What Are U Thankful For?

As the holidays have creeped upon us I thought I would share a list of a few things that I am thankful for over this past year. Be warned, this is not your ordinary list:

1. I am thankful for all of my early birds. You know who you are. You show up at my estate sales at least an   hour before opening and try every trick in the book to get me to let you in early. Trying to pose as staff? Really? 
2. I am thankful for all of my customers who have educated me at my estate sales. You tactfully tell me when I have overpriced an item (although I sometimes wonder if this is a ploy for your benefit). Yea, I don't claim to be perfect so I welcome the learning experiences!
3. I am thankful for all of my shoppers who bring their children with them to my sales. I have observed your kids suckering you into buying some of the strangest things so that they can convert them into a toy! (I'm still not sure why that kid pleaded with his mom to buy him a broom...?). Keep'em coming :-)
4. I am thankful for all of my clients who have purchased some of the most unusual things throughout their lifetimes (what genius thought it was a brilliant idea to create a hand held hair dryer that weighs about 25 lbs?). I swear I though it was a space heater! I truly enjoy researching these items. 
5. I am thankful for the pile of baby mice I found squirming in the shed. It taught me a valuable lesson-- stop being so cheap and hire someone else to do the truly dirty work! Wow, I didn't know I could run so fast!

Till next time, be blessed and let the estate sale lady handle your mess.

New Beginnings

Fall is fast approaching and I'm happy to say I survived the Texas summer heat! As the lazy days of summer have passed us by, it is now time to change our routines. For me, it will involve more indoor activities/projects i.e. getting closets organized, getting business records organized and prepared for tax time etc. You know, all the fun stuff :-). What is on your to do list for the fall? One thing I've definitely learned from my estate sale business is that becoming organized and clutter free not only improves the physical appearance of your home but uplifts you emotionally and mentally! Here are a few tips to start your fall season out right:

1. Get those piled up papers shredded! A stack a day keeps the headaches away.
2. Put away and/or donate those summer clothes.
3. Remember that New Year's resolution list? There's still time to accomplish some of those items! 
4. Organize your life creatively. Get the kids involved and make it fun! Use words like project or   activity.
5. Please carve out some down time for yourself. Rejuvenate those brain cells. You will think more clearly and be re-energized.  

http://www.ciajestates.weebly.com

HOARDING

                                                           Image copied from Creative Commons
I'm pretty sure almost everyone knows someone in their circle of friends or family who is a hoarder. For me, it is an uncle. Your initial reaction when walking into the space of a hoarder may be shock and disbelief. Many may think hoarding is a quick fix by simply cleaning out the home for the person. Not so fast! Hoarding is a real mental illness. I remember when attempting to clear out the home was attempted with my uncle. It was a total waste of time. The home was almost immediately refilled with the items. Staff at the Mayo Clinic defines hoarding as:

 "Hoarding is the excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them. Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Some people also collect animals, keeping dozens or hundreds of pets often in unsanitary conditions. Hoarding, also called compulsive hoarding and compulsive hoarding syndrome, may be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). But many people who hoard don't have other OCD-related symptoms.People who hoard often don't see it as a problem, making treatment challenging. But intensive treatment can help people who hoard understand their compulsions and live safer, more enjoyable lives."

Hoarding is no laughing matter. It is not the time to be judgmental. Hoarding can lead to the person living in a dangerous environment, make it difficult to impossible for friends and family to visit, and even create debt problems from the excessive purchasing of items. Working with a hoarder has to be handled in the most sensitive and patient manner as possible. When a hoarder makes up his/her mind to get help and with proper therapy, hoarding can get under control. Hoarding is usually triggered by a traumatic event in a person's life. If this can be pinpointed and understood, it is a great starting point to recovery!

http://www.ciajestates.weebly.com

Want a manicure?

Preparing for an estate sale is not for the faint at heart! If you enjoy getting manicures then this may not be the path for you. There is nothing and I repeat nothing glamorous about this job. The first thing I do before starting a new home is cut off my fingernails no matter what the length, because before its over, they will be gone anyway. I may be working on a home that has been unoccupied for a few months with a lot of dust collection or spending "quality" time in an attic or garage. Thank God I don't suffer from allergies!

http://www.ciajestates.weebly.com

Welcome to the Crazy World of Estate Sales

Hello Blog Nation!

This is my first blog so let me introduce myself and share with you the type of conversations you will find here.
I am known as the Estate Sale Lady and I  live in Arlington TX. I have been happily married for 9 years.
I decided to create this blog because this is a great forum for my trash divers, treasure seekers, garage salers and any other junk junkies to get a peep inside the "behind the scenes" journey of what they see as the finished product of an estate sale. I will share some humorous moments, touching moments, and moments that will make you scratch your head wondering why in the world would someone want to be in that line of work! I look forward to chatting with you and I'll be in touch soon.

http://www.ciajestates.weebly.com