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Do I need a Home Inventory?

by Filed Under: Estate Planning, Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Organizing Projects, Planning & Goals, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Do you have a disaster and or legacy plan? Wondering if you really need a home inventory? Whether you have one started or have nothing at all read on to learn why you need a home inventory and how to protect your personal property.

Almost all of us need a home inventory, whether we rent or own our homes or businesses. If you have insurance, you need an inventory to prove replacement value. If you are leaving things to family, donation, etc, you also may need an inventory.

Sadly, many people think that because they have insurance, they don’t need to worry about a home inventory.  Unfortunately, that’s not true. Insurance doesn’t guarantee you will get replacement value for your property. There are so many irreplaceable things, and all the little stuff really adds up. Having a home inventory will save you a huge potential headache, hours, or worse; pocket expenses lost down the drain. When trying to dig your way out of a disaster, or your family is grieving and trying to determine the value of your estate, this can add stress to an already hard situation. When I became a professional organizer, I learned all about the different home inventory systems and tools available. I also helped clients with creating inventory systems both before and after disasters, mostly flooding and some theft. Trust me when I say you don’t want to inventory your stuff after it’s been damaged or try to remember what’s missing! It’s not the insurance company’s responsibility (or your family’s) to know the value of your personal belongings, (and it’s not in their interest to help you with this). If you can’t prove you owned it (meaning tracking down receipts or charges, photos or other documentation), you may lose altogether.

What needs to be inventoried? The quick answer is everything! You are probably thinking this will take ages, and depending on how much detail you want to include, it could be a significant undertaking but really not so bad if you take it step-by-step and room-by-room.

Without an inventory, you could end up with a mess and thousands of dollars in lost assets! In the case of estate planning, your family may be left trying to figure out what is what. Don’t get stuck sorting toilet plungers from kitchen utensils, holiday decor, and more. Document the items in your home, including valuables and everyday items. This inventory should be updated every 2-5 years depending on your circumstances.

I’ve worked extensively on creating inventory for insurance claims and estates. Here’s what you need to know. Photos and videos are your friends! Spreadsheets are super helpful and may prevent you from having to fill out additional information in the event of an insurance claim. But there are other systems out there that are super helpful and can do more for you than just a home inventory.

As the well-known Sheryl Sandberg quote goes, “Done is better than perfect.” So true in the case of an inventory! Just having photos is better than nothing!

A home inventory Checklist can help you to understand what information will be most valuable in the case of an insurance claim. Most insurance companies would like to have the following. The more info you can provide, the more accurate your claim and reimbursement will be. Remember, the more complicated your assets and estate, the more details you will need.

It may not be necessary to have all the information below. Suppose you’re in a disaster situation and realize you don’t have anything. In that case, the short answer is to photograph every wall of every room, even opening cabinets and closets, and take photos of contents by shelf. Take notes on contents to help jog your memory, noting location and a general description. Photograph anything specifically valuable in each room. These photos and notes will prove invaluable if you have to evacuate quickly and lose the property.

Remember, “Done is better than perfect!” What follows is a more detailed guide of what your insurance company might request. Not having all of this does not mean you will not get reimbursed. The more you can provide, the quicker and more smoothly things will move along.

  • List items by room- This will help qualify content damage when structural damage has been done.
  • Include a basic description
  • Make/Model
  • Serial or ID number
  • Quantity
  • Assign value (replacement value will be paid based on current market value-ex. electronics that may have cost you $500 might be replaceable for $200 today)
  • Date purchased
  • Receipt if available
  • Reference photo’s

Home Zada is one of the most comprehensive home management tools out there and does everything from home maintenance reminders to home inventory. If you’re on the serious side of protecting your valuable assets, I can’t recommend a better way to manage it all in one place! This is a cloud-based option so you won’t lose it if you lose your computer!

Another great comprehensive but inexpensive system is Liberty Street Home Manage software (also cloud-based). It’s under $40 and allows you to enter all the important documentation and photos for all your assets (at multiple locations).

Several insurance companies have their systems, so ask your insurance agent what they offer! It will probably be free and give them everything needed if you ever have to make a claim.

