk Drawers

I have an entire cabinet of greeting cards, stationery, thank you notes and Christmas cards from last year. If a buyer opens a cabinet in an office, and you should assume they will, you do not want the contents of an entire shelf to slide onto the floor. Store them in plastic bags or donate.

Along this same line are the endless crayons, markers, pens pencils, staples, erasers, and notepads.

It will make your drawers appear larger and your home will feel neater.

9. Candles, Vases, Accessories

I have an entire cabinet for new and slightly used candles. I have a cabinet filled with 8oz mason jars from the one year I made strawberry jam. If you are getting ready for a move, chances are you will not make preserves six weeks before you move to a new home or a short term rental.

10. Toiletries & Meds

One of the things I tell sellers to get out of sight (and pack) is the unnecessary toiletries. Buyers do not want to see a homeowner’s morning routine. Pack up the travel size soaps and shampoos, the 11 bottles of nail polish and the Costco 2-pack of Pantene Shampoo/Conditioner.

And, please pack up the bathroom rugs.

Video Recap:

The goal is to make your house shine and to remove your “footprint” from the home. And, guess what happens?

Sellers get excited and motivated to sell. Cleaning, packing and stacking boxes is a great way to get the entire family involved. Let the kids decide what toys must stay on the beds and what games can be boxed or donated.

Yes, there are exceptions to all these things and there are birthday parties and Mother’s Day brunches during listings.

But I suggest sellers pack to the rule; not the exception.

If you are selling your home this spring; good luck. If you have any questions, please ask.

I am a licensed Realtor in Colorado and love all things home! You can contact me here.

HOW TO UPCYCLE RETAIL BOXES

IDEAS TO KEEP KITCHEN SINK PRETTY

IDEAS

DONE

FIX WHAT’S SQUEAKS & TIGHTEN BALLUSTERS ON STAIRCASE.

2. ORGANIZE PAINT

3. FURNACE FILTERS

4. CLEAN + TOUCHUP BASEBOARDS

5. CAULK WINDOWS

MY FAVORITE APP TO STAY ORGANIZED

SOLVES A PROBLEM

TurboScan to the Rescue

TurboScan App

STEPS TO PREP SALT +PEPPER SHAKERS

HOW TO LOAD THE SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS

ENTRY CLOSET HACK

STEPS TO CREATE AN ENTRY CLOSET HACK

HOW TO REPURPOSE A PAINT CAN

Save Empty Paint Cans

2. Make sure the paint can is empty & dry.

3. Nope, you just pull off the label

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER PAINT

5 ITEMS TO CLEAN MORE OFTEN.

5 Items to Clean More Often

1.Mattresses:

2. Salt & Pepper Shakers:

3. Door Handles

4. Handbags

5. Steering Wheel, gear shift, lock switches, radio, etc.

10 Items to Pack Before the 1st Showing

10 Items to Pack Before the 1st Showing

1. Books

2. Trophies

3. Barware & Serving Pieces

4. Linens & Closets

5. Toys & Games

6. Holiday & Seasonal Decor

7. Seasonal Clothes

8. Paper & Junk Drawers

9. Candles, Vases, Accessories

10. Toiletries & Meds