On the Move

Oh no, another one has escaped!  Another sock has gone missing. It must have been the washer, it was the last to see it and it has no alibi. Or maybe it escaped while at the gym.  A real mystery–where do those missing socks disappear to?

Amazingly, there is a holiday to celebrate those socks left in the drawer.  A day to celebrate and to stop mourning over those widowed socks. A day to stop hoping it will appear to reunite with its “sole mate.”

While there are many suggestions for what to do with your orphaned socks, from making “Sock Monkeys” to toys for your pets, you have another option.

May 9th is Lost Sock Memorial Day and we suggest you celebrate by donating your partner-less socks, along with other clean, usable women’s, children’s or men’s clothing, to Seamless Moves’ Lost Sock Day Clothing Drive to benefit Northwest Center. On Lost Sock Day, volunteers will play matchmaker and pair up as many donated socks as possible, so that they may fulfill their calling to warm chilly toes.

As you spring-clean your closets and dresser drawers over the next couple of weeks, keep a bag handy for items you no longer use. Then, take your donation to one of the donation sites listed below by May 6th, or contact Seamless Moves for pickup at 425-746-1334.

• The Stor-House and Wine Storage Bellevue, 1614 118^th Ave SE, Bellevue 98005
• Delaurenti Florist, 15100 SE 38th Street, Bellevue (Eastgate) 98006
• Home Street Bank, 6949 Coal Creek Pkwy SE, Newcastle 98059
• Able Acupuncture and Custom Fit Nutrition, 2448 76th Ave SE, #212; Mercer Island, WA 98040
• The Stor-House, 2829 NE 3rd Street, Renton 98056

Northwest Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, has provided services to support the rights and independence of people with developmental disabilities for 45 years. From early childhood therapy and education to adult job training and placement, Northwest Center promotes the building of a community where people of all abilities can fully participate.

Does your Technology need to be recycled?  Do you have an old cell phone, MP3 player or laptop lying around because you don’t know what to do with it?

If you decide to upgrade your hardware, it’s likely you’ll do it before your computer has broken down completely, and it can seem like such a waste to just trash your computer.

You may be able to sell to a buy-back website such as YouRenew.com or Gazelle.com, where you can sell your devices or recycle those that have no value.  GreenDisk (1-800-305-DISK) recycles all forms of techno trash: diskettes, CDs, DVDs, videotapes, audiotapes and their plastic cases, even old Game Boys, PDAs and scanners.

If you have unused but useful equipment you’d like to donate toward a worthy cause, visit Recycles.org for more information about how to donate to organizations near you.

If you are out and about on Saturday April 21 from 10AM -2PM  you can load up the car and head on over to Home Street Bank at 6949 Coal Creek Parkway SE  in Newcastle. Bring all your shredding stuff – from one bag to a car full.  Also,  Mr. Scrappy will be there to take appliances, computers, televisions, screens, etc. Any items that contain Freon such as old refrigerators/freezers will have a charge of $60.  Everything else is free.

One more thing: don’t forget to to erase your private information from any hard drives.

Happy Recycling!

On Friday we feature homes for sale by our clients and/or Realtor partners as a way to add value to their Seamless Moves moving experience. Enjoy!

Come home to your own custom retreat on a landscaped 5+ acre gated estate! This 7,300 sq.ft. home was built with many beautiful upgrades, including hickory cabinets and a slab granite kitchen. Meticulous attention to detail is prevalent throughout the home. There are 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms with a fireplace and balcony off the master suite. You will enjoy an 1800 bottle wine cellar, steam room, media/bonus room and exercise room. There is abundant storage throughout and an attached 4 car garage.

There are many high-tech features: The main and upper levels have digitally controlled programmable lighting plus an in-house sound system with speakers inside and on the front porch and patio.

This home in the excellent Issaquah School District is on listed at $1,050,000.

If you are a Luxury Home Realtor or home buyer interested in this property, you may view it here or MLS# 338631 or by contacting the seller’s agent, Laura White, at (425) 444-8180.

On Friday we feature homes for sale by our clients and/or Realtor partners as a way to add value to their Seamless Moves moving experience. Enjoy!

Today’s highlight is a Providence Point gem in Garden Village. This two bedroom, two bath, 1440 sq. ft. condominium with an elaborate entrance and vaulted ceilings is move-in ready. Inside, the rooms are bright with lots of windows; outside, the large garden patio is great for barbecuing and entertaining. The home has an elegant gas fireplace that separates the living and dining room and a 2-car garage.  The master suite is large with an en suite bath and TONS of closet space.

Join in this Active Adult Community for 55+ and enjoy a pool, gym, library, pea patch, billards, spa, interest groups…there’s even a Jazz Club.

