Top tips for making your home look good before selling

Top tips for making your home look good before selling

Top tips for making your home look good before selling

When selling your home first impressions count. Making your home look welcoming and well-loved can make a world of different to your selling prospects. Below are some helpful hints and tips, organised by room, to help you get your house looking its best ready to be sold. Making your home appeal to the right type of buyer will help it to sell quicker and for the best price.

 

Overview

  1. Outside: The garden and Kerb Appeal

  2. Inside: General tips

  3. Inside: The Kitchen and Dining Room

  4. Inside: Bathroom

  5. Inside: Living Spaces

  6. Inside: Bedroom

  7. Conclusion

  8. What Busy Lives! can do to support you with this.

 

Outside – The Garden and Kerb Appeal

 

When buyers arrive to view your property the first thing, they will see is the outside of your home, so making the outside look good is important and thankfully, it is easy to do. These simple steps will ensure your outside spaces are looking their best.

  • Mow the lawn and trim any hedges, bushes and trees.
  • Put bins out of sight. If you don’t have somewhere to hide them consider building a hiding place for them or invest in a couple of large plants to hide them.
  • Make your garden secluded and secure. People like their privacy and if potential buyers have children or pets they will want any garden areas to be secure. This can be achieved by putting up appropriately sized fencing or hedges. Just remember not to make the place look like a prison or dark and dingy.

As well as improving the garden boosting your home’s kerb appeal (the outside appearance) is important, and easy, to do.

  • Clean the windows.
  • Make sure the house number is visible. There is nothing more annoying than buyers being unable to find your house for a viewing!
  • If it’s winter and getting dark early leave an outside light on or put a lamp in one of the front windows. This will make your house look homely and it will also be easier to spot by potential buyers.


Inside – General hints and tips

 

When selling your home ‘staging’ it, the way newly built properties are staged allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in your home.

If your house screams of you then some buyers may struggle to picture themselves living in ‘your’ home whereas a neutral looking home is easier to envision being filled with the buyers belongings.

Here are some general hints and tips to get your home ready for buyers.

  • Make sure everywhere is clean and tidy.
  • Set the table. This will appeal to buyers with families or who like to entertain guests.
  • Turn on lights. Lamps can disguise dark corners and make your home look more inviting.
  • While you may love your dog, no one wants to buy a house that smells like one. Spray air freshener before a viewing or buy some plug-in air fresheners. Some homemade baking smells coming from the kitchen always work well for me.
  • Check the temperature. If it’s warm open some windows or if it is cold turn on the heating. A house that feels too hot or cold can be very off putting for buyers.
  • Hide the clutter. Put away knick-knacks and small pieces of furniture to make rooms look bigger.
  • Repurposed rooms. If you are using your spare bedroom as a home office try and revert it back to a bedroom. Sometimes buyers can find it hard to imagine an office serving as a bedroom so showing them will avoid this potential problem.
  • If you have any damp get an expert in to find the root cause of the problem and get it resolved.
  • Let in the light. Open curtains and blinds to let the light it. Mirrors can also make rooms look bigger and reflect light.
  • Make it neutral. It is very unlikely the buyer of your home will have the same tastes as you. While you may love your technicolour wallpaper buyers may find it unattractive. Repaper walls in simple designs and repaint brightly coloured walls with neutral colours if necessary.

 

Inside – The Kitchen and Dining room

 

Known as the heart of the home the kitchen is one of the biggest deciding factors when it comes to buyers. Replacing a kitchen can a costly and you may not get your money back however these tips will help you give your kitchen a new look without breaking the bank.

  • Replace worktops if worn. This cheaper than buying a whole new kitchen and often a new worktop or counter can completely change the look of your kitchen. Also, keep your worktops clear – buyers like to see how much space they will have.
  • Paint / replace cupboard doors if needed. Again this is cheaper than buying a new kitchen. A quick lick of paint can do wonders and really refresh your kitchen. Go for a neutral colour (white works best) to keep things looking clean and light. Make sure all your cupboards and doors open and close smoothly.
  • If you have old fashioned or broken tiles in your kitchen replace them with a plain tile to give your kitchen a new feel.
  • Most of the time a deep clean can make old floors look like new but if your flooring is cracked or worn then replacing the flooring can help you sell. Once again chose something neutral and easy to clean.
  • Make sure you give your kitchen a deep clean and empty the bin before any viewings. Remembers buyers will often want to look in your cupboards to see how much storage space they will have. Keep your cupboards neat and organised. If your cupboards are fit-to-burst full it may make buyers believe there is not enough storage space.

Whether your dining room is part of the kitchen or separate it is important to make it feel like a welcoming place.

  • Set the table before any viewings and if you really want to impress put a vase of flowers or a bowl of fruit on the table to give that homely feel.
  • No one wants to eat in the dark. Make sure your dining area is suitably lit. If you don’t have overhead lighting put a lamp nearby to eradicate any shadows.

 

 

Inside – The Bathroom

 

After the kitchen, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms to buyers. Keeping your bathroom clean, functional, and modern can be one of the more expensive things to do, so it is important to think about this before starting any improvements. Ultimately the most important thing for the bathroom is to make it functional and really clean.