Home Contents is a UK Based app that makes home inventory a snap with your digital camera in-phone. And finally, in the app department, My Stuff has several free and paid options with great features for adding items to folders, tagging, etc for easier sorting and organizing.

If you prefer to stick with a spreadsheet-style inventory, just do a quick search for Home Inventory Checklist to find quite a few good options for free. Most of these templates you can download and use on your computer/device.

Spreadsheet systems (I’ve used comprehensively with insurance agents to recover contents lost) can be clunky, and it’s difficult to see photos of items with their descriptions quickly. Another drawback is that unless you back up your computer or device, you risk losing your inventory (photos and checklist) and your contents in case of a disaster!

If a home inventory for disaster or estate planning is something you want help setting up, let me know, and I’d be glad to assist!

No matter what system you choose, I hope you make a plan, schedule it on your calendar, and start your home inventory today!

Essential College Organizing (for in-person & online learning)

by Filed Under: Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

This year, in particular, transitioning to or back to college might feel particularly overwhelming for both in-person and online classes. There is a lot that has changed over the past year but keeping organized is a strategy that will help improve study skills, lifestyle habits, and time management. These skills become more important the more we have at stake and college is a time where we are asked to juggle building new relationships, living independently or with new extended families,  and building knowledge. Any of these on their own is a considerable undertaking, so approaching this transition should be undertaken with a good dose of strategy, support from people who care about you and want to see you succeed and a large heaping of self-care. If you’re feeling overwhelmed already, break it down into smaller manageable tasks and be mindful of your emotions! It’s a big change in the midst of an already crazy world, so don’t dismiss how you feel!

The intention of this post is to share some helpful strategies for getting and staying organized for both new and returning students.  Some of you may have eagerly planned, shopped and packed over the summer and are settling in or getting ready to. There are still lots of folks preparing for the new school year, either in dorms or online. No matter where you are taking classes (in person, online), these Essential Organizing tips will help you get a handle on planning for and transitioning into this experience!

Essential College Organizing

Productivity, Routines, and Schedules

By now you should probably have the school year calendar and have a target date for the start of classes and moving to campus. The following categories as they relate to routines and schedules can help make this a more mindful transition for life schedules and productivity.

  • Transportation-Will a car be available or will is it going to be transportation by bus or college shuttle? Is there a metro or other public transportation in their new city? Be sure to understand the best method of transportation and if cars are allowed on campus (not the case for many freshmen). Work out travel transportation arrangements ahead of time for upcoming school drop off, pick up and holidays (through the end of the year). This might include airfare so book ahead and know the rules and download any useful local apps for mass transit.
  • Planner or Calendar-Decide how to keep track of calendars so that everything needed is in one place, based on what works. Use either a digital or paper planner (there is a big trend to return to paper!) to keep track of important dates, orientation, move in, class schedule (and locations on campus), appointments, projects, finals, and holidays. Consider something like a whiteboard (in the dorm/room) to track schedules while adjusting to this new way of life.  If possible, do this ahead of time before heading off to school where the tendency will be to get caught up in the excitement of new campus life! Planners are only helpful if they are with you so keep it where it’s needed (in a backpack or purse etc).
  • Activities, sports, and clubs (most will be transitioned to online or postponed this fall)-If your college planning to get involved in sports, clubs etc…get these activities booked on your master calendar along with the school schedule and decide on any necessary transportation. Cross-reference these activities with the school schedule and keep it all in one place. It’s great to get involved, but be sure there’s a sense of balance between schoolwork, activities, and “play” or free time to be with friends, socialize, relax, etc.
  • Productivity, routines, and study time– Think and Talk about to-do lists and schedule planning (daily, weekly, or monthly) to stay on top of important tasks, projects, classes, and dates. Consider what routines and systems have worked in the past and set up systems for successful and focused study time. This will be different from situation to situation but consistency is key, especially simple things like waking up at the same time daily, making your bed, weekly shopping & laundry, etc.  When it comes to studying if you are easily distracted by other people being around, have a plan to seek out a quiet place on campus or at home (dorm or with family) that will enable successful focus. Create a few simple rules and rituals, like picking up daily (5 mins/day), keeping your desk clean, empty/repack your bag daily so you have what you need ready the next day. Have a plan for note-taking, setting up binders and folders by class (color code, etc), or other systems that have been successful. Find a routine for self-discipline, this means getting 6-8hrs of sleep a night, eating regularly, taking necessary medications, self-regulating screen time (games, apps, etc), and generally acting like an adult! All the freedom is fun but when things spiral out of control have a plan to get back on track. Most of us thrive with routines and it’s even more important in transitions to implement them for our own success:)

Supplies and Shopping

This is always a big part of school preparation. If you need to order equipment, uniforms, supplies, books, etc you may already be in the process of doing so. If your state (or the one the college is in) has a Tax Free Weekend (usually in August), plan accordingly so you can make major purchases over that weekend.