The listing price of this home as of today’s date is $299,000.

If you are a Realtor or home buyer interested in this property, you may view it here or MLS#310515 or by contacting the seller’s agent, Maria Burke, at 425-392-2300.

“Spring is here! The Masters Golf Tournament is right around the corner, but my garage is such a muddle that I can’t reach my golf clubs.”

The garage is where we toss everything that doesn’t have a place in the house. Although you have plenty of room, sometimes it can look like an obstacle course. If you find yourself using your garage as if it were a public storage unit, here are some organizational tips.

Time ~ Set aside enough time to work on the project. Try to plan for a dry weekend, because you’ll have to pull many items out of the garage. If you want the project to go quickly, with a minimum of  disruption to your regular  routine, hire an expert or round up a team of helpers. Otherwise, it may turn into an overwhelming task that will be abandoned halfway through.

Assess the clutter ~ Start by creating three categories: keep, donate, and toss. Discard items that haven’t been used within two years. Once you know which items that will live in your garage, begin grouping them into categories. Only after this step will you know the correct sizes and types of containers or bins to buy to store your things in.

Pick plastic storage bins ~ Cardboard boxes, no matter how strong, bend and dent with frequent use and eventually succumb to dampness. Waterproof containers protect their contents better, seal tighter, and are easy to carry or move.

Think Visibility ~ Consider metal shelving such as those sold at Costco. It’s affordable, easy to assemble and you can add wheels if you want it to be movable. Ventilated shelves also allow visibility and prevent dust and dirt from collecting. If necessary, store items in clear boxes or bags to keep them clean. Give anything that is not easily identifiable a clear label.

Overhead Storage ~ The area above your garage doors may be wasted space. An overhead storage rack is great for out-of-season storage and Holiday decorations.

Keep it at your fingertips ~ Assemble a quick-fix kit consisting of a hammer, screwdriver, nails and screws and keep it near the door to the house so you can access it easily for quick fixes.

Now back to those golf clubs… The standing organizer above would be at home in any well-appointed garage, or this wall-mounted system could turn your golf bags into a piece of interesting art.

We asked a golf pro where is the best place to store our golf clubs. Should we keep them in the trunk of the car? His recommendation: Is to avoid keeping your clubs in the trunk of your car, for any length of time, the temperature changes and  jostling can cause damage.

Did you know that proper storage and well maintained golf clubs may even improve your game?

On Friday, we feature homes for sale by our clients and/or Realtor partners as a way to add value to their Seamless Moves moving experience. Enjoy!

Today’s featured property is in beautiful Sammamish, WA. At this prime location, adjacent to a Native Growth Protected area, you can walk to tennis, swimming or golf at the Plateau Club.

The design of this versatile six-bedroom home is magazine-worthy, with chocolate stained hardwood floors, coffered ceilings, crown moldings, wainscoting and chair rail. The trim and lighting features are exquisite. In the sumptuous master bedroom, you will enjoy a sitting area and spa bath. The spacious walkout basement sports a pool table room, media room and game room. On the main floor, you’ll find an updated epicurean kitchen and an over-sized office or, if you prefer, an optional second bonus room or mother-in-law unit with a main floor bath.

The listing price of this home as of today’s date is $1,097,000.

If you are a Luxury Home Realtor or home buyer interested in this property you may view it here or MLS# 287941 or by contacting the seller’s agent, Christine Kipp, at 866-677-4206.

“I don’t even know what this is.”

When was the last time you cleaned out your freezer or fridge? I mean pulled out EVERYTHING, even that mysterious package from the very back?

We stash meats, convenience foods, and precooked casseroles and sauces in the freezer, then forget how long they’ve been in there. The result?  They become buried in the back of the freezer, are never eaten, and eventually go bad.

March is National Frozen Food Month, so here are a few organizing tips for Spring Cleaning an overstocked freezer:

Toss anything that is outdated or unrecognizable. Before you replace things in the freezer, consider putting them back in groups (meats, soups, vegetables, etc.). Take an extra minute and mark the date on the item using re-writable freezer labels.

NEVER store leftovers in FOIL – use translucent containers or plastic bags, so you can identify them before they turn into a “science project.”

If you have questions about what to freeze, whether the food is still good, or what is the best way to freeze and thaw foods, information is available on the USDA Food Safety and Inspection website: http://1.usa.gov/GTUrZg

Are your leftovers lost? What mystery meal is in your freezer?

On Friday we feature homes for sale by our clients and/or Realtor partners as a way to add value to their Seamless Moves experience. Enjoy!

Today’s Friday Featured Property is in Madison Park on Lake Washington.