  • Replaced dated or damaged suite with a basic white suite.
  • Remove carpets and replace with easy-to-clean flooring like tiles or laminate.
  • Bath or shower? If your bathroom is small, then the decision of bath or shower is made for you however if your bathroom is large it may be worth considering putting in a bath and a shower. If you are selling a family home, then this can be a big deciding factor for buyers as they will want a bath for children.
  • Using a grouting pen on stained grout will refresh your bathroom. The same goes for any sealant that is discoloured or peeling.
  • Shower curtain. Replacing an old or bright shower curtain with a new one or putting in a glass shower screen will give a classy look.
  • Put any bottles or toiletries away in cupboards.
  • Ensure your bathroom as a mirror and a medicine cabinet – often medicine cabinets will come with a mirrored door.
  • Add a little personality will fluffy towels in neutral colours and a pretty soap dish maybe a scented candle or green plant.

 

 

Inside – The Living Room

The living room is the place where you entertain guest and where families will spend time together. Help attract buyers by:

  • Stick to the rule less is more. Keep the room uncluttered and neat. Remove small items of furniture to create space.
  • Give the room a welcoming vibe. This is can be achieved quite easily with a vase of flowers and a few ‘coffee-table books’

 

 

Inside – Bedrooms

The bedroom is the place to relax, get ready for the day and sleep. Storage space and the bed are the most important factors when it comes to bedrooms.

  • Keep your rooms neutral, clean and uncluttered.
  • Make the bed the focal point of the room. If you have a double room always try and put a double bed in it – sometimes buyers can struggle to picture a double bed fitting in a room unless there is already one in it.
  • Less furniture is always better. If possible, remove unnecessary furniture.
  • As with the kitchen, buyers will most likely want to look inside any fitted wardrobes so keep them neat. If your clothes look like they’re crammed in it will give the impression that there is not enough storage space.
  • With children’s bedrooms, make sure to put toys away and keep the walls as uncluttered as possible.
  • Make sure all the beds are made. Adding a few decorative cushions can give a splash of colour as well as making your bed look inviting.

 

 

Conclusion

When it comes to making your house look good ready to be sold the main thing to do it make it look clean and neutral, like a blank canvas the buyer can see themselves painting in their own style. Before making any costly improvements, it is good to think about your selling price. Most of the time a few simple things can change the look of your home and several items are things you can then take with you to your new home.

Whenever you sell a house it is important to think about your potential buyers. Is your home ideal for families, young people, the elderly? Whoever your house is best suited to will give you some idea as to how to stage it. Families will want space and facilities for children. Young people will most likely want a modern feel while the elderly may be looking for easy access. Making your home appeal to the right type of buyer will help it to sell quicker and for the best price.

 

 

How Busy Lives! can support you with this

Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career that left me time poor and not able to give sufficient priority to what really mattered to me. I now provide a wide range of business support for people in that position.

 

I am happy to help by:

Coming and organising your rooms and storage before prospective buyers come to tour your home.

Connect you with a great Gardening Services business to do the outside of your property to make it look fantastic.

Let you help you gain precious time back. Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031

Drop me a message on LinkedIn / Messenger on Facebook

Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

House Clearance Organisation Strategy

House Clearance Organisation Strategy

I recently had a friend who found themselves with a house to clear on relatively short notice and didn’t know where to start and what to do. This blog post is aimed to help you if you find yourself in a similar situation.

This blog post provides a strategy moving forward equipping you with an insight to either do this yourself, let Busy Lives! assist you or hire a house clearance company.

 

Overview

1.     What is a House Clearance?
2.     How long does it take to complete a House Clearance?
3.     What is a House Clearance Company?
4.     Preparation – Before Contacting the House Clearance Company:
a.          When the company arrives:
5.     Clearing out a house yourself.
a.          Preparation
b.          Have a system
c.          Throw, Keep Sell, Recycle?
d.          Get rid of the rubbish
e.          What to do with everything else
f.           Selling
g.          Gifting
h.          Charity
6.     Being Safe
7.     How Busy Lives! can help you with this

 

What is a house clearance?

Several things may require you to clear out a house, a bereavement, a move or a simple desire to declutter may lead you to clearing a house.
In the most basic terms, a house clearance is when a house is ‘cleared’ of it’s contents. If you are a landlord, you may be disposing of items left behind by a tenant.
The very first thing you will need to do is decide whether you will do the clearance yourself or hire a specialist company to do the job for you.

 

How long does it take to complete a house clearance?

As a general rule it is said that two people can clear one room in half a day. According to the BBC the average UK house has 5 rooms which would, using the above rule, take two people two and a half days to clear. To be on the safe side I would recommend adding on an extra half of a day. Even if you are planning to use a house clearance company I would still put aside time to go through the house first to ensure you remove any items you wish to keep.

 

Clearing out a house using a house Clearance Company

What is a house clearance company?

A house clearance company is a company that will empty part or the whole of a house. The cost of this service will depend on the size of the property and how much stuff needs to be removed.
When looking for a house clearance company it is best to review the house first and make a list of all the heavy / bulky items such as large pieces of furniture and appliances.

 

Top Tips:

  • Be sure to ring more than one house clearance company for a quote.
  • When enquiring for a quote be sure to mention any timescale you might have.
  • If the house or flat is has any access issues (no parking, on the 15th floor etc.) be sure to mention it as it may affect the quote given.
  • Be aware that some companies may ask to visit the house before giving a quote.
  • Book a morning slot so that if anything crops up (e.g. furniture needs to be dismantled) they will have to do it without needing to return a second time therefore saving you some expense.

