Thursday, October 24, 2013

17 UHeart Organizing: 7 Top Tips for Selling on eBay

With our big storage room project in full swing, we have stocked our guest room with purged pieces we hope to sell on eBay and Craigslist.  Garage sale season has come and gone, so hitting up the web to shed our excess items is the ideal way to go.  Knowing that, I couldn't be more thrilled that Serena is stopping by to shed some light on the subject.  Here is my darling friend now!


 
Anyone who knows me knows how much I like to spring clean. I spring clean in summer, I spring clean in winter, I spring clean in fall…and you better believe I spring clean in spring!

Like every organized spring cleaner, at the end of the purge I have my four piles – KEEP, REPAIR, DONATE and SELL.

SELL piles can be tricky.  Do you have a garage sale, put up a flyer at work, ask family and friends?

My go-to way to move that SELL pile?  Online.  For me that’s always been eBay.  For over a decade I’ve used it to sell clothes, furniture, trinkets gadgets and more.  Because it’s true – what is your trash can definitely be someone else’s treasure.

So from my 10+ years experience, here are my top 7 tips for selling online and on eBay.


  
1. REEVALUATE YOUR SELL & DONATE PILES

Before you even contemplate selling on eBay or online, first think about what your time is worth.

If you have a couple of old tea towels, a worn pair of tennis shoes and a box set of The Hills with one DVD missing, you’re probably better off transferring them to the donation box.

To sell things on eBay you have to photograph them, list and describe them. Then you have to liaise with buyers, answer their questions and should you be lucky to sell, you then need to organize payment and postage. This all takes time.

So if you think you’re only going to make a few dollars, work out if that is really worth your time.


2. KNOW YOUR WORTH

Before listing anything on eBay have a quick click around to see what the product is you’re selling is listed for on eBay and other sites like Amazon, Net-A-Porter etc. If an online discount store is selling that Weekend At Bernie’s poster for $9.99, there’s no use in you listing yours for the $50 you think it’s worth.

On the other hand if you have a unique or collectible item you can really name your price. Rumor has it a teenage Kim Kardashian made over $12,000 buying up rare designer shoes and selling them for a premium on eBay.

Brand names always work well, so don’t be scared to price your reserve at a fair number.



3. SELL SEASONALLY

Got some winter boots that you don’t need anymore? Or a summer kaftan you never used? Try and sell them at the start of the season.

As a general rule, people will be looking for winter items in fall/winter and summer items in spring/summer.

Same goes for the holidays – if you’ve got decorations and gift items try and get in early for Halloween, Christmas etc so people know their goodies will arrive in time.


4. THINK ABOUT WHY YOU BOUGHT IT!

When writing the description about the product you’re selling, think back to why you originally bought it.

If it’s clothing - did it give you a slimmer silhouette? Or was it a piece of jewelry that went with everything? Was it a desk chair that was super comfy?

Whatever it is, your description should not only list WHAT the product is, but WHY people will love it.



5. TAKE GOOD PHOTOS

A good photo can make or break your listing.

Make sure clothing is freshly ironed, shoes are cleaned, other products are dusted and in their best condition. Try to ensure the photo shows the product’s true size, colors and detail.

There’s nothing worse than buying something online only to find out it looks nothing like the photo.

Photograph on a plain background in natural light and ensure the final shot is in focus. Try to get details shots where possible so people can see exactly what they’re buying.


6. BE HONEST

If the lining has a tear, the wood finish is scratched or the shoes are scuffed – be honest about it and include it in your description. Trying to hide defects will always come back to bite you and will cost you more time and trouble in the end.

If you don’t want to list a photo of the defect, that’s ok. But always have one on standby so if someone asks you for it you can email it straight away.

If you’re upfront about any defects people will trust you and be more likely to buy from you.



7. PACKAGE IT UP PRETTY

The last step is a small point, but an important one.

If you’ve been lucky enough to sell your item, finish the transaction on a high note. Package your item up safely in tissue paper (and bubble wrap if it’s breakable) for a nice touch, and always post your item out on time.

It’s these little details that will make people give you positive feedback and maybe they’ll even become return customers if you list again!


So now over to you! What do you do with your unwanted items after a clean up?




