But I’m here to tell you a little unknown secret…come closer…don’t want everyone to hear…ready?...  You don’t have to make everything ideal.  Yep, that’s the big secret.  AND “ideal” can mean different things to different people.  Take Frank’s case.  After many years of living in the same  home, he decided to sell his house.  But his basement was full, and I mean full.  Not of ‘junk’ but of all the things Frank and his family wanted, but the problem was they just couldn’t walk into their basement anymore and the Realtor said it 'had to go'. They needed a way, not to purge what they had, but organize what they had.  So they could showcase their house and their basement in the best light for selling.  The current condition would not allow potential buyers to 'see' the large basement and the added value to the home.  

Upon the advise of the Realtor, they decided to hire a professional organizer but they didn’t have a lot of money.   Frank figured they HAD to do something to get the best price for the house, so at least they had to get their project started.  When Frank and I met, I made it clear to him that organizing didn’t always mean flawless, which meant less time was needed, and therefore a smaller budget.  Frank thought that was great.  He was apprehensive about a total reorganization of his items anyway so an “ideal for me” organization seemed to be the best fit.  

We got to work and when about half the items were moved and organized, and a clear walkway path was established in the basement, Frank was thrilled!  By no means would a professional organizer think this basement was the very best/most organized basement they had ever seen, but Frank thought it was and so would a potential buyer looking at this now organized basement.  His ideal was just what he got: Organization of his family’s items and walking room to the washer/dryer, showcasing the basement in the best possible light.  He didn’t need or want the traditional label-maker marked plastic bins and so much organization that no item touched the floor.  Frank's Realtor also commented how easily a potential buyer could now see how much storage was available in this home - a great selling point!

So the next time you go in your basement or closet and start feeling the “but there’s too much” syndrome, especially if you're moving, think of Frank, it doesn’t have to be ideal, just better than it was.