In this issue:

=>Do you know me?
=>Staging and dirt
=>Organizing tip
=>Just for fun

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As many of you know, I started talking about sending out a newsletter in July and now it is mid September! Has your summer been anything like mine?

My business is going very well, but isn’t leaving much time for my personal life! I did sneak in a trip back east to visit grandchildren and I joined the Red Hat Society. All my other plans fell by the wayside.

Happy Fall!

Welcome to the launch of my newsletter! You know who I am, because you asked to be on my e-mailing list, but here is some more information about me.

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Do you remember the old American Express commercials? It went like this:

Do you know me?

· I graduated from Lakewood High School.

· I was a first place winner in the Kiwanis Stars of Tomorrow - twice.

· I sang professionally all over Denver and spent 7 ½ years at the Tally Ho with Billy Wilson.

· I spent 8 years in Las Vegas singing in show lounges with my husband Jay.

· I spent several years in office administration after returning to Denver.

· I am a member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers and IRIS (Interior Redesign Industry Specialist).

· I was a former realtor with Century 21 Joslyn.

· I started Let Patty Do It in May of 2003.

· My continuing education includes attending ACC where I am working (slowly) toward an Applied Science degree in Interior Design.

· I have studied Feng Shui.

· I have studied “Extensive Faux Finishing”.

· Woodworking for Women

· And most recently joined the Red Hat Society.

Do you know me?

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In every issue I hope to bring you interesting facts about organizing, redesigning and staging homes for sale.

I also will be linking to some wonderful resources to help you solve some of your organizing and design problems.

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Staging

How do you know whether your house may appear dirty to others? Here is a great test!

Pretend you are checking into a luxury hotel suite.

What do you get to see? In fine, well- run (expensive) hotels what you DON’T see is key.

Not that you want your home to look like a hotel, but many of the same principles do apply when you are trying to give a stranger the idea that THIS could be THEIRS.

If your room is not ready when you are ready to check in to the hotel, do you get to take your luggage up and leave it in the room while the hotel staff readies the room? Absolutely not! You do not get to see the dirty towels and dirty bed linen from previous guests. So let’s apply some of these ideas to your home.

You have heard many times that Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes but do you know what doesn’t:

DIRT!! A clean carpet that needs replacing is easier to sell than one that is not in such bad condition but is (looks) Dirty.
Damp bath towels are not necessarily dirty, but clean dry towels always appear to be much cleaner.

Wastebaskets should be emptied and sparkling.

Notice how the hotels fold toilet paper so that it looks new and fresh even if part of the roll is gone.

In the kitchen the same psychology is at work. You wouldn’t want to cook in a kitchen someone else has left dirty and neither will your “guests”.

Little tricks will help. Be sure the trash is removed, the dishwasher emptied, counters clean and water spots removed from the sink and faucets.

You know the “guests” will open the dishwasher, oven, cabinets, pantry, run the disposal unit, check the refrigerator (even if it isn’t included), poke under the sink and much more.

Speaking of refrigerators, here is an area that can be clean as a whistle and look really dirty. How? Magnets – that’s how. It is almost impossible to make a refrigerator look clean when the outside is cluttered with lots of non-matching, uneven magnets holding lots of things that don’t relate to your “guests”.

Again, think of hotels. If your luxury suite has a refrigerator, it may be well stocked with goodies for you, but it will not have magnets and it will be organized inside. It will also be free of smudges, fingerprints and things like that.

There are many more ideas you can get from this little comparison to a hotel suite.

Would you feel comfortable moving into a hotel room with family pictures (not your family) on the walls? Great hotels have tasteful artwork chosen so that for the time you are in the room you can pretend it belongs to you.

Organizing

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Did you know that there are companies that will come to house and shred your old files for as little as $50.00? You can take them to various drop off centers for $.25 a pound. This is especially important if you are clearing out an elderly persons home or if you have lived in your house for more than 10 years and have never gotten rid of any documents. On my website I have a list of papers you must keep and also where to find those valuable documents that have been lost in the shuffle.

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Remember you can’t stage, organize or redesign if you don’t clear the clutter.

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Do you have an interesting story or a comment to share?

Please send it to me and I would love to share it.

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Just for fun.

Some fun quotes by Will Rogers.

“There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.”

“Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.”

“Everything is funny as long as it is happening to Somebody Else.”

“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.”

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This is an opt-in newsletter only. It is never sent to anyone except by request and the list will not be sold or shared with anyone.. Should you wish to be removed from the email list, simply send an email to remove@letpattydoit.com and the email address you wish removed.

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Fall is in the air! Instead of just packing away those summer things why not donate or toss those worn out clothes, lawn chairs etc.

Less is better!

Need help?
Let Patty Do It!
Patty Salam
303-944-0234
email: patty@letpattydoit.com

www.letpattydoit.com