Before contacting any company, it is a good idea to do some research into them to ensure they are reputable and reliable. This can be done online or by asking friends and family for recommendations.

 

Preparation – Before Contacting the House Clearance Company

Even if you have decided to use a house clearing company it is a good idea to go through the house yourself and remove any items you want to keep or give to family / friends.

Be sure to check in drawers and cupboards as that is where you are likely to find things hidden away there.
It is best to do this before getting any quotes from companies as the items you remove may affect the quote they give.

 

When the company arrives

Go through the house with the person in charge of the house clearance company, point out anything that is to remain or items which may need to be disconnected such as cookers. Also point any hidden nooks and crannies which may get missed.
If there is any items you can’t find and would like to keep ask the company to keep an extra pair of eyes out for them while they work (but it is best to try and find and remove items beforehand).
Once you have gone through anything it is best to leave them too it. Ask to be phoned thirty minutes before the company is due to finish so you can be there and check everything has been removed and ensure you get a ‘waste transfer note’ – this covers you legally for waste disposal. This is also when you should receive your invoice. Only after you are happy should you pay.

 

Clearing out a house yourself.

Preparation

If you are going to be clearing a house yourself it is best to go in prepared. Before starting gather up any supplies you may need. This includes:

  • Packing materials – boxes, tape, marker pens, etc.
  • Food and water – if you are clearing out a family members, friends or unknown house you may need to supply your own food for the duration of the clearance.
  • Helpers. Having more hands will make the job quicker and easier. (Offering lunch may entice people to help)

Hiring a skip or arranging for a ‘man and a van’ to clear away rubbish.

 

Have a system

Once you have everything you need to get started you need to formulate a plan – are you going to go room by room? Largest items first?
However, you plan on proceeding, it is a good idea to decide before you start. If you are planning on moving room by room then decide what order you are going to proceed. If you would prefer to get rid of the large items first make a list of what needs to go and where it will be going.

 

Throw, Keep, Sell, Recycle…

Now you are ready to dive in it’s time to decide what your going to do with each item. If you are working alone then you may be able to keep track of things using a pile system (a pile of things to keep, a pile of thing to throw etc.) however, if you are working with friends then you may need to use a different approach.
One useful system to adopt if you are working in a team is to use coloured dots. Rather than having your team ask you about every item or risk them throwing out something you wanted to keep. Go through everything quickly and ‘dot’ items using stickers. For example, use green dots for things to keep, red dots for things to throw and so on.
It may also be a good idea to pack paperwork into boxes for you to sort out later.

 

Top tips:

  • Don’t hold back.
  • Don’t keep things just for the sake of keeping them.
  • Be thorough.
  • Empty every room, cupboard and drawer.

 

Get rid of the rubbish

Once you have done a day’s work get rid of the rubbish – either move it all into the skip or make sure your ‘man and a van’ come by and collect it all. This will ensure you having space to work in and all the useless clutter is gone.
Remember to be careful when disposing of paperwork or personal documents. Ensure these are disposed of properly, this could be mean using a shredder or a specialist service.

Also, if you clearing out the house of a deceased relative be sure not to throw away anything important in case it is needed later on. If you are unsure talk to the solicitor / executor before proceeding.

If you come across anything deemed hazardous (this includes things such as chemicals, paint, tyres, batteries, etc.) you must ensure you dispose of them correctly. If you are unsure of what to do contact your local council or recycling centre to find out the appropriate way to dispose of these items.

 

What to do with everything else?

Now the rubbish is gone you should be left with things you either want to keep or recycle or sell. The easiest thing to do here is move the things you are keeping for giving to friends / family to their new homes.
Once all that is gone you should now be left with things you are getting rid of. Now you have several roads open to you.

 

Selling

Items in good repair may be worth selling. If you stumble upon any antiques, jewellery, or items of value it is a good idea to get them properly valued before selling.
Large items such as furniture can be sold online or to second-hand shops.
You can take items to a car boot sale and sell them there (remember you will most likely have to pay for a plot on the field)
You can sell clothes, DVDs, books, CDs and more online however if you don’t want to individually list items you can go to places that buy clothes based on weight to get rid of them and websites such as ‘Music Magpie’ will bulk buy DVDs, CDs and books.

 

Gifting

Ask friends / family if there is anything they would like. Mark it with their name and arrange for it to be collected.

 

Charity

Charities will always be appreciative of donations and some charities will collect items from your home. If you decide to donate to a charity and you have large items such as furniture, call or visit them and ask if they will be willing to collect it.
Some charities cannot take large or heavy items in which case you can either approach a second charity or dispose of the items in another way.

 

Being Safe

When clearing a house yourself you will most likely need to move heavy furniture around, make sure you get help doing this and work in a safe manner using correct lifting practices – keep your back straight and bend your knees. Also make sure your path is clear and you where you are moving the item to before you lift it.
Open windows to combat dust and if you find an excessive amount of dust or you are going into a dusty area (i.e. the attic) wear a dust mask.

 

How Busy Lives! can support you with this

Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career that left me time poor and not able to give sufficient priority to what really mattered to me. I now provide a wide range of business support for people in that position.

I am happy to help by:

  • being an extra pair of hand to assist you if you are clearing a house yourself.
  • Clear the house for you once instructed where you would like all the items to go.
    researching businesses to use if you decide to outsource the task.
  • If you need or would like some emotional support for how you’re feeling whilst doing this, I know an excellent therapist I can refer you to who will help you transition through this difficult period.