"I am Serena Faber Nelson, a television producer, writer and fluffy dog owner.  Obsessed with home décor, fashion, lifestyle and dogs – I set about creating Pretty Fluffy as a go-to guide for the modern pet owner.   Featuring a range of stylish products, celebrity pooches, DIY projects and handy hints, Pretty Fluffy is a daily stop for smiles and inspiration, giving readers the tools they need to enjoy full and happy lives with their furry friends.  My greatest loves include fresh peonies, Dirty Dancing (Nobody puts Baby in a corner), Banoffe Pie, spending waaay too much time on Pinterest, and hugging random dogs at the park.  I currently live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, Andy, and my 11 year old Border Collie, Soda. As a long time fan, I am super excited to be joining the IHeart Organizing Team!"



Wednesday, October 23, 2013

35 Reader Space: A Domestically Dreamy Kitchen

I have been wanting to update our kitchen for years now, so I am always looking for inspiration.  And you readers always know when to come through for me!


Ashley, the super smart and creative talent behind the blog Domestic Imperfection,  emailed me and shared her divine and dreamy kitchen.  I oooohed and ahhhhed and showed my hubby and shamelessly gazed some more.  I have a feeling y'all will adore it equally as much as I do, so I asked her to stop by and tell us a little more about her beautiful space!


What is the main function of the space?

"The space is a kitchen and dining room, so it's main purpose centers around food. That's the simple answer. Really though, the space is where everything happens. The kitchen is where people always gather whether it's just our family or a large party...it's where everyone wants to be. The eat-in dining room is where we sit around and talk long after the meal is over. It's where my kids color and practice writing their letters. The farmhouse table is great for converting into a cave and running laps around. It's also where paperwork stacks up and a keep all my daily list and schedules. Basically, if there was a bed and a shower in our kitchen we would never leave.



Any superstar tips for keeping it organized?

"Superstar? Not quite. I know this is an organizing blog, but really...I'm not naturally an organized person. I've gotten better at it though since my husband is organized and I drive him nuts with my creative mind chaos. My best tip with organizing is to be practical. Organize in a way that makes sense for how you ACTUALLY live, not how you WANT to live. I've tried the latter many times and it never lasts because it's just not how my brain works."



What items did you find were essential when organizing the space, and why?

"For my kitchen, simply adding more usable storage space helped a ton. The pantry is the one part of this space where I had to make a huge change. I had always had pantries that were a hodge podge of stacked food madness, and I had to change the the way it functioned completely. Instead of trying to organize the bags and boxes I got rid of them completely and now transfer my food into clear sealed containers. It sounds like a painful extra step, but that is what made all the difference. I can see all my food, the containers never move, and nothing ever gets lost. Also, if I don't have a designated place for something in my pantry then I usually don't buy it, which also means we started eating healthier by default once the pantry was organized. It doesn't get better than that, right?"



What did you do to go the extra mile and "Make it Pretty"?

"Everything. We obviously made the space more functional, but really...pretty was my goal. Functional + pretty is really my goal in everything I create. I stenciled the back of my pantry...a total time suck and not functional at all, I just wanted to do it. I wanted it to look pretty. My husband and I planked the walls in the kitchen and dining room, which adds zero functionality but totally changes the feel of the space. We also made a penny countertop. Functional? Well, yes actually. Unique? You betcha."



What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?

"Everything in the space was DIYed (except the new appliances, obviously). Adam and I didn't have an exact budget when we started, our goal was really just to completely transform the space for as little money as possible. The cabinets are cheap stock cabinets, but we painted them, raised the top ones, and added a floating shelf - all which was crazy cheap but makes a world of difference. The butcher block counters were the biggest expense, but still a budget move since we cut, installed, and sealed them ourselves. Probably my favorite part of the space is the screen door on the pantry. It adds so much character to the room and cost us a whole $18. Th whole renovation only cost us $1,600 ($3700 with appliances) but raised our homes value much more than that."




How has this space impacted your life for the better?

"Mostly it just makes me smile. The kitchen was horrible when we bought our house and now it just makes me happy. It functions so much better (having working appliances really helps with that!) and is a place we like to be.The pantry really does keep itself organized and not having it be a disaster is incredibly nice. The command center keeps things more organized - not completely, because I'm still a scatterbrain at heart, but it's better. I use my chalkboard everyday for my to do lists and it's nice always having it in the same spot and out in the open (forcing me to acknowledge it). The best part is that we didn't break the bank to make the space our own. It would be much harder to enjoy the space if we were going to paying for it for years. Plus being on an extreme budget forces you to think outside the box and results in a space that reflects your personality.








