When you ask where a certain item is and your spouse says, “It’s in the garage.”  Does fear grip you?  
Has your garage turned into a jumble of boxes, tools, lawn equipment, toys, miscellaneous items, and who knows what else?

Is your car (usually your second most valuable possession) always parked in your driveway because there is no way it could ever fit in the garage?

Well, take heart – you are not alone.   I often ask members of my audience, “How many of you park your car in your garage?”  There is usually a chuckle and a few but not all the hands go up.

Most garages in America today are used as storage units. They are usually so crammed full of stuff most people don’t know what’s living in those deep, dark recesses.  Americans have gone from one and two car garages to three and four car garages.  That’s not to say they have three or four cars.  They may only have two, but use the other two bays for storing their extra possessions and all the stuff they need “just in case!”

With the weather getting warmer, many of you will be doing your spring gardening, the kids will be outdoors more and many of you will be self –conscious about the condition of your garage.  So if you are embarrassed to open your garage door because the neighbors will see the mess inside, check back here frequently as I give you tips on turning your garage into the envy of the neighborhood.

Use the same approach when you are thinking of organizing a room inside your home. Stand in the doorway of your garage, close your eyes and visualize what you want it to look like.

• Would it be heavenly to know where your tools are?
• Do you really need three lawnmowers (two broken ones that you are saving for “parts”)? 
• Are those 33 flower pots ever going to experience holding a plant?   
• Are the boxes from the move before this one really holding a valuable treasure that you haven’t seen since 1996?  

When you get that clear vision of what you’d like to see when your garage door opens,  make a list of what you need to do.  Do you know why you’ve been procrastinating with this project?   Is it because you feel overwhelmed, frustrated and don’t know where to start?  Is the quantity of “stuff” making you feel like this project would never end?  Take your time, make a list and then break the project down into small “bites” that will be easily manageable.   Make a list of the steps you need to take - one step at a time.  Don’t start this important project without a plan.  

When you start your garage plan, analyze what you will need to do:

• How have you been using your garage – for storage or for the cars - do you want to change it?
• Do you have a workbench or do you need to create one so you can safely and easily store your tools and find them when you need them?
• How much sporting equipment do you actually use – golf clubs, bikes, scooters, balls of all sizes and shapes, skateboards, canoes, etc.?
• What’s the extent of your collection of lawn equipment or do you have a landscaping service?
• Do you already have things hanging on the walls or is that an option you haven’t taken advantage of yet?
• Do you have large items such as an additional refrigerator or freezer, or are you storing old furniture that takes up a lot of space?
• Do you have any type of problem with water getting into your garage when it rains? 

How you answer these questions will play a big part in determining your plan and making sure what you visualize will occur.

Another factor when planning a garage makeover is to consider to what degree is your garage affected by the weather?   Consider where your garage is located and what direction it faces (south vs. north).  Garage temperatures often fluctuate to extremes – freezing in the winter and sizzling in the summer.  Some garages are insulated or have some type of heating or cooling system installed in them.  This is not the norm and most of us don’t have that luxury. 

Are you a weekend handyman who really enjoys getting out tools and working on projects?   On the other hand, do you have an overabundance of tools, but never have the time to use them?  Carefully think about this part of your plan so you leave adequate space for your important hobby.

There are many ideas to consider when planning to reorganize your garage so put lots of time and effort into this part of the plan and you’ll save time later.

If this first step still overwhelms, you can always get help.  A professional organizer can help you get the job done even faster.  If you don’t want to hire anyone, however, make it a family project and get everyone involved.  With some determination and help from the whole family you can have a garage you’ll all be proud of.

Develop an organizing plan to change your life.  Simplify and reach your goals with help from S.O.S.   Please check the calendar at www.organizeclutter.com for classes in the area and information on the clutter support group as well as the next scheduled Simply Organized! three hour seminar.

Unclutter your clutter!
If you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and don't know where to start, call Stevie Organizing Services today! S.O.S. assists you in creating uncluttered space in your home or office by creating systems and a place to put things. Being organized eliminates the extra stress in your life. Contact S.O.S. for a consultation and discover a peaceful lifestyle where even small changes can make a big difference.
Stevie Organizing Services
Web site: www.organizeclutter.com
Email: help@organizeclutter.com
919-345-2846