It's