My friends at Once Upon a Time Creation have an amazing new space to transform your gently worn treasures into custom keepsakes!
I am honored they asked for my help organizing all their new studio space! Check it out in their blog!
Getting Organized – This Is NOT Your Mother’s Bridal Registry
Getting Organized…
NOT Your Mother’s Wedding Registry
By Carrie Kauffman, Professional Organizer & Stephanie Seal, Event Coordinator
As a professional organizer, I have seen more than my fair share of wedding gifts…
But not exactly as you’d expect…
I see them years after the big day…
…in their original boxes,
…collecting dust,
…tucked away in a closet or in storage.
Think ice cream maker (sure, sounds super fun but…), bread maker, fine china, crystal…
Stephanie Seal is the owner of Seal Events, a Philadelphia-based event planning service. Stephanie works with many local couples prepping for their big day. She has seen a real shift in registry selections, a move from traditional household items towards experiences, accessories to fuel their hobbies, lifestyle subscriptions while still embracing good old gift cards, but to new locales, services.
“Luggage, camping gear, power tools, speaker systems and subscriptions to services like Blue Apron have been popping up on registries. Couples are registering for things that are unique to them and not with Aunt Florence in mind.”
Further, registries are getting smaller, according to Seal.
“Couples are registering for fewer items in an effort to upgrade their current inventory to a few spectacular items. They’ll choose an espresso machine over a bread maker to fit their lifestyle.”
As a professional organizer, I LOVE that modern, engaged couple are choosing to pack their registries with low clutter or clutter-free options!
So how can you, as a newlywed, plan a better registry with functional (and fun) items you’ll use and love vs those that you won’t? Check out our practical tips to your best wedding registry.
3 Practical Questions To Ask When Planning Your Registry
Does This Make Sense With Our Lifestyle?
Think about your lifestyle right now, as a couple. Do you love to make elaborate meals together, entertain family & friends? Or are you a couple who orders Hello Fresh or prefers to eat out due to busy schedules? How necessary is an 8-piece professional knife set or a Cuisinart Dual Blade 8qt Mixer or the 10-piece mixing bowl set if you have a compact kitchen? Are you planning to start a family right away or is travel and entertainment on your immediate agenda?
Think about what fits your lifestyle as a couple. For example, my husband was a chef, in a previous life, so the kitchen tools we received as wedding gifts have been well-loved & well-used over the years! So DO register for what you love…whether it’s cooking or entertaining, camping or traveling!
If you’re already keeping your life simple, don’t clutter up your kitchen or other spaces with big bulky items you’ll use once or never at all.
Or save the clutter all together…Stephanie sees more of her engaged clients opting for registries focused on experiences vs household items.
“Newly engaged persons may not have the immediate dreams of having several children, hosting large dinner parties or holiday events and filling a home with material things. Instead there’s a big shift towards travel, activities and adventures. Weddings are now about customization to reflect the couple, not traditional standards. And registries have followed suit.
What Do We Already Have?
If you and your soon-to-be spouse lived in separate homes before getting married, now is the perfect time to see what you already have for your new space. Put everything where you want it. You may find that your future bride already has a brand new Kitchen Aid Mixer and a set of glass mixing bowls, so no need to register for them. Have extra towels? Set some aside for guests.
Now you’ll have a great idea of…
…what you’re missing or might need,
…what is on its last legs and needs to be replaced,
…what items are duplicates and can be donated or passed along to a friend.
Repeat this process in every room in your home – declutter, evaluate, and adjust your registry accordingly.
More often these days, offers Stephanie, “couples are sharing a home before their wedding day so they have basic registry items such as spatulas and a toaster. Couples are also marrying at a more mature age and may have their own homes before tying the knot.”
But make no mistake…merging households could require quite a bit of decluttering…definitely more so than starting from scratch.
What Would Our Future Selves Do?
Your wedding registry is all about your future, so fast forward…5, 10, 15 years…
- Do you see yourself using that must have juicer?
- Are those higher thread count sheets really a priority?
- Do you really need a 6-slice toaster or should you opt for nicer everyday towels?
- The bread maker. Will being married motivate you to make your own bread?
- Will you ever really host formal dinners that require fine china & crystal?
As someone who has been married for 15 years, I can tell you that, over the years, we’ve donated at least half of our wedding gifts…for one reason or another. Remember less is more so don’t overdo it…but get what you love to make your house a home! Good luck!
About Carrie Kauffman
Carrie Kauffman is an award winning professional organizer, member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, Greater Philadelphia Chapter (NAPO-GPC) and owner of Carrie’s Essential Services, LLC. Carrie Kauffman provides organizing services, in homes & offices, on the Main Line and surrounding communities. Carrie’s Essential Services specializes in moving & packing, preparing homes for sale, office setup including filing systems as well as general organizing & de-cluttering.
About Stephanie Seal
Stephanie Gambescia Seal is a Philadelphia based event coordinator providing planning and event staffing services for occasions of all sizes. Her company, Seal Events, helps clients truly be a guest at their own event and have a stress free run up to the big day.
Getting Organized – How To Put Your Best HOUSE Forward In The Real Estate Market
The Spring real estate market will be here before you know it. Are you getting ready to buy, sell? Wonder WHY decluttering your home is an important first step to getting it ready for the market? I’ve partnered with Nicole Klein, Main Line realtor with Keller Williams Main Line Realty and The Nicole Klein Team to give you our Top 5 Reasons WHY You Must Declutter Your Home Before You List.