Let's summarize some of the details IHeart most about this sweet kitchen space:

  • I had tears form reading Ashley's description of how they use the space.  She really gave new meaning to "hub of the home"
  • I couldn't agree more with her advice about organizing for YOU!  I think we all have tried things that have worked well for others, but fail to be awesome for ourselves.  Go for function first, and then make it pretty!
  • Did you see her budget?  I would have expected it to be triple her final number.  She really did a great job putting together a divine DIY space out of pennies! {Literally - check out her penny counter here}
  • Although she states she isn't naturally an organized person, she sure did a great job putting in some stellar storage.  Lovity love the knife rack, open shelving, command center, menu board, pretty pantry and clutter free counters!
  • That pantry!  So much functionality with the tiered storage, clear storage wall baskets, shelf baskets... oh my!  And a stenciled wall to boot?  This girl has got it goin' on!
  • Let's take a moment to turn our attention to the DIY command center!  So much to swoon over from keeping important papers and notices right out for the family to access, to the darling labeled baskets.
  • That reclaimed chalkboard?  Sigh... my heart is still racing...
  • I can't get over the character that was added by DIY'ing some hanging shelves.  They really add an architectural effect to the entire space, and open shelving means things are simple to take out, simple to put away!
  • Dark cabinets below means that every last speck of family dirt won't be seen and they will remain easy to clean.  {Yeah, I know it that I am a poet}.  And the white uppers make the space feel far more grand!
  • It makes her smile.  It makes me smile.  Hopefully it made you smile.  Cheers for smiles all around!

Ashley shared her entire before and after transformation {trust me, you will want to click over as it is quite shocking}, along with project links and oodles of details over on her blog here.

OK, time to wake up from the dream and leave Ashley a little lovin'.  What was your favorite moment from today's story?




ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

17 IHeart: Home Decorators & a GIVEAWAY!

This week's giveaway is being sponsored by a company I have loved since long before this blog was born.  Say hello to Home Decorators.


It is so super exciting for me to be partnering with a brand that truly fits my style.  However, their ever changing inventory of home decor and storage somehow finds a way to cater to all styles!  Here are a few of the objects you have seen floating around my home over the years.


But it doesn't stop there.  Wire baskets, wall sconces and even a few rugs... Home Decorators has found their way into my home quite a bit, and they continue to be one of the first resources I check out when on the hunt for the new perfect piece.

They recently just introduced the most adorable line for kidlets.  Be still my heart!


So are you ready for the epic giveaway?  I told them how much you readers mean to me, so they came in today with a really grand prize for y'all.  $250 to get your home organized and sitting pretty!  Say what?!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck to you all!  Happy decorating and...


IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.

94 A Little Bathroom Refresh

OK, please don't throw things at me.  I swear I have a giant State of the Storage Rooms post coming up super soon.  And it will be a whopper.

That said, cleaning out our storage spaces continues to drive other random acts of organizing and even some minor projects.  I think it is the only way I can stay sane {and let's face it, have a little bit of blog content in-between my late night sorting sessions... yawn}.  Throughout this process, when I find an oldie item, I am forcing myself to "use it or lose it". 

Today's quick story is a perfect example of how being organized and knowing everything you have, gets you ahead of the game.  And not knowing the awesomeness being stored behind doors, causes you to lose {but eventually win?!}.

While cleaning out our utility room, I found a little white bathroom cabinet.  It lived in our old guest room/master bedroom waaaay back in the day {ten years ago}.  The second I saw the cabinet I got a stupid silly grin on my face and knew I just scored big!  It has been in our utility room from the day we decided we loved it but didn't have a good place for it, and had since been forgotten.  After a good scrubbing with a magic eraser, it was almost good as new!  Any guesses where I wanted to put it?


Some of you long time readers may remember that about two years ago, we were lacking in the bathroom storage department, so we used a tall Billy bookcase to do the job and act as an upper level linen closet.  It has worked really well since day one, however, as the boys have outgrown bath toys and baby lotions, I found we were using the cabinet less and less... Basically it had just become a really big towel and toothbrush holder. 


So when we needed the storage, Billy was there for me like the linen closet I never had.  But now that I don't require so much storage space, Billy is just big, visually heavy and waiting to be set free {on Craigslist}.  The new-old-new again little white cabinet was just too perfect.  It fit our storage needs and visually left the room feeling a bit brighter. 

Anyway.... this bathroom is our most used bathroom in our house and it is really beginning to show it's 12+ year old age.  The entire room needs a gut job; new floors, new vanity/sink, mirror, toilet, lighting, tub with tile.... However, as my very direct mom always said, "You can wish in one hand and..." well, you know the rest.  The bathroom is not happening anytime soon.  We have a kitchen to tackle first. 