This Lake Washington home sits within a private gated enclave and is the eptiome of city living. Its timeless design exhibits elegance with waterfront access and boat moorage just a few steps from the front door. The subtle luxury of the home comes through with interior finishes including hardwoods, marble and slate flooring, stainless appliances and coffered ceilings with crown molding throughout. You will enjoy high tech cabling, grand living spaces and a rec room that redefines entertaining and comfort.

The listing price of this home as of today’s date is $2,495,000.

If you are a Luxury Home Realtor or home buyer interested in this property, you may view it here or MLS#332613 or by contacting Ewing and Clark at 866-675-8911.

Thanks to Stacey Anderson of “Get Organized: Get Revitalized” for this quick tossing tip:

Are you having trouble getting rid of things in your home or office? Well then, pick a number! This will be the number of things that you will pack up and get rid of each day for the next month. This can be clutter, files, junk mail, clothes, reference materials, ANYTHING at all!

Make sure it is a reasonable number; you want to be able to reach the goal every day. Then give yourself permission……”It’s OK to throw it out.”

You have our permission to toss:

• Keys you have no idea what they go to
• That combination lock with no combination to be found
• Gift certificates that expired long, long ago
• Your Prom dress
• The cotton candy maker (or other appliance) that seemed like such a good idea at the time

You get the picture….

So what do you think?  What’s your number?

A representative from Seamless Moves will present downsizing tips and ideas on Tuesday, March 27th, and other speakers will present the latest on the local real estate market, choosing a retirement community and how to hire an estate sale company. No cost to attend this seminar–and lunch is on us!

On Friday we feature homes for sale by our clients and/or Realtor partners as a way to add value to their Seamless Moves experience. Enjoy!

Today’s property is new on the market. It has a great northeast view of Lake Washington and Mercer Island from the large deck in the front of the house. The home has four bedrooms–three upstairs and one down–1.5 baths, a one-car garage currently set up as a workshop area and a large basement. While the home needs some minor repairs and updating, it is structurally sound and with a little work it will be ready for new family.

At $199,900, this one-owner home in the Bryn Mawr area is a great buy for either a first-time buyer with DIY skills or a real estate investor because of the beautiful view and the proximity to Boeing and Renton Landing.

If you are a Realtor or home buyer interested in this property you may view it here or MLS# 330266 or by contacting the seller’s agent, Tim McCormick, at (206) 406-6584.

So, I was getting ready for a recent party and I COULD NOT find the outfit I wanted. After tearing out the entire contents of my closet, when I did find it, I realized that it no longer fit or even looked good on me.

Sound familiar? Then you know it is time! Have you ever looked into your stuffed closet and said “Oh jeez, I forgot I even HAD that”?

Most of us can think of 100 things we’d rather do other than sort out our clothes that are packed in our drawers or stuffed in the closet, but believe me ladies (and gents!), if you put just a little bit of time into organizing your closet it makes life so much easier and makes you enjoy your clothes so much more.

As luck would have it, March is “Clean Out Your Closet Month” and so we present our Top 5 Clean Out Your Closet Tips:

1.  Use a pad and pen, so as you go thru looking at your clothes thinking, only if I had that, or this would work really well with this, you can jot down what you need to put it all together to fill in the gaps you may have noticed.

Pop the list into your purse so next time you are out shopping, you won’t get persuaded into buying mistakes (like the ones you’re getting ready to toss).

2.  Collect some bags, boxes or bins to pack for charity giving. Get them into the bedroom and use them because if they are not close by, you will be quite tempted to just throw things back into the closet.

3.  I’m afraid you will need to get real and be sure you have a full length mirror. Without it,  you will struggle to know if those clothes are right for you. Do they flatter you? Do they make you feel good? Did 1980 call and want its shoulder pads back? Be realistic–do they really suit you? Then you will know what goes into the bags and what goes back into the closet.

4.  Make it FUN…invite a friend, pour a glass of wine, play some great music.  Create some ambiance and play! Put together new combinations. Once you get going, you will start to enjoy yourself.

5.  As you go through each garment one at a time and ask yourself: Do I love it or do I want to love it?? Does this flatter me? Does it reflect who I am? Have I worn it in the last year? Why not? If the answer is no to any of those questions, then out it goes! Whether it goes to charity or whether you hand it down to friends or family, just get it out of the closet so all that remains are clothes you love; the things that really flatter you.

So let’s get going, clean out and organize that closet and let us know: What was the most surprising thing you found in your closet? Does it have a story behind it? Did you dump, keep it, and store it?  What did you throw out? What can you just not bear to part with?

P.S. If you have gently-used, interview-appropriate clothing that you no longer need, consider donating the items to Washington Women’s Employment and Education program or Dress For Success Seattle.