If you’re thinking about moving this year, or considering a refresh of your current space, one of the first things to think about is: how do I want to live in this space? We take for granted that at least some of our furniture will work in our new space, no matter where that may be. But it might be a good idea to look around and really SEE your furniture, and whether it’s functioning well for you. Are you looking for less upkeep? Is mobility a factor? Scaling furniture to your room can take some practice and knowing what to keep and not keep depends on the life you want to lead in the space... Read the rest
Category Archives: Downsizing and Organizing
They’ve Got Your Number- Robocallers and How to Avoid Them
If you own a phone, you’ve received an unwanted call from a telemarketer, or spam robocall trying to sell you a product. You may have noticed that many of the calls are from phone numbers that seem to come from your own area or one of your phone contacts, with a familiar area code. This is a practice begun a few years ago called spoofing: that’s highjacking a local number to give the impression the call is local and perhaps from someone you know.
But don’t be fooled – technology has advanced in this area often to the detriment of the innocent consumer who can get inundated with these calls multiple times a day... Read the rest
Holding On: Why it’s So Hard to Let Go of Stuff
One of the most daunting things about moving is dealing with our stuff. We surround ourselves with things that represent “home” to us: keepsakes, papers, books, dishes. Sorting through them in order to let some of it go is much harder for some than others, and can be such a seemingly impossible task that some of us simply stop the process altogether.
What makes us hold onto things we no longer want or need, even if keeping them is a roadblock to moving forward?
The main reason we hold on to things is comfort – being surrounded by things we love can provide a sense of well being and groundedness... Read the rest
Do This, Not That When Preparing for A Move
Moving is one of life’s occurrences that can be time-consuming, expensive and stressful. But there are few practices to consider that can ease the pain of moving as well as the expense. Here is a look at things NOT to do, and things to DO instead:
DON’T wait until the last minute to get ready to move. The longer you wait, the more stumbling blocks you may encounter, like running out of time, not enough boxes, no place to dispose of your items, and moving companies that are too busy to help you.
DO make a plan before you move. Planning out an overall timeline to prepare all of the components of moving (including sorting, organizing, packing, and arranging for help), goes a long way in making move day go more smoothly.
Downsize and Prepare for Moving with Gifting
One of the ways we suggest preparing for moving is to analyze what you want to do with your unwanted items. Gifting is one of the many solutions we recommend for downsizing. In this video, Lisa walks you through a few ideas on how to look at your unwanted items differently. Want more tips and tricks?
Organizing the Garage from Lake Oswego with Gabi and Lisa
Leaving A Little Comfort Behind
Leaving a home you love after living there for many years can take an emotional toll. Whether you’ve downsized to a smaller home, left for a job in another town, or moved after a loss of a loved one, the memories held there can be bittersweet, especially once the home is emptied of the things you’ve loved.
But sometimes acknowledging that the house could make more memories for its new inhabitants can ease the sting a bit. And leaving a little of yourself behind in the form of a gift or handwritten letter can bring joy as the new homeowners settle in... Read the rest
Tackling the Appliance Overload
We really like our kitchen gadgets in the United States. According to statistics website Statista.com, the kitchen accessories market hit $1.2 billion in 2017; that’s a lot of garlic presses and juicers. And for those of us who thought they’d be grilling at least three times a week on the George Foreman, it’s a safe bet to say that didn’t come to pass.
Many unused kitchen appliances end up on pantry or garage shelves, or the back recesses of the kitchen cabinets, their bulkiness something to be dealt with later. How do we decide what appliances to keep, and which we can say goodbye to?
What’s in Your Closet?
The Move Makers work with many reliable and professional partners, and this month we begin a regular feature highlighting these local businesses.
Do you find yourself reaching for the same two or three outfits that are your “safe” clothes – those you think look good on you, are comfortable and fit right – leaving behind a lot of other pieces purchased and worn only once or twice? What’s holding you back from digging deeper in your closet for the items you once liked enough to purchase?
Laura Ziegler of Embracing Our Age works with “women of a certain age” – those generally between 55 and 70 – to bring overlooked clothing to the forefront, helping them re-style their wardrobes with what they already have... Read the rest
A Resolution To Keep – Downsizing in the New Year
New Year’s resolutions don’t always have to be about losing weight or fixing bad habits. Sometimes they can be a determination to start taking control of the things that surround us in our homes that block us from moving forward. What’s a better time than in January to start putting those thoughts into actions and making a plan to organize and clear out your home?
Organizing and downsizing in January can be especially fruitful if you’re planning on selling your home some time later in the year. The spring and summer months are peak times for real estate sales and moving... Read the rest