  • Supplies-Create a master list based upon all the supplies needed. “Shop” your house first, gathering anything on the list into one container (box or bag).
  • Budget-set a limit (realistic) on what you can and will spend so you don’t get sucked into extras.
  • Categorize-Break the shopping items into categories (see below). E.X. categories might include books, school/desk supplies, clothing, dorm room, meals, electronics, etc.
  • Shopping-Do a little preliminary research online and either make the purchases online or decide where you will go for what.

A-Z Dorm Essentials for Cleaning and Organizing

These are great resources to have on hand and will be helpful for a variety of uses in the dorm. I’ve created an Amazon Shopping list with suggested items here.

  • Backpack or bag
  • Bedside Caddy
  • Bed Risers (optional)
  • Hooks (a variety of sizes & types including command & over the door)
  • Hangers (check to see if you need to bring them but probably!)
  • Labels (a label maker or write on labels)
  • Laundry supplies (basket/bag, detergent)
  • Over the door or under bed shoe organizer
  • Overnight bag
  • Permanent markers
  • Poster Putty for hanging decorative things on the walls
  • Power Strip-surge protector
  • Small rolling Cart (with shelves or drawers)
  • Shelf &/or drawer dividers/organizers (assorted sizes)
  • Toiletry or shower caddy
  • Trash & recycling bins/bags (so many people don’t have them!)
  • Under-bed storage bins (will fit with bed risers-wait if you don’t know)
  • Zip bags in assorted sizes
  • Zip ties (assorted sizes for cables, hanging items, etc)

ABC’s of Dorm Packing Essentials

There are a ton of great resources and lists over on Pinterest, so I won’t recreate them but here are general packing categories. It’s best to wait on things like a mini-fridge, microwave, dishes (other than a cup/mug, plate and one set of silverware), Iron/Board (unless fashion is your thing!), vacuum (maybe a dustbuster and mini broom), TV and Printer. These are all things that others or the school will have. Besides, you might not need it at all or you can get them later.

  • Bathroom-Toiletries
  • Cleaning Supplies (lots of extra or a plan to get more as needed)
  • Clothing
  • Cooking & Dining Supplies
  • Desk Supplies
  • Dorm Room
  • Food
  • First Aid Kit
  • Electronics
  • Furniture & Decorations
  • Medications (Supplements, cold & Rx)
  • Personal Items
  • School Supplies
  • Sports Equipment

This is a lot of info in one place! I hope these Off to College Essential Organizing Tips will help prepare for schedule and lifestyle changes, supplies, and shopping, and finally packing before this next adventure begins!

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Help kids set goals with guidance

by Filed Under: Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Systems & Techniques Leave a Comment

Whether you call them goal charts, chore charts or habit trackers, it’s never too early to cultivate good habits. Home is the perfect place to begin teaching kids to make decisions about setting and keeping goals. Kids learn by observation, so set great examples by sharing your goals with your kids.

Help Kids set Goals

What to know when you help kids set goals…

1. Goals direct attention and effort toward goal-relevant activities and away from goal-irrelevant activities.
2. Goals have an energizing function. Goals create efforts.
3. Goals effect persistence. Goals prolong effort.
4. Goals rally us to bring task-relevant knowledge and strategies to the problem at hand.
—Edwin Locke & Gary Latham

Your children’s age is the first factor in helping them to set goals. Age appropriate goals for kids can include chores, tasks and good habits you want to help them cultivate. Schools and classrooms use goals as a motivational tool to teach kids how to work consistently as individuals or as a team to accomplish a task.

When you help kids set goals (for chores, tasks and assignments) you reinforce behavior leading to the creation of positive habits. 

