Leaving Behind a Houseful of Stuff

I recently took a course on the many steps involved in clearing out the home of a recently deceased person. There are so many things to consider. And, having also recently helped to clear a home of a hoarder who recently passed, I want to share some of those things.

First, know what you're looking for. Everyone has important things and papers in their space. But, not everyone keeps them in an organized manner. Keep your eyes open for birth certificates, deeds to property, passports, account numbers and the like. These documents will be necessary for the estate executor to carry out their duties. Important finds also include credit cards and keys (to the house, the car, the lock box...).

Second, know what everyone else is looking for. Are there family members or friends that are entitled to a particular item? Has the deceased person bequeathed certain items as a part of their will? If there are a lot of items and/or lots of people who will be claiming the items, consider having a box with each person's name on it. Place items in as they're found, and scratch it off your list.

Third, know when to call in another expert. If you come across items that appear to be rare or of particular value, call in an expert. Antique dealers, jewelry appraisers and even local historians can be of help. Sometimes, we find items that are so old or rare that we don't even know what they are. Online research can at least provide a starting point.

And lastly, know when you're done. If everyone has found the items they were intending to claim, and all sale-worthy items have been sold, it's likely time to start bagging up donations. Donate anything else left in the home that can still be used by someone else. Consider finding a charity with which the deceased was a part or supported, if possible. It can often make the process a little easier knowing that someone else can find use and joy from the items that remain.

4 Tips for Summer Cookouts

The warm weather is here, and all you want to do is bask in it! Planning cookouts, holidays, and weekend parties... They can be a little hectic to plan, so don’t get caught behind schedule.

Plan ahead with these 4 tips:

1.    Plan the menu ahead of time. Give about a week at least for the menu to be planned; then you’ll have time to run to the store for the things you need.

2.    Have ingredients and utensils ready. Immediately following the menu, make sure you have the ingredients to cook with and the utensils to eat with.

3.    Cook things the day before. There are several dishes that can be done in advance, such as pasta salads, potato salads, and more. Food like burgers, hot dogs, and chicken can be cooked the day of so they’re fresh and hot.

4.    Ask guests to bring a dish. You don’t have to do it all! Have your guests bring something yummy. Sometimes you can get a new delicious recipe from it.

5 Tips Before You Start the Moving Process

The entire moving process can be grueling. You may not realize just how much stuff you have until you have to go through it all. Below are 5 tips to do before you start the whole moving process:

1.    Declutter. Get rid of things that you wouldn’t want someone else moving for you. It may be an extra expense. Why pay movers to move boxes of things you’ll never use again?

2.    Pack things you don’t need right away. Packing things before you start moving will give you less of a headache later. Winter gear is a great example. I doubt we’ll be getting snow in May (in Chicago, you never really know though!)

3.    Label boxes properly. Write down the room it’s from and going to, along with what’s inside the box. A box has a lot of surface area so don’t be afraid to get into detail, if you think it will make unpacking easier. You can label boxes way ahead of packing and moving, too, if you want to make sure you have enough boxes to pack certain items.

4.    Make your home generic. In order to sell your home, you have to make it less you and more of a place that buyers can imagine themselves in. Take down memorabilia and photos to help better spin their imagination.

5.    Deep Cleaning. Whether you’re doing it yourself or hire someone, deep clean at both the old and the new place.

Summer Time

You’re going to be spending more time outside now so make it beautiful and relaxing. Buying, building, or salvaging outdoor décor can spice up an area. The smallest touches can have a huge impact.

You also want to make it fun for your kids. Go through the shed or play box that stores their outdoor toys. Toss any that are broken or they’ve outgrown. Donate ones they won’t enjoy, but someone else might. Make room if you decide to keep it or plan on getting them new toys (if need be).

Mother’s Day Mayhem

If you haven’t yet noticed the aisles in stores screaming at you that Mother’s Day is approaching, then consider this your final warning. Rather than giving your mother a cheesy last minute gift just for the sake of giving her something, make it from the heart.

Housework never stops, so see how you can help her with it. Be mindful of the system that’s already been set up, and continue that system yourself. Perhaps there is an area of the house that has gotten a little out of control. Help her organize and declutter it (or, do it for her!). Gifts that actually give her a chance to relax will be valued more.

National Scrapbooking Day

Scrapbooking is a perfect way to blend creativity and nostalgia. This Saturday is National Scrapbooking Day so below are some tips on products and organizing photos.

• If photos are not already grouped by date, set them in piles of 5 year increments or by holiday/celebration.

• Read my tips on Cutting for Business, on how to organize a craft room.

• Group your supplies by product.

• Make sure you have everything you need before you get down to scrapping!

• Have a separate space just for tackling your scrapbook. With large sheets and lots of supplies, it’s easy to take over a whole room.

3 Tips for Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning is different from organizing. It can seem like such a grueling task to do the whole house, apartment or office. Scheduling it in your calendar will make it less daunting though. Read below for tips on how to schedule and what fits your style better.

Choose whether you’d rather tackle one room at a time or one activity at a time. Cleaning room by room requires you to have all the cleaning supplies out at once for each room. You can see the progress though and it gives you motivation to move to the next room.

Cleaning by activity means choosing something like dusting or washing the windows to do in a day. You won’t have as many cleaning supplies out and you can schedule one or two activities a day depending on your schedule.

Tips for Earth Day

Earth Day is this weekend, on the 22nd, so celebrate in nature. There are tons of videos online and organizations for environmental awareness. With the severe problems that the Earth is having, it may seem impossible to change any of it. There are several ways you can help just by incorporating it in your everyday routine.

Having several houseplants increases the amount of oxygen around and creates a relaxing environment. If you don’t think you could keep up the routine of watering consistently, try succulent plants. They require less maintenance and upkeep. All you have to do is soak the soil and water when the soil is completely dry. Larger plants can last a couple days longer in a dry condition.

Making sure you also prune will ensure more fruit and growth. At Fine Gardening, they give tips and illustrations on the proper way to prune and maintain growth of your garden.

For gardening supplies, try not to lose them throughout the yard. Using bright tape to mark it can help you find it easily. At the end of the day, put all the supplies back in one place. Make sure to also keep them out of kids’ reach, when appropriate.

Paperwork Trails

You’re probably getting tired of me saying this, but family members should know where paperwork is. In case of an emergency, important paperwork should be kept in a safe spot that others can get to. These should be things that not only ensure your livelihood, but the livelihoods of your loved ones after you’re gone.

Some types of paperwork to include are:

·   Social Security Card

·   Life insurance policy

·   Wills

·   Bank account numbers

·   Passports

·   Passwords

·   Certificates of birth, marriage, or military

Tips for Tax Time

That dreaded time of year is here again: tax day! Don’t be caught off guard with missing or forgotten paperwork. What you need depends on who you are. What makes you YOU? Talk to your accountant, tax preparer or lawyer about paperwork that specifically pertains to you.

Paperwork could include:

·   Tax forms from work or investment accounts

·   Information for property taxes

·   Student loans

·   Deductibles (for work, medical expenses or donations)

Also, you don’t need to hang onto things for an extremely long time. Professionals say to only hang on to paperwork, like statements from the bank, for seven years.

The IRS includes tips for preparing your taxes. Look through their topics to gain more information on how you can be prepared.