Marianne Snygg, ABR, ASP, GRI

Home Organization Tips

Is your clutter bogging you down? Cleaning up and getting organized doesn't have to be a big chore if you do a little at a time and maintain it. Get organized in no time with these simple tips; start by making a project list and deadline then display it where everyone in the house can see.

Closets: (Clothes, Linen and Storage Closets)

• No regrets. If clothing doesn't fit and you haven't worn it in a year, its time to let it go, even if you do plan on losing 10lbs. You can always buy new clothes when you need them.
• Uncomfortable shoes - Why keep shoes if they hurt your feet every time you wear them?
• Get rid of any ragged clothing, shoes, outerwear or gear. If your mitten doesn't have a mate, toss it.
• Go through linens, towels, tablecloths and give away what you don't need or items that are worn.

Up-keep: Once you overhaul the closets they are easier to maintain. Adopt the mentality of "If I don't need it, give it to someone who does."

Paper:

• Gather all of your paper around the house and start going through it.
• Purchase plastic containers to store children's artwork and school certificates, report cards, etc.
• Purchase, only if you don't already own, a filing cabinet. Fill out the tabs for bills, warranties, health information, insurance, taxes, etc. And every time a bill is paid, file it and so on.
• Any magazines you don't have time to read and if all they do is collect dust, cancel them.
• Shred and recycle; all paper and newspaper can be recycled and reused.

Up-keep: Use a mail organizer to store all of your incoming mail, separate your bills, magazines, letters, etc. and every month go through them and file what you need and discard what you don't.

Storage: (Basement, Garage, Shed and Attic)

Many times so much "stuff" is crammed into one space that you forget what you have. You can solve this by creating a box organizing system.

• Purchase heavy boxes or storage containers and some industrial shelving (if needed).
• Go through everything in a box, don't just look at the items on top and think the box is full of that one thing. There could be that missing photo or charm bracelet you have been looking for at the bottom!
• Put like items together and label the box with its contents.
• Holiday decorations, seasonal clothing and occasionally used items like camping equipment should be stored away and out of your everyday sight. If you don't drink coffee, but you have the coffee maker taking up space on the kitchen counter, store it.
• Get rid of any unwanted gifts, yard utensils and any memorabilia that you don't have sentimental attachment to.

Up-keep: Any time you have something new to store make sure to update the box contents. Also every year go though some of the boxes and weed out items that you haven't used.

The Next Step:

• Goodwill/Charity - Drop off any of your clothing, gear and linens to your local donation center and ask for a receipt for tax purposes.
• Garage Sale - If some of your stuff is valuable and usable and you think you can get money back for it then, host a garage sale and try to sell it. Anything that doesn't sell should be donated.

For more helpful tips on organizing your home and eliminating clutter visit:

www.lifeorganizers.com
www.essortment.com/in/Home.Organizing/index.htm
www.discoverorganization.com/
www.presentationiseverything.net

(Posted in tandem with FAHTCO)

How to Twitter, From a Newbie's Point of View...

Background

• I started Twittering a couple of weeks ago and found it originally, a challenge. However, I kept plugging away, and feel very comfortable now. What did I learn and how did I get past that feeling of being alone at a party?

Sign up or on

• First thing to do is get a Twitter account. Go to www.Twitter.com, get an URL address and sign on. Very easy!
• Now your looking at the Twitter interface. Search for my URL: @mcsnygg, and click on the "follow" button.
• Go to my Twitter page, and check out all the people I'm following. Click on "view all." Add people that look interesting by checking out their Twitter page.
• Initially only add around 50 people, until you get the hang of it.

Interface

• I found that I was having trouble knowing what was going on with the Twitter website. So, I check out a couple of other interfaces. Try downloading and working with Twhirl and TweetDeck. My favorite is TweetDeck, but it doesn't work for everyone. So, try them both, or others if you know of them.
• When you are at any of these interfaces, click on EVERYTHING to learn what it does and how it works.

Joining In

• If you have added a bunch of people to follow, you will get some of them following you. So, here's where you join into the "party." But, you have to have people to follow!
  • Some people, when they sign on, just send an hello to the entire community. You do that by just typing in a greeting. Everyone on the network will see it. You might or might not get a response. Don't be discouraged.
  • Start reading the posts, and if you find one that looks interesting to you, send at message to the person posting what interest you. It's done by typing their name (there's an easier way on Twhirl and TweetDeck) into the input box and ask a question, or add something to the conversation.
  • If they don't respond, don't feel it's personal. They may have just gotten up and walked away, or perhaps the phone rang. Don't give up, try someone else. There are many, many very friendly people on Twitter.

