·       Are you prepared? 

Here are some simple tips to help you out:

• De-Clutter the guest room. 
• Make extra house keys.
• If you don’t have a bed set up purchase an air mattress.  Inflate the bed outside before company arrives to air it out.  Clean it.  Lie down on it and check for leaks.
• Set up a small television (with earphones) or offer magazines and/or books just in case they have problems falling asleep or if they are early risers they will have something to do.
• Clean the guest bathroom ahead of time and layout a basket of sample size toiletries and luxurious bath towels.
• Offer a flat surface or suitcase rack where guests can open their luggage.
• Provide some hang space for their clothing.
• When your guests arrive give them a tour of your home.  Let them know where to find everything that they may need.
• Provide them with information about local attractions and restaurants.  If they are driving themselves around town and don’t have a GPS provide them with a map.
• Get an understanding about your guest’s routines and scheduling. What time do they like to eat? What are their sleeping habits? Are they looking to exercise?  Also, speak with them in advance about special events that they may want to go to so that you can coordinate the time and divert miscommunications.  If you share a bathroom with your guest make sure to set a schedule for showers, as well.
• If they like coffee or tea be sure to let them know how to operate any special coffee makers or devices and where to find everything.

Many clients have good intentions when it comes to organizing but they are just not sure what the best approach is to getting it all to work together. 

The following photos depict examples of what a craft room looked like before.  The client had added containers and furniture pieces to try and give them additional storage but it just did not work for their needs.  We re-evaluated the space and the needs of the client and decided that smaller well marked containers would help serve the client’s crafting needs.  We removed furniture pieces that just added to the clutter and re-purposed some large storage containers to take their place.  This resulted in a place for everything and well defined storage.

New Year’s Organizing 2011

by Wanda Baader

It’s a new year and many people consider re-organizing an office or home this time of year.  There are things to keep in mind in order to maximize your results.

1. Have a plan.
2. Schedule the time to do the project without distractions.
3. Don’t take on a project that it too big for your time frame.
4. Make sure that you have all the materials together to get the job done.
5. If you get to a point where you feel overwhelmed take a mental break and walk away and give yourself a few minutes and then go back.
6. When the task is complete reward yourself!

Creating and Organizing a Home Office by Wanda Baader

There are many hurdles that small business owners face daily. One of the challenges can be that you don’t have a dedicated home office space.  Perhaps you are working off the kitchen table.  So where do you keep those files and office supplies?

I have a few suggestions that may help.

1.     If you have a closet that is not used very often take it over as your office.  If you don’t have a full closet to take over, claim part of it.

2.     In the closet if you only have hang bars and no shelving, I suggest that you get a bookshelf (they come in all shapes and sizes) and put it into the space.  This will give you vertical storage with some adjustability.

3.     If you have the space and budget build a small desk area inside the closet.

4.     If you only have part of a closet, devote a space that is only for your business.  Make sure that your spouse and family respect this space, as yours. In this space place office supply, portable file storage and items that are connected to your business.  Use containers that will keep your items together and be sure to label them accordingly.

5.     Try and make sure that your work space is comfortable with appropriate seating and adequate lighting to reduce fatigue.  Even if you are working on the dining room table treat yourself to an ergonomic chair when working and just move it out of the way when you’re not.

6.     Re-purpose items that you may already have for additional storage.  For instance, use a shoe bag that you can hang on the backside of a closet door for office supplies.

7.     Use technology as much as possible to reduce paper and keep your business organized.

OK, I know it’s still in the 90’s to the 100’s here inTucson but for some reason I still get this need to organize my closet andprepare for cooler weather around this time of year (I know it’s got to becoming, right?). Although our change of season is more subtle than other partsof the country we do have a change and it gets me to wanting to organize mycloset and re-arrange.

Well that’s one of the projects that I did this past weekend.  So I challenge all of you to do thesame.  Get in your closets and re-assessthose clothes and shoes and make the hard decisions.  Does it fit?Do you still like it as much as the day that you bought it?  Is it in good condition or has it faded?  Pass on those items that you no longer value.Remember that there are charities that would be glad to take them off yourhands.

Also, while you’re in there give it a good cleaning.  Wipe it down and vacuum it, thoroughly.  Get rid of stuff that doesn’t belong. Whenworking with clients I find all sorts of things that have made their way to thecloset and really shouldn’t be in there.Now is the time to get them to their respective spaces.

I hope you all have success in doing this project but if youneed help remember to contact us at 520-631-0086 or visit our website at ggorganized.comfor all your organizing needs.