Work with your kids to get them motivated and excited about using a goal setting system. If your kids are excited about seeing their accomplishments and tracking the benefits then it will be easier to begin implementing a new system.

Another very important factor you help kids set goals is knowing how your child learns.

Are they visual and creative? If so create a vision board or goal sheet that is colorful and visually exciting.

Do they love electronic’s? Search for apps or “games” that help you and your children set goals and track them via tech tools you can both access.

Do they respond well to auditory cues? Set alarms or use sounds to reward or track progress.

All of these factors will be helpful when determining what kind of system to set up. Take into account your own preferences as well. If your child is very tech savvy but you don’t have the first clue, don’t set up a system you won’t be able to monitor. Help create a system will be successful for them in the long run. This may mean trying a couple things until you find the right strategy, don’t get discouraged, ask around, look online and keep working at it. Consistency is key to setting goals and forming new habits.

Types of Goal Tracking Systems

  • Chore Charts can be assigned as appropriate by age, starting small and working towards more complex chores around the house, at school etc. These can easily be created for small children who can’t read with picture graphics and check marks, stickers or magnets to keep track of chores by day or week.
  • Goal charts are great for tracking progress on school projects and keeping track of goals for personal growth. If you or your children prefer ‘progress chart’ is a good alternate term.
  • Habit trackers are great for teaching kids to be consistent when learning new habits like brushing teeth am/pm, making beds, drinking water etc.

Many of these terms are interchangeable and some households may prefer one term over another or a combination of these for different activities. The idea is to keep kids motivated and accountable to learning new habits, setting goals and doing what they are asked to do.

A Note about rewards…Some parents love to reward their kids with tangible praise by way of allowance or “Screen-time” like games and TV. Other parents prefer reward charts and coupons as an alternate way to track of goals, habits or chores with visual cues rather than tangible items. 

Help kids set goals that are SMART!

When kids are 9-12 yrs old (earlier if they are mature and it’s appropriate), you may want to introduce them to the concept of S.M.A.R.T. Goals to teach them how to set and successfully reach their goals with accountability.

S. pecific-What exactly is the goal or habit you want to track, change or set?

M. easurable-How will you know you have accomplished your new goal?

A. ctionable-What are the steps needed to achieve this goal?

R. ealistic-Do you have the skills, time and supplies needed to achieve your goal?

T. imely-What timeline or deadline do you have and how will you break the goal down into time chunks to accomplish it by the deadline? (school year, monthly, weekly etc)

Talk to your kids about how and why they set goals. Why does this matter? It will help them to understand how setting goals empowers them to create success by their own definition.

When we create keystone habits, they can become routine and no longer require as much effort. This process becomes a catalyst for other positive goals and automatic behavior. This is a simplification of forming habits, but if you’re interested in learning more, I recommend the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. 

Keep your kids charts for tracking goals and habits someplace easy to see, either in their room or incorporate them into your household Command Center. Check Pinterest for tons of free printable downloads or make your own on a whiteboard, blackboard or clipboard with printouts etc.

Goals are guidelines and should not be so rigid that they are make us unhappy so don’t forget to just enjoy life!Help kids set goals

Back to School Prep | Toss & Tidy Up

by Filed Under: Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

It’s back to School prep time which is also a great time to toss clutter, outgrown clothing and tidy up before the school year begins. Hopefully they’ve had a fun summer filled with vacation play, camps, projects and book reading assignments. Before you head out to shop for supplies, lets get toys, rooms and supplies you already have in order first.

School year Pitch

Did those notebooks, textbooks and book bags languishing in the closet, play room, kitchen or bedrooms? If so, you never know what you might find growing by now, arm yourself if necessary!

This should take no more than 30 min’s for most grade and high school kids and I recommend doing it within the first week of school ending but if it didn’t happen at the end of school, it’s a great way to get in the back to school mindset now! Have them gather their book bag/backpack, any supplies and textbooks in their room or anywhere else they study. Put them all in a pile, on the floor, their bed (lots of kids like to work on their bed-it’s comforting) or a table/desk.