Questions? Just let me know. I'd be delighted to pay it forward!

This photo, of an Obama rally, was taken yesterday, Sunday, October 26th, 2008 in Denver. His following is amazing...this is a RED state...that's on it's way to BLUE!

This photo was sent to me by my friend who attended the event. She'd gotten up early and left Colorado Springs at 7:30 am. Said she'd stood in line for an hour to get into the area, and then wasn't able to get into the square, had to watch everything from the overflow area! Absolutely amazing!

Social Media Networking and Blogging: The New Party Line?

Do you remember hearing about how telephones used to all be on Party Lines? The way it worked was that you had a specific ring pattern assigned to you and when the ring matched your pattern, the call was for you. Your neighbors shared the telephone line with you, but they had a different ring pattern.

However, curiosity would get the best of most folks, and even when the ring wasn't theirs, people would still pick up the phone and listen in! Sometimes the listener would get caught, and sometimes, they'd get a real good ear full! LOL.

If you needed to make a call, you'd have to pick up the phone and listen to be sure that there wasn't any one else on the phone before you made your call. Of course, when you made your call, you do it by cranking a handle on the phone that would ring up the operator, and she would put your call thru for you. Oh, and also listen in on your call, too.

Fifty or Sixty Years Later

Today, people are blogging and on social media website, everyone together. And we're finding that many of the manners required for getting along with others on today's "party line," still follow the Golden Rules of communication with others. Today's "party lines" are interactive platforms like Twitter, where you get instant response. And Blogs, where communication is a bit different in that it takes a little longer to get feedback from others.

New Rules? Or S-O-S?

Do we need new rules, or is it S-O-S (same old stuff)? With the old telephone party lines, and the rules they used, you weren't supposed to interject yourself into another's conversation. Today, interacting on Twitter, you are supposed to interject. You read, instead of listen, you think before you write, and in today's case, you need to add value. The same is true with blogging. Are these new rules or S-O-S?

What to add?

Value! If you can't add value, post a link back to the writer's blog. And when you want to post a blog, what do you post? Well, what's on your mind? What do you care about? What's your business, how it's doing, what's going on with it?

Here are a couple of Don'ts to keep in mind:

• Don't post on subjects you don't know or don't care about.
• Don't sell to people, get to know them. It's a social media.
• Don't write down to them, don't write over their heads. Remember who your readers are.
• Don't attack the writer. This is a social site, be social, just like at a party.
• Don't use another's words...not without giving proper credit!
• Don't post as a response, "Thanks, great post." If you don'thave anything to say, move along, or leave a link to it on your blog.
• Don't leave a response and then not check back to see if the conversation was continued. Check back, it's only conversation if there's two sides to it.

So, what do you think? What Don'ts would you add? What are your Golden Rules for today's social media and blogging web sites? And if you remember the old party lines, leave your experience here for all of us to enjoy!

There is no doubt that the home buying process can get a little hectic. There are so many homes to look at, factors to consider, and papers to sign that even experienced home buyers can get a little overwhelmed. These tips should help you get into that home of your dreams with the least amount of headaches and stress.

• Do not go it alone. Make sure that you have a trained and experienced real estate agent working for you. A good agent will keep track of the day to day details of your transaction and make sure that you have all the paperwork taken care of.
• Do not change jobs unless it is necessary. Lenders like stability. If a lender sees that you have a stable employment history it's less likely that there will be trouble with your application.
• Do not purchase any new large items. Hold off on buying that new car. With today's gas prices, you might really be tempted to purchase a car, but if you want to get into a home, hold off buying until your in your new home.
• Do not build-up credit card debt. Of course, that's good practice regardless o whether you're trying to get into your first home or just sitting on cruise mode. Don't cancel your revolving credit cards. You need to show your credit history. If you close down all your cards, you'll have no credit. You want some credit, but you don't want the credit limits maxed out.
• Do not plan to purchase a foreclosure home a month before you want to move into it. There's a lot to this topic that I have written about in previous blogs and will write about again. If you would like more info on this subject, just let me know. But basically, it'll take about 4 months to close on a foreclosure transaction. Plan ahead!

Your best advocate in this process is your REALTOR(r). They are skilled at keeping you in the game, out of trouble, and on time. And they can advise you about a reputable lender to use. Contact your Realtor as soon as you start thinking about a sale or purchase, even if you're not planning to purchase for a year or more. The Realtor can put you on the easiest path toward your goal! Happy House Hunting!