But that doesn't mean that I have to hate it, does it?  That I can't invest a little time and inner home house shopping into the space?  So don't get your pinning fingers ready or expect a grand post about our beautiful bathroom with a spectacular reveal, because this is FAR from that.  It is fun to share some of those bite size updates we make around here.

As you can see above, the vanity is a creamy white {yellow-white}, and extremely dated.  But even worse, up close it is just plain gross.


Chipped paint, paint splatters {apparently I realized I dripped paint and only wiped it up just enough... oops} and unknown dings and scuff marks.


One more example that our house is getting old, used, loved, is falling apart and is not always pristine.  I have had a lot of those examples lately....

Once I moved that sweet little white cabinet into the bathroom, I knew I had to fix the vanity sitting across the way.  Feeling a bit too much bone color happening in the room, I went to my paint supply and picked out a deep blue color.  Because I was using a color I already had on hand, I used the process of elimination.  Light blue would have blended in with the walls, white would have been too matchy matchy with the white cabinet.  Green wasn't happening.... Dark blue it was {Behr's Restless Sea}.  Prior to slapping on a coat of paint, I used a sanding block to fix any imperfections in the existing cabinets and drawers.


Although the new color may not have been my very first color choice if we would have been completely renovating this room, I do prefer it much, much better than the yellowy white that had been living there an hour earlier.  But with the new blue vanity, blue walls and blue shower curtain, I decided to swap out the existing shower curtain with one that was taken down and tucked away {into shameful storage} during our recent guest bathroom update.  We also took down the yellow window box and additional random mirror and replaced them with some existing photo frames filled with a recent Etsy art purchase and chevron fabric swatch.  Simple as that, this itty bitty bathroom refresh was complete!


Sooooo much better right?


It feels so much cleaner now!  And a fresh coat of paint makes the whole bathroom feel fresh!



The little white cabinet now holds a toothbrush caddy for the boys, a pampering caddy for the pups and some extra towels.  Are my boys the only ones that require three different flavors of toothpaste?  Why can't they all just like the same thing?



It was topped with a plant {in a vase I already had}, a little candle votive {which I spray painted and now holds the boy's nail clippers and nail scrubber} and a small tub of lotion.



I shopped my home for a few other accessories, such as a few mums leftover from photos I took for last week's post and a trinket tray and candle votive which are great for holding my jewelry while I give the dogs a bath or clean the shower.



And that rounds out this super glamorous mini-bathroom refresh tour!  Cheers to using your stash and some paint to liven up a space!  I think I just condoned my home decor hoarding habits....


And who doesn't love to take a peek at a before and after?


Pretty sweet mini update right?  I have one more little project up my sleeve to bring in some natural wood tones into the room, and then I am going to leave the space alone until sledgehammer day arrives.

I guess this shows the benefits of tackling those daunting storage spaces!  I found an old piece of furniture that fits our current storage needs, used items I had on hand to give our bathroom a fresh update and even get to sell our previous storage solution to pocket back a little cash.  Did you count?  That totals three points for Jen!  But who's counting....

This post maybe wasn't the most convincing at explaining the importance of living with less and saying goodbye to things that you haven't used in 6 months.  Heck, I got a bathroom update out of the deal.  But if we would have been living more simplified two years ago when I dug into my pockets for a storage cabinet {instead of using the white cabinet back then}, I could have saved a few dolla bills along the way.  It is all about balance.

Anyone else been turning trash to treasure out of goodies found while organizing and sorting?  What is the best item you have found during an organizing project? {This could be good!}


Monday, October 21, 2013

54 15 Organizing Tasks You Can Do in 15 Minutes

We are busy people.  And I am guessing 99% percent of the population doesn't share the same crazy obsession with organizing that I do.  I do it like it's my hobby.  But most people, not so much.

I find myself doing quick spurts of organizing.  I don't blog about them each and every time because I do it impulsively and before I know it I am done and grinning ear to ear.  So it got me thinking about those quick and random acts of organizing that make a big impact on our home.  You may not have five hours to clean out and entire room, but everyone has 15 minutes each week to spare for a little organizing lovin'.

Here are my top fifteen organizing tasks that can be done in fifteen minutes or less!  Have fun friends!