Market Conditions.
Price.
Comps.
Repairs.
Declutter.
Staging.
Open House.
If you’re familiar with these terms you have, most certainly, spoken with a qualified realtor to help list, market and, ultimately, sell your home.
Your home, inside and out, is now a product. You need to present it in a way that will appeal to the largest population of available buyers. How do you do that?
As a Professional Organizer, it’s my job to help you get ready by decluttering your home. This is a crucial first step in getting ready for market.
Nicole Klein, Main Line realtor with Keller Williams Main Line Realty and The Nicole Klein Team has a unique skillset with professional experience in both real estate as well as retail visual merchandising. Her clients find that this combination is a tremendous asset when staging, photographing and, ultimately, marketing their homes.
But WHY do realtors and professional organizers agree that a clutter-free and organized home is so important when trying to sell?
Consider Our Top 5 Reasons WHY You Must Declutter Before You List…
#1 WHY
Realtors recommend it!
Your realtor is your biggest advocate of your home to potential buyers. The great ones know your home, inside and out. They know what can help (and what can hurt) your chances in the current real estate market. They can see things that need to be done from their first walk through. Their first impression will mirror your potential buyers first impression.
If they can see the clutter in your home…then every potential buyer can see it as well.
Klein offers, “Sellers who work with professional organizers, prior to meeting with me, have done most of the work upfront, allowing me to focus my attention on prepping the home for photos and showings.”
She also recommends that clients remove any items in the room that are smaller than 12 inches. “This makes pictures cleaner and keeps your eye focused on the space as opposed to the stuff.”
Your realtor knows the market. The recommendations that they offer will give your home the best chance to be sold quickly, at top market value.
Realtors know that a clutter-free home sells faster.
Less clutter means:
Buyers aren’t distracted by your stuff.
Buyers can picture themselves in your home.
#2 WHY
You’ve got a lot stuff!
Whether you’ve lived in your house for 5 years or 45 years, you’ve got stuff.
Decluttering your home will prepare you, mentally, for the next chapter of your life.
Pre-pack items you’ll take to your next home.
Toss items you haven’t touched in years.
Now you’ve got a jump on packing. It will be more manageable if you start early and do it over time.
#3 WHY
You’ll save money when you move!
When you get rid of items that you don’t need or use, you have less stuff to move!
You’ll save on moving costs when your house does sell. Moving costs can add up quickly. The top reason for that, is most people don’t declutter before they move. They just pack everything. It’s just good sense. Less stuff. Fewer boxes to pack. Fewer hours for moving companies to charge.
#4 WHY
Potential buyers expect it!
Your house isn’t the only one for sale.
Assume that buyers have already previewed your home online, along with many others. If your home appears cluttered or disorganized in the online profile, they won’t be interested in seeing it in person. You’ve already lost them.
Klein estimates that “95% of buyers look at the home’s photos online before deciding to see the house in person. For this reason, it is critical that your home photographs well.”
When you do get buyers through the door, they will be inspecting every nook & cranny.
Closets.
Cabinets.
Drawers.
Basement.
Attic.
You’ve got one chance for a great first impression. Don’t waste it.
#5 WHY
It shows you care!
When buyers see a clutter-free home they see that you’ve taken the time to get the home ready for them. You took the time to declutter and organize all rooms and spaces. You took the time to remove personal items and potential distractions. By doing this, you’ve enabled them to imagine themselves living there and making this their new home. And arguably, they’ll assume you’ve taken good care of your home, with regular maintenance and care, during your time there. They’ll feel that your home is a good investment.
The process of selling your home can be incredibly stressful. Set yourself (and your home) up for success by committing to the preparation involved. Declutter, make repairs, stage, if recommended. Trust that your realtor knows exactly what you need to do to sell your house quickly, for the most money and follow their lead! Good luck!
About Carrie Kauffman
Carrie Kauffman is an award winning professional organizer, member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, Greater Philadelphia Chapter (NAPO-GPC) and owner of Carrie’s Essential Services, LLC. Carrie Kauffman provides organizing services, in homes & offices, on the Main Line and surrounding communities. Carrie’s Essential Services specializes in moving & packing, preparing homes for sale, office setup including filing systems as well as general organizing & de-cluttering.
About Nicole Klein
The Nicole Klein Team works with buyers and sellers in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware Counties. Our market knowledge and seamless service makes buying a home or selling an enjoyable process. Nicole has been in Real Estate full time since 2007. She really enjoys helping buyers and sellers reach goals that they have only dreamed possible. Being a Realtor allows Nicole to use her people skills along with her strong negotiating skills. Originally from Doylestown, she now resides in the Merion Golf Manor section of the Main Line. She loves the area because of its close proximity to Philadelphia, Chester, and Montgomery Counties. Nicole works with her buyers to find the best home for them in the area that they will love. Nicole will be there every step of the way until closing and beyond. With her market knowledge her sellers are able to get the best price for their home in shortest amount of time. Before getting into real estate, Nicole worked in retail as a manager and regional manager for Nordstrom. This prepared her for real estate in so many ways including providing the best service to her customers and delivering seamless results. Nicole looks forward to working with you and helping you achieve your real estate goals.
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