Video Transcription:
No matter how organized your home is, there always seem to be certain rooms that attract clutter. However through some simple organization you can reclaim these spaces from the chaos. Hi I’m Michele Irizarry, CEO and Broker of Shore Prime Properties. Have you been enjoying our content? These are featured articles in our very own magazine, “Good To Be Home.” If you would like content like this sent to your home reach out to us today to be added to our mailing list. Also please be sure to like and follow our Pages and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more household management, home design and real estate tips.
Office: your office should be a realm of productivity but clutter can quickly become distracting. Start by removing pens, papers and anything else scattered on your desk. Shred documents you no longer need to reduce paper clutter and opt to go to paperless by switching to email statements. Some office organizational tips are to replace a large clunky desk with a small corner desk or standing desk. Add tall pieces of furniture to save floor space and create vertical storage. Use in-drawer dividers to separate paperwork by category and date. Bundle and label your electronic cords or set up a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Pantry: your pantry can become the catch-all area for your kitchen without a proper organizing strategy. Before you get started, take the opportunity to go through your pantry and remove anything that has expired. Also consider donating any non-perishables you don’t plan to use to a food bank. A few pantry organizational tips are to store dry items like pasta and cereals in clear containers and label them clearly along with their expiration dates. Use an over-the-door organizer to store canned goods and jars and clear shelf space. Move awkwardly shaped items like bagged foods to lower shelves. Keep produce cans and jars organized in baskets by category. For example, have a basket for fruits, vegetables and beans.
Basement: your basement is an ideal storage space when suitably organized. It’s always a good idea to take inventory of the space before you start decluttering and keep in mind that if you haven’t used that item in the past year, you can probably get rid of it or donate it. Some basement organizational tips are to install metal or plastic shelves to a sturdy wall (moisture can easily damage wood shelves). Clear floor space and add shelves under your stairs for additional storage capacity. Use clear containers and label everything to quickly know what is in each box, bin and bag. Use hooks to hang items like decorations and out-of-season clothing. Cover any used furniture with a plastic drop cloth and place the furniture on blocks in case of water build up on the floor.
Attic: your attic is a great place to store lesser used items but before you start organizing the space, you should deep clean it. Remove items from the floor and sweep up as much dust as possible. Donate or toss anything you no longer want. You can keep your attic organized by moving lesser used objects toward the back and frequently used items to the entrance. Move off-season clothing to the attic to free up space in your closets and use clothing racks and garment bags to protect the clothes. Utilize storage bags and bins to quickly find specific items. Store items that could be damaged by water or sunlight in protective bins away from windows.
Garage: organizing your garage can be daunting but not if you have the right strategy. Begin by removing everything to clearly see how much room you have and then determine what items to part with. Make sure to label everything in bags and bins. Some garage organizational tips are to separate items into categories and give each category its own space. Maximize the wall space of your garage by installing cabinets, shelves and hooks- just make sure any storage you install can adequately hold the weight of the items that you’re adding. Use ceiling hooks to keep items like bikes and ladders out of the way. Install a pegboard on the wall to keep small tools organized and easily accessible. With Spring in the air there’s no better time than to get your house decluttered and organized. This is also a way to optimally show off your storage spaces to buyers when your house is on the market. iI you have any questions about home improvement projects that can bring you a possible return on investment, feel free to reach out to us here at Shore Prime Properties. We are always happy to help. I’m Michele Irizarry, selling prime real estate at the Jersey Shore.