School year pitch

Back to School Prep | Pitch It

  • Remove the contents of bags and backpacks (if you didn’t do this at the beginning of the summer). Evaluate the condition of the bag and reusable supplies.
  • Go through notebooks and remove anything that you or your kids want to keep (for sentimental reasons or other), add these to a sentimental box (each child should have their own, separate from the parents).
  • Recycle papers, notes and notebooks no longer needed.
  • Gather books to return to the school, hand down to younger kids or donate to a library.
  • Save supplies that can be re-used in one area and before you shop for back to school, check here first!

Back to School Prep | Supplies

Shop school supplies you have on hand before you head to the store. It might not feel as exciting, but with younger kids you can create a “store” and offer to exchange some kind of reward for items “purchased” at home. This will help teach and reinforce the value of reuse and recycling. As kids get older, I find most of them are pretty keenly aware and want to re-use/not waste materials!

Shelves, cabinets, closets and basket systems, all work great depending on your space and needs. Just be sure it’s easy for you and your kids to get to. If they are older, they may want to keep some of their favorite supplies in their room, otherwise they can all go in one place.  

Back to School Prep | Toys

This might not be something a lot of parents think about at back to school time but games, toys and crafts can collect and then languish in the lost corners once school begins. So it’s really the perfect time to asses what toys and games your kids are still using and donate what they have out grown. Craft and art projects can be stored in sentimental bins or just snap a photo (which you can always print later) and let it go! Keep only their favorites and rotate what is kept out because there won’t be as much time for games and toys.

Back to school prep

I’ll share my tips about Back to school prep for your kids wardrobe and shopping for supplies in the next couple posts! Happy Back to School Prep!!

Kid-friendly kitchen organizing

by Filed Under: Home, Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Systems & Techniques

Our kitchens are becoming increasingly multi-functional so it makes sense to have some kid-friendly kitchen organizing system to manage multiple schedules and all of our busy lifestyles.

10 kid-friendly organizing tips to keep your kids and kitchen happy and healthy!

1. A Household Command Center might include the following items:

  • A weekly or monthly calendar
  • Menu’s, shopping lists
  • Meal planning tools
  • Coupons (these can also be kept in the car)
  • A drawer or cabinet with a few basic office supplies (scissors, tape, envelopes, stamps, pens & pencils)
  • A contacts list or
  • A “household management binder”, see my post here on what to include
  • An area to keep keys (hooks or a tray)
  • A white/blackboard or note pad jot down notes or ideas

2. Create a “perpetual” calendar and utilizing insides of cabinets or a Household Binder, especially if you do not have space or want to create a full command center. Include menu’s, shopping lists and household management info.

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Source: bhg.com via AHG on Pinterest

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Source: simplifiedbee.blogspot.com via HKpowerStudio on Pinterest

3. Use over the door accessory organizers. Here they are put to use holding snacks.

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Source: indulgy.com via Lois on Pinterest

4. Use low drawers, shelves and baskets for kid-friendly foods and lunch-meal making supplies. This will make it easier for your kids to help out in the kitchen with small tasks like putting things away. It also makes lower cabinets safe for kids to access for play and snacktime.

kid-friendly kitchen organizing

5. Label it! This includes shelves, drawers and containers so that everyone knows where things go. Picture labels can be a great solution for smaller children.

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 Source: google.com via Jen on Pinterest

Smart companies are starting to market to this need with low drawer refrigerators and “Kid-Zone” cabinet options!6. Keep cleaning products up high, especially if you have very little kids and keep only kid-safe items like clean rags, extra paper products, a stool, drying rack etc. under the sink (use kid proof cabinet locks too).kid-friendly kitchen organizing

7. Portion out snacks into small containers that are stored in a basket or bin in a kid accessible area so they can help themselves.

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Source: bhg.com via Ashley on Pinterest8. Corral small items into a mesh bags when it comes to cleaning (or baskets) to throw into the dishwasher so they don’t get lost!

9. Keep an island or open counter space where you can have your kids participate will surely keep them more interested in cooking and eating healthy.10. Incorporating kids artwork using chalkboard paint or another display area makes your kids feel they are a part of the household activities that probably center around the kitchen.

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Bonus! If your kids like to participate (or you want them to) be sure to have a safe step stool (10) that gives them access to counter space (or a stool they can sit at) and kid safe tools they will want to use!

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