 

Let you help you gain precious time back. Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031
Drop me a message on LinkedIn / Messenger on Facebook
Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk

Organising your Fridge and Freezer

Organising your Fridge and Freezer

Organising your fridge and freezer

 

Organising your fridge and freezer can seem like just another task on your never-ending to do list. But getting them organised can save you time and most importantly money.

‘How?’ I hear you ask.

The answer is simple, food costs money and throwing unused food away is basically throwing your hard-earned money in the bin.

So how do we fix this? In one word, organise. Having your fridge and freezer organised will help you to lessen your food waste, by enabling you to see what food you have and what needs to be eaten, which can also prevent you from overspending. You can also better plan out your meals whether this is by writing down a menu for the week or simply eating the food closest to its expiry date.

Without further ado let’s get started:

 

Overview

  1. The Fridge

  2. The Freezer

  3. How Busy Lives! can support you

 

The Fridge

 Home to your milk, cheese, fruit, veg and meat the fridge is arguably one of the most important appliances in your kitchen. So, let’s show it some love.

Step 1:

Now you’ve committed to organising your fridge you need to decide what system you are going to use. This can be as simple as designating a shelf for each food type or as complicated as using baskets and boxes and going a little mad with the label-maker!

Top tip

The generally agreed upon layout for your fridge is as follows:

  • The crisper / bottom drawer is reserved for fruits, vegetables, and salad items.
  • The bottom shelf should be for raw meat and seafood (make sure they are properly sealed to avoid cross-contamination).
  • The middle shelf should be for dairy products – that includes the milk if your door doesn’t have a shelf for this.
  • And the top shelf should be for food that does not require cooking such as cooked meats and leftovers.
  • The door shelving is the place to keep condiments, juices, jams and water.

Now you have chosen your system for organising it is time to start. A good place to begin is by cleaning your fridge.

Step 2:

Empty your fridge – I’d recommend doing this before you go food shopping. Pack any food you have in a cool bag to avoid it spoiling.

Once your fridge is empty give it a clean – remove the shelves and drawers and wash them using regular washing up liquid (Make sure to let the shelves warm at room temperature before submerging them in hot water – not doing this could make them crack). Leave them to dry.

Wipe down the inside of the fridge with a cloth and disinfectant spray. Make sure to thoroughly dry the inside of the fridge.

Dry the shelves and drawers and put them back into the fridge.

Once your fridge is squeaky clean it is time to start putting the food back. Use the system you devised earlier to start loading up your fridge.

Top tip

Check the temperature setting of your fridge. The Food Standards Agency recommends a temperature between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius.

Step 3:

Pack all your food into your fridge. Avoid overfilling your fridge as this can make it harder for the fridge to maintain its temperature and force it to work harder to keep cool.

Try and leave space between items to allow the cold air to move freely.

And you’re done. All that’s left to do is stand back and admire your handiwork. To keep your fridge looking sparkling clean and fresh I’d recommend giving it a clean every few months – for quick cleans just wipe down the shelves and the inside surfaces of the fridge. Deep clean 1-2 times per year.

 

The Freezer

The Freezer is a lifesaver, from chips to batch cooking and garden produce to your leftovers, your freezer can home everything; meat, veg, fruit, and (most importantly) ice-cream.

But, let’s be honest now, we all have ‘the thing’. That one item tucked away behind the bag of peas that we have no idea what it is or how long it’s been there, but we have some odd compulsion to hang onto it.

Now it’s time to say goodbye to ‘the thing’ and get your freezer organised.

Step 1:

Like the fridge, the first step is to decide how you are going to organise your freezer. I recommend allocating drawers or shelves to one kind of item. For example, in my freezer we have a drawer for fruit and veg, a drawer for processed foods, a drawer for homemade batch cooking and a breads / dessert drawer.

Once you have your system it becomes easy – you just need to stick to it

Next is – you guessed it – time to clean out your freezer.

Step 2:

Declutter. No one likes throwing food away– I’m with you there but some things just can’t be saved, now is the time to bin them.

And make sure to bid farewell to ‘the thing’ that has hung around since before Christmas but now it’s time for it to go.

Once your freezer is empty decide if it needs defrosting and cleaning. If you do need to defrost don’t try to speed up the process with a hairdryer or screwdriver hacking off ice as I did once – surprise, surprise the result of that was a new freezer!

Top tip

The Food Standards Agency recommend your freezer to run at -18 degrees Celsius. If your freezer has an adjustable temperature gauge, make sure it is not set any warmer than this.

Now you should have a clean, empty, freezer ready for you to start refilling.

Step 3:

It’s time to pack everything away. Stick to the plan you devised, and this step should be a breeze. But to help you here are some space-saving tips.

