How do you organize your stuff without looking like a "Hoarder"?

Hi Everyone,
I've been taking some time off buying to organize my home.  The basement and garage were full from buying at storage auctions.  It been taking me some time to clean it all out to make room for more!  I'm curious, how do you all keep on top of this, so your place doesn't look like you're a "hoarder"?  Any suggestions for organizing?  Thanks!  Healthe

Overall the more space the better. However I have limited space. It usually takes me 2 days to get everything organized where it does not look like I am a hoarder. Most of my stuff goes into bins seperated into categories. Stuff I sell on amazon goes into on tote (cds, dvds, and books that are in good shape and that would bring me at least $3, if it dont match those cats then they go into a different media tub to be sold in a garage sale.)

Next is the junk, broken, plain trash, products that have no value go straight to the side and I call my contact up to pick it all up for $50.

Then its the all wood furniture that needs repair, those go to the side till I have time to fix them.

Collectibles go onto a display shelf that I plan on CL or taking it to an auction house.

Then a space full of totes that I will be CL that does not fit in the other cats.

The biggest space is all the misc stuff that I will end up in a yard sale. But those are organized even more. Each Categorie has its own tote or box. Small hand tools. Power tools, small kitchen appliances, purses and wallets. Shoes, media that wont be sold on amazon, cords have their own place if I dont have anything that matches up to them (mostly cell phone chargers), computers IT stuff, household electronics, costume jewelry, pictures and frames that are not collectibles, then misc stuff I think of as crap but know will sale.

Then I have a small jewelry box that holds all my scrap gold, silver and platinum. (by the way has anyone came across platinum in a lkr?)

Last is the good jewelry like heirlooms, james avery, and other expensive jewelry that is worth more than scrap.

Sorry long list, lol, And I keep everything tightly packed in my garage.

jrossjr79...

If the auction business doesn't work out you can always start a business being an organizer!

I'm not kidding, and I would be your first client . 

jrossjr79...

If the auction business doesn't work out you can always start a business being an organizer!

I'm not kidding, and I would be your first client . 

lmfao, naw I am doing ok with the resell business. Besides I dont really like organizing anyone elses stuff. People like theirs the way they like theirs. I just made my simpler for me to access stuff when I need it. Totes really help out alot for garage sales, and I imagine for flea markets too, especially the ones with out a permanent booth.

Totes really help out alot for garage sales, and I imagine for flea markets too, especially the ones with out a permanent booth.

Couldn't do it without totes. About 4 years ago (in a locker) I got 38 of the translucent ones with the double out-folding tops. Over the last 3 years I have gotten another 22, so I have a total of 60 of them. I take 20 to 26 at a time to the Saturday flea and rotate them with the other half. Some go each time because I always want to take some stuff each time.

As they empty (from sales) I put new stuff in them from new lkr purchases. SO....I am organized there, but my house and garage are a bit of a disaster area; I also have a permanent storage which is pretty organized. The only good thing about getting fewer lkrs these days is that the home mess is starting to get organized !

I got about 20 totes so far myself, never had to buy one. Its funny cause soon as I know I need a few more next lkr I get has more than I need, I got small ones to the big ones, both clear and solid color. I even got a humongous one I put my small kitchen appliances in.

Hi jrossjr79,
Thanks for sharing!  I printed your information out and when I get the furniture cleared out of our garage, I may use some of your ideas.  I really appreciate it!  Healthe

Hi jrossjr79,
Thanks for sharing!  I printed your information out and when I get the furniture cleared out of our garage, I may use some of your ideas.  I really appreciate it!  Healthe

No problem, glad some of the things I do are going to help you.

This is the first time reading this thread, and thank you to jrossjr79 for your posts. My thought process is very similar to yours. I couldn't do this business without being highly organized. I have a very large garage that I work out of and I separate items by type and how they will be sold. So far I have been able to sell larger items quickly to people i know through work, wife's work, church etc. Need to get another unit, garage looks kinda empty even with 2 large shelving units full of yard sale stuff. Right now I keep anything I can sell, even 25 cent items. I can see how some of you don't fool with that stuff due to the volume you handle. I also salvage good hardwood panels and boards to use later on other broken furniture. Dumping trash costs me nothing in the county I live in so I try to squeeze out every dime I can. Good luck to everyone this week, I've got several auctions this week to get one.

This is the first time reading this thread, and thank you to jrossjr79 for your posts. My thought process is very similar to yours. I couldn't do this business without being highly organized. I have a very large garage that I work out of and I separate items by type and how they will be sold. So far I have been able to sell larger items quickly to people i know through work, wife's work, church etc. Need to get another unit, garage looks kinda empty even with 2 large shelving units full of yard sale stuff. Right now I keep anything I can sell, even 25 cent items. I can see how some of you don't fool with that stuff due to the volume you handle. I also salvage good hardwood panels and boards to use later on other broken furniture. Dumping trash costs me nothing in the county I live in so I try to squeeze out every dime I can. Good luck to everyone this week, I've got several auctions this week to get one.

No problem, glad my way of doing things helped you out as well. I myself started to keep furniture hardware to fix furniture that would eventually come up in a later date, but I pretty much ave up on it. I would of end up having alot of hardware, since I absolutely hate trying to resell that particle board furniture. And I barely come across real wood furniture. And when I do, I usually end up having to go out to a local rehab store to go get the hardware I need anyway.

I'm not a hoarder I am a collector.At least thats what we all say.