 
  • Empty out all trash
  • Wipe down dash and center console
  • Clean windows
  • Vacuum Seats
  • Add a small bin to corral all of the items you prefer to keep within the car



  • Remove all expired foods
  • Wipe down shelves and bins
  • Categorize remaining foods by type
  • Create special baskets for breakfast foods and lunches
  • Use a Sharpie or Washi tape to label food container with expiration dates




  • Pick a drawer, any drawer
  • Empty contents
  • Donate/toss anything that you haven't used/touched within the past three months
  • Vacuum/wipe down inside of the drawer
  • Place items back using drawer dividers if possible {drawer dividers reduce risk of "toss and shut" syndrome.  Anything can be used from washed out yogurt cups to muffin pans to cereal boxes}




  • Recycle all junk mail
  • Unsubscribe from mailings {many online services can help you do this quickly}
  • Place important dates into your calendar
  • Scan/File statements
  • Designate a single basket or paper tray as your inbox for weekly sorting



  • Toss any expired products
  • Combine like bottles and toss anything that you don't use frequently
  • Remove contents and wipe down shelves
  • Place items back strategically {by item type}
  • Remove any medications and store them in separate, dry environment {medications should not be stored in a medicine cabinet}




  • Donate anything you haven't used within 3-6 months
  • Tag or turn your hangers.  After you wear something, place the hanger back in the opposite way.  Now, you have a system for purging down the line {unturned hangers mean you haven't wore the item and it has to go}
  • Add a bin or bag to your closet for donations.  Now, you have an instant place to purge when you follow the "one in, one out" rule.
  • Vacuum out floor of closet, wipe down shoes
  • Plan your wardrobe for the week



  • Delete spam and old Emails
  • Sign up for an Inbox cleanup service {there many out there similar to this one}
  • Reply to anything that requires a quick response
  • Create folders/labels to "file" away your Emails.  Create one label as an active "To Do" list and use the rest to quickly find important correspondences.
  • Unsubscribe from unnecessary notifications from Social Media sites.




  • Return piled up items back to their original home
  • Wipe down the counters
  • Store away appliances that are not used frequently
  • Add a small basket or bin for the items that typically land on your counter, and empty it at the end of each day




  • Remove all expired foods
  • Wipe down shelves and bins
  • Categorize remaining foods by type
  • Create special baskets for breakfast foods and lunches
  • Use a Sharpie or Washi tape to label food container with expiration dates




  • Empty contents
  • Vacuum inside of pockets and pouches
  • Toss garbage and items that are no longer needed
  • Categorize contents and place within small pouches {such as pencil pouches} or a purse organizer {for example, one pouch holds cosmetics, one pouch holds electronics, etc...}



  • Remove contents from drawers and top of nightstand
  • Wipe down outside and inside
  • Toss any expired lotions, chapsticks, etc... Purge items that don't belong
  • Add dividers/organizers to drawers
  • Place a small dish on the top to hold your favorite daily jewels/hair ties



  • Blank slate it!  Clear your desk of clutter and piles
  • Wipe down desk
  • Add an "inbox" for important papers/documents
  • Toss old pens, pencils and broken/unused supplies
  • Keep only items you use daily on your desktop, tuck the less frequently used items away in drawers or bins




  • Create a shopping list/meal plan for the week/month
  • Search Pinterest, magazines and cookbooks for a few new recipes to try each month
  • Sign up for a meal planning service {many available which will plan your weekly meals and provide you with a shopping list}
  • Use online services {such as Evernote} to create an online catalog of your favorite recipes, or put them all together within a recipe binder



  • Empty the closet/cabinet to give it a blank slate
  • Wipe down shelves, go the extra mile by adding pretty shelf liner
  • Toss/donate any items that haven't been used within 6-12 months
  • Place sheets within baskets {for the non-expert sheet folders}, or within shelving dividers
  • Refold/roll all towels to face the same way
  • Use space saving bags to condense large quilts and pillows




  • Empty contents of your makeup bag/makeup drawer
  • Wipe down insides of bag/drawer 
  • Toss expired items {it's not good for you to use expired makeup yo!}
  • Purge down items that are duplicates or seasonal
  • Wipe down each makeup item/case with disinfecting wipes
  • Clean makeup brushes {details here}



Those are just a few things that I do, that take me 15 minutes or less, and happen when I have a spare moment and feel like getting something accomplished quick.   I always feel superfab after tackling each one of these tasks, and they all make a positive impact on our lives here in the Jones household.  I try to do something every day or two, but many of these items can be tackled in a single weekend or spread out throughout the month.  And if you have attention issues like I do, a timer will be your best friend forever.  As will good tunes.

Now it is your turn!  I have to know, what am I missing out on?  What quickie organizing tasks do you accomplish within 15 minutes or less?




images found: { 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 }