  • Bags save space – if you need to freeze batch cooking, a soup or sauce, instead of putting it in a box use a plastic bag instead. Fill it with your soup and seal it (make sure to squeeze out all the air) Ensure the bag is sealed properly and you can lie it flat in the freezer and stack them up. Don’t forget to write and label what you’re freezing, chilli con carne looks very similar to a spaghetti Bolognese.
  • Remove the boxes – some freezer food from the supermarket comes individually wrapped but then packed in large box – recycle the box and save yourself some space (if you need cooking instructions you can write them on the individual packets or cut that part out of the box and stick it to the item)

Top tip

I put my homemade batch cooking in a plastic bag and sit it in a plastic container in the freezer to freeze it in a uniformed shape, then I remove the bag from the container once it is frozen. You’d be surprised how much more will fit in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few more helpful tips:

  • Store ice-cream towards the back of the freezer to avoid freezer burn.
  • Divide up bulk buy items – buying 20 chicken breasts for less than a five pounds is a bargain but it’s doubtful you’ll need all twenty at once, split them up into bags reflecting the number of people you cook for.
  • Freezers work better when they’re full – Yes, believe it or not filling your freezer is good. Filling your freezer means it does not have to work as hard so puts less strain on the appliance.
  • And most importantly – LABEL EVERYTHING. We don’t want to find anymore ‘things’ lurking behind the peas. When you go to freeze something write on the bag or box what it is and the date.

 

How Busy Lives! can support you with this

Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career which left me time poor and unable to give appropriate priority to what really mattered to me. I have provided services like these for the self-employed, retired and for people with highly demanding careers.

I am happy to help with organisational support including optimising the space and storage you already have in your home. You can go out to work and return with the chaos sorted!

I can help by:

  • Effectively organising your contents so regularly used items are readily and easily available.
  • Organising any room in the house such as your kitchen.
  • Re-organising cupboards and wardrobes which need attention.
  • Making the most of the space and storage you have or would like to improve.
  • Tackling that room, shed or garage which has become ‘the sort later room’ (the one that started as a drawer and became a room!)

 

Find out more about how I can help you with home organisation

Let you help you gain precious time back. Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031

Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Organising Your Household Paperwork

Organising Your Household Paperwork

Organising your household paperwork

Many of us have busy lives in one way or another, but perhaps sometimes we make ourselves busy as an excuse not to do those tasks we really don’t like or know where to start. The vast majority of people have something that they are always going to get around to or have something that gets transferred from one weeks ‘To do’ list to the next!  Organising your home paperwork is a great example of this and yet it’s probably the most important set of papers you need to have at hand, safe and secure. This blog post shares a quick, easy process and system to help you put an end to having papers you can’t find, lying around or getting lost amongst all those other papers shoved in a box or kitchen draw.

Overview

  1. Finding a system that will work for you and the people in you live with (Hd3)

  2. Retention of paperwork

  3. How and where to start if your paperwork piles go back years

  4. Suggested ways forward for storing your household paperwork

  5. Action needed / To do pile

  6. Passwords

  7. Becoming paperless

  8. How Busy Lives! can support you

Please note: If you have less than a couple of years paperwork to sort, you may wish to skip section three.

 

 

  1. Finding a system that will work for you and the people in you live with

You should never feel embarrassed if you have paperwork hidden away somewhere or shoved in a box! If you haven’t got a system that works for YOU it isn’t going to work and more importantly you won’t be able to maintain it over time.

What you need is a system in place that’s quick and easy to access it for YOU. Keep this in mind when reading and considering the rest of this content.

The other factor which is important to consider is who else needs to access and maintain your household paperwork. If it’s others in your household in addition to you, I highly recommend you discuss the different ways forward and agree on which system will work for everyone involved. The consequence of not doing this is you either end up back at square one will piles of papers dumped in a mess or you’re the one that always ends up doing the filing into the system!

 

  1. Retention of paperwork 

How long paperwork is kept and stored for has reduced over time in some instances. Much more household paperwork now available electronically, Section 7 of this blog post goes into more detail about electronic storage for this.

Important paperwork to keep and not destroy:

  • Bank / Credit Card Statements – Keep the original joining information and then the last 3 or 6 months depending on your preference.
  • Car Documentation – For the current car/s owned by the household. This should be the registration certificate. I also keep the purchase or lease agreement. It is useful to have a printed copy of your latest insurance certificate including your no claims bonus as if you change insurance companies many still request proof of no claims bonus. I also keep records of services and work carried out whilst owning the car as proof that it has been well maintained when selling.
  • Certificates – Birth certificates / Marriage or Civil Partnership certificates / Exam and qualification certificates.
  • Memberships – Such as for a gym, keep the original as it will have your number on it.
  • Medical Information – Medical information worth retaining includes your NHS number, European Health Insurance Card, Vaccination record all need to be kept. If you have any medical condition records that would be important for a physician to know keep. Latest glasses prescription is useful to keep. Letters or cards of previous doctor or hospital appointments can be shredded.
  • Mortgage & Life Assurance – Paperwork and any signed agreements relating to this. If you’ve paid off your mortgage it’s important to keep the Deeds and original survey you had when you purchased your property.
  • National Insurance – Depending on your age this will either be on a piece of paper or card. You need to keep this.
  • Savings information & Certificates – Keep the original information and statement/s showing the last six months. If you have Premium Bonds ensure you keep the certificate somewhere safe.
  • Pensions – Keep the annual statements. This is especially important if you change jobs and have more than one pension in place.
  • Pet – Keep details of their birth documentation / adoption, Microchip number and vaccination records
  • Receipts, Warranties & Manuals – I keep receipts on any purchases more than the excess on my home insurance as a rule of thumb. Warranties speak for themselves, there’s no point keeping them if they have expired. Manuals tend to be for appliances and are worth hanging onto, especially the boiler one!
  • Stock and Shares – Paperwork can be quite frequent so I suggest you keep your original statement, the latest one, then one from either every six months or year.
  • Utility Bills – Keep the original joining information and then the last 3 or 6 months depending on your preference. If it’s an annual statement such as water rates, council tax or TV licence it’s your choice again if you just keep the current one or last three years.
  • Wages & Tax Statements – I keep all my P45 & P60’s for tax purposes. This is especially useful if you change jobs and have been placed on the wrong tax code by HRMC. In terms of wage slips I suggest you keep the last six months. Large employers have large numbers salaries to cross check each month and mistakes can be made by error occasionally.
  • Will & Last testament / Power of Attorney – Really important to keep the final signed copies of these. Draft copies can be shredded.

 

 

  1. How and where to start if your paperwork piles go back years

If you’ve accumulated more than a couple of years’ worth of paper hidden in various different places you need a strategy to help you make a start and move forward. This isn’t a procedure to rush as it may result in you recycling papers such as those listed above which you need to keep.

Step 1

  • Have a clear space next to your pile of papers – a table, the floor, or a kitchen worktop are the best ones.
  • Get either three pieces of paper or post-it notes and write the following three words on as large as possible:
    • Keep / Need to organise
    • Recycle
    • Shred

Important 

Anything with personal information on about you or your family needs to be shredded. It’s far too easy for someone to steal your identity from your recycle dustbin . If you don’t have access to a shredder ask your family or friends if they have one you can borrow.

  • Look carefully at each of your papers and place just under the appropriate label you’ve just made.
  • This may seem a daft tip but go and put the recycle pile of papers straight in the bin! You’ve decided to recycle it, so do it!
  • Shred pile of papers. Either sit and shred straight away so it’s done or put in a plastic bag and write Shred on the bag. Think carefully where you then put the bag, as you don’t want to find it in a few years’ time when you’re having another tidy!

Step 2 

  • Again start with a clear surface next to your ‘Keep / Need to organise pile.’
  • Using blank pieces of paper or post-it  notes write the new headings on each piece as large as possible:
    1. Bank, Savings, Portfolio’s & Loans
    2. Car & Bicycle Details
    3. Certificates & Passports
    4. Children / Pets
    5. House related & Bills
    6. Job related, Pension & Wage Slips
    7. Legal Power of Attorney & Will & Last testament
    8. Medical & Health
    9. Mortgage & Life Assurance
    10. Purchases, Receipts & Warranties
  • Look carefully at each of your papers and place just under the appropriate label you’ve just made.
  • Repeat this until your unorganised pile has diminished. You now have ten clear areas where your paperwork relates to a common theme.

Top tip 

If you find you’re running out of time and need the surface for another use such as cooking the dinner! Carefully stack each pile on top of each other either inserting a coloured piece of paper / newspaper or silver foil in between each section. This will save you time starting from scratch again the next time you continue.

Step 3 

  • Take one of your ten areas at a time (i.e. Bank, Savings, Portfolio’s & Loans) and repeat Step 1 again, this time paying more attention to the date of the documentation when considering if it needs to be retained.
  • Next, again with each area, sub-divide it further into sub-sections. For example:
    • Bank Account
    • Access Account
    • Joint Account
    • Bank Loan
    • Savings Account
    • Stocks & Shares

Top Tip 

For each sub-section always have the latest date on the top. This makes it easier and quicker for filing new paperwork.

Step 4 

  • Purchase 10 folders. If possible use hardback ones as opposed to the flexible plastic ones. This stops all the folders collapsing like dominoes when you pull one out when filing a new piece of paper.
  • Each of your 10 areas from Step 2 above now becomes the label you write down the spine of each folder.
  • Using either file dividers or plastic wallets with a piece of coloured paper in, now insert your organised papers from that pile into sections into your folder.

Top Tip 

Have an A4 Hole puncher with the pull-out arm set for A4 paper near to your folders. This makes it always quick and simple to file new paperwork straight away as opposed to dumping it and creating a disorganised pile again.

 

  1. Suggested ways forward for storing your household paperwork

We are spoilt really with the different types of storage now available on the market. What I would stress here when deciding what to buy, is to reflect on which system is going to work efficiently, quickly and easiest for you. To some extent it may also depend in the amount of space you have in your home.

These are my top three:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Hard back Ergogrip Binder

+ Hardback durable folders which stand up on their own without needing support on your shelf looking professional and smart. Very quick and easy to file new paperwork into the sub-sections you create. I’ve recently reduced my ten folders down to three – the secret of course being clearly labelled file dividers.

– Quite expensive compared to other folders on the market you can buy.

 

 

  1. Under desk small filing pedestal cabinet

+ Can fit under your desk or at the side blending into your chosen colour scheme as they come in a range of wood and spray paint finishes. They also come with 2 width options which is good if you’re short on space. Paperwork goes in the bottom drawer, with middle draw useful for storing paper / plastic wallets and the top drawer your stationary.

– Can be a disaster if you don’t buy the correct file dividers and label them correctly.

 

  1. Concertina Folder

+ Quickest and easiest for filing new paperwork as it comes in if you have the sections clearly labelled.

– Avoid buying a cheap cardboard one as with the volume of papers going into it there tend to tear. If you file everything alphabetically as some are labels you end up with some sections not able to hold everything within it. Write your own headings on if you go for this.

 

Top Tip 

File new paperwork once dealt with as it arrives if possible. Have a system with bills etc that when a new one goes in the last one comes out and gets either recycled or shredded depending on its content.

 

  1. The Action Needed / to do pile

Some new paperwork as it comes through the post will need acting upon. The danger here is if you file it straight away you forget to action it or if you leave it lying around it gets lost. I simply use a brightly coloured document wallet in put the papers needing action in there – this works really well and as soon as I’ve carried out what was needed I file the paper accordingly or recycle/shred if no longer needed.

 

  1. Passwords 

We all have so many different important passwords for things which we’re meant to be able to memorise. The most important thing if you can’t like me remember them is to never store them in the same place as your paperwork and in a different location. If you do have them written down in a book ensure this is stored somewhere safe and if possible with locked access.

A second place where you can store them is your phone but I wouldn’t recommend that unless you have a tight level of security on it in addition to 2-factor-authenication when switching it on.

The best place for storing passwords is in an electronic online password manager programme such as ‘LastPass.’

 

  1. Becoming paperless 

Many homes are becoming ‘paperless’ and save everything electronically. Some paperwork some as bank statements can be accessed automatically online so that you no longer need paper copies.  Other documentation still comes through the post. The way around this is to invest in a scanner, many printers come with them now and are easy to use.

Top Tip 

If you do decide to become paperless and save all you paperwork electronically create the same folders and sub-folders as you would have done with a physical folder and label each document carefully including the year.

Important 

I would highly recommend you don’t do this if you have not got a high level of security, anti-virus and back up on your machine and it’s storage. If all these are in place you’re away!

 

  1. How Busy Lives! can support you

Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career which left me time poor and unable to give appropriate priority to what really mattered to me. I have provided services like these for the self-employed, retired and for people with highly demanding careers.

I am happy to help with organisational support including optimising the space and storage you already have in your home.

You can go out to work and return with the chaos sorted! Why not let me make it easier to find what you want straight away throughout your home from that important document to your favourite items of clothing.

This work focuses on the logistical re-organisation of any existing storage used in any part of the home, together with the creation of new storage and filing systems where needed, so that space is optimised, and you can access what you need in a systematic and orderly manner.

Small business owners who work from home may have different needs can help with, such as setting up your home office with a manageable filing system to assist you.

I can help by:

  • Design a system that will work for you with how you store and stay on top of your paperwork.
  • Create clear and effective filing systems for your household utilities and other home documents.
  • Provide the additional option for me to revisit on a quarterly basis to file new papers and maintain your system.
  • Enabling you to become paperless if you have the proper securities in place electronically by scanning, creating and saving your electronic home paperwork systematically on your behalf.
  • Setting an excel document up to track your household income and expenditure on a monthly and annual basis.

 

Find out more about how I can help you with wider aspects of home organisation

Let you help you gain precious time back. Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031

Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organisational  Support  for your home

Organisational Support for your home

Recommendation

Karen offered an excellent service working alone in my household on some project management tasks. She was professional, courteous and respectful at all times and I can recommend her absolutely without any reservations. Her service is second to none.

Carol Magner, RCDP MCDI BA, Bramcote, Nottinghamshire

Mrs Hannon was a great help sorting and organising my bedrooms which included three large wardrobes. I now have all my clothes arranged neat and tidy by colour and type. I couldn’t believe something as simple as having the same coat hangers throughout would make a big difference too! This has made it so much easier to find what I want to wear now. Mrs Hannon was so helpful, I would certainly recommend her to take on any home organisation for you.

June Smith, Retired Business Lady. Toton, Nottinghamshire

Garage

Spare Bedroom

 

Organising & knowing what presents to buy

Organising & knowing what presents to buy

This post is aimed at busy people who do not know where to start and how to organise the selection and choice of present for someone else; be it a friend, family member or business connection.

The culture and attitude towards buying presents has changed significantly over the decades. The thought of re-gifting or using a present received for charity was previously a definite no. The definition of a present as a ‘gift’ is that it is part of a celebration and demonstrates the value we have towards another person. So how do you choose and buy the right present, so everyone really does feel valued?

Overview

  1. Buying a present
  2. Key Starting Point
  3. Questions to Consider when buying a present for someone
  4. Quick 5 step start to buying a present
  5. Great websites for presents supporting local and independent small businesses
  6. How Busy Lives! can help with buying and wrapping your presents

Buying a present

This can vary considerable from someone you know really well to hardly at all, with both people you have met through business or family. Top tips before you embark:

  • Have an overall budget in mind for how much you are going to spend overall on everyone.
  • List everyone you will be buying for.
  • Assign an amount limit for each person and check these fall within the overall limit you have set. Adjust amounts for certain people until you are happy not going over the limit you have set.

Key Starting Point

Find out as much information as you can about the person you are buying for. This may be common sense but believe me, there are people out there will just go into a shop or visit a website they like and randomly just buy something. In these eco-conscious times, surely it is also more desirable to present a gift that is ‘valued’ by the receiver than just more landfill!

It is almost like being a detective to get this right!

Whether you are going to buy the presents yourself or use the services of Busy Lives! to do this for you there is a common way forward. Below are my key questions. I select from and use some of these if I am asked to find a gift for someone who I do not know at all. Hope you find them useful:

 

Questions to Consider when buying a present for someone

  1. What is the relationship to the person you are intending to buy for?
  2. What do they enjoy doing the most either in their spare time or at work?
  3. What is there favourite food or drink?
  4. What age band do they fall in? Is there a current trend for this group?
  5. Do they have a healthy lifestyle with both fitness and food?
  6. Do they have a hobby or special interest in something?
  7. Do they enjoy going to the theatre or cinema?
  8. Do they enjoy reading a book, e-book or listening to an audio book?
  9. Do they have a favourite colour?
  10. Do they have any children living at home?
  11. Do they have a pet they adore?
  12. Do they enjoy celebrating Christmas / Birthdays?
  13. Are they the sort of person what would enjoy something really different such a ‘Red letter day event?’
  14. Are they a ‘follower’ who likes to have/wear popular brand items?
  15. Are they a person that would appreciate a gift that is from an independent business?
  16. Are they the type of person who would like a sponsorship gift for a charity they value?
  17. Are they the type of person who would like one main gift or a gift basket compilation?
  18. Are they the type of person who would value an experience as opposed a physical gift?
  19. Are they the type of person who would prefer a date booked in your diary where you spend quality time with them doing something or visiting somewhere special?
  20. Would they appreciate a high quality keep sake?

Quick 5 step start to  buying a present

  • Once you have the answers to your questions you can start gathering ideas and possibilities for what to buy for each person.
  • Go back to your original budget set for them and check your ideas fall within the limit set.
  • If you are buying something unique or personalised for someone, these are the presents which need to be purchased first and not left until the last minute.
  • Group the list into common areas. This will save you time both if you are buying from the High Street or over the Internet.
  • Remember to buy wrapping paper, gift bags or boxes for the present along with what you will seal the present with; cellotape, string, ribbon which people often forget to buy. If it is a really special present there are a wide range of accessories you can add from tissue paper and sequins inside the wrapping paper to fancy bows on the top.

Supporting local and independent small business with an actual unique gift

I always laugh when I see shop flyers in the newspapers that state they have an unique gift which cannot be bought anywhere else. What about the circulation of this to the thousands!

Here are a few businesses who I have met who are far more unique with what they offer:

Areas:
  • Art
  • Business
  • Food and Drink
  • Home Accessories
  • Jewellery and keepsakes
  • Pampering and skin care

 

Art

Name of business
Sarah Perkins Art
Website address
www.sarahperkinsart.co.uk
Present idea
Pet portraits and animal art. Works can also then be made into cushions, coasters, cards and mugs.
Typical Price range
£195.00 for an A4 portrait through to 36×36 portrait £750.00

 

Business

Name of business
William Hannah Leather Notebooks
Website address
https://www.williamhannah.com
Present idea
Bespoke designed notebooks and inserts made from Italian Leather and suede. Wide range of colours you can have made to reflect the business brand colours.
Typical Price range
£90.00 for the Notebook with additional reasonable amounts added on as you personalise its features – embossed business logo on for instance

 

Food and Drink

Name of business
Bawdon Lodge Farm
Website address
https://bawdonlodgefarm.co.uk
Present idea
Variety of different Gins and vintage cordials
Typical Price range
Vintage cordials around £5.50 Gin collection around £35.00

 

Name of business
The Butler’s Pantry (Derby) Limited
Website address
http://www.butlerspantryderby.co.uk
Present idea
Bespoke vouchers
Typical Price range
£50.00 Private cookery tuition on a one to one basis (2hrs in duration)

£60.00 Cookery tuition for 2 people (2hrs in duration)

£120.00 Cookery demonstration event for up to 6 guests (2.5hrs)

 

Name of business
Cotswold Food Hampers
Website address
https://www.cotswoldfoodhampers.co.uk
Present idea
Luxury food and drink hampers for him, her and corporate. Hampers also tailored for vegans or those who love their champagne available.
Typical Price range
From £40.00 through to £250.00

 

Home Accessories and gifts

Name of business
Little Corner of Happiness
Website address
https://www.littlecornerofhappiness.co.uk
Present idea
Prints, bangles, home accessories and unique planners and diaries.
Typical Price range
From £3.00 – £30.00

 

Name of business
Handytech.org
Website address
www.handytech.org
Present idea
A range of bespoke laser cut wood, slate or Perspex gifts with personal wording and images. Religious gifts are available.
Typical Price range
Starting prices are between £22.00 and £80.00

 

Jewellery and keepsakes

Name of business
Always be keepsakes and gifts
Website address
www.alwaysbekeepsakes.co.uk
Present idea
Beautiful personalised gifts, engraving, handprint and footprint silver jewellery such as charm beads, bracelets.
Typical Price range
From £10.00 – £75.00

 

Pampering yourself

Name of business
Beautiful Feeling (Attenborough NG9)
Website address
www.beautifulfeeling.com
Present idea
Vouchers available for specific treatments or monetary value.
Typical Price range
£27.50 to £43.50 Range of Massages.

£15.00 to £35.00 Manicure.

£17.00 to £32.00 Pedicure.

 

Name of business
Vicki Brown FLP
Website address
https://www.vickibrownflp.co.uk/home/gift-ideas
Present idea
A range of natural based products such as Aloe Vera that support everything from skincare, nutrition, sports and fitness.
Typical Price range
Starting prices are from as little as £7.99 through to over £100.00

Please note there is no financial educement with any of the websites listed above.

 

How Busy Lives! can help with buying and wrapping your presents

Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career that left me time poor and not able to give sufficient priority to what really mattered to me. I now help support others in that position.

I am happy to source, buy and / or wrap your presents ready for that special day.

Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031

Drop me a message on LinkedIn / Messenger on Facebook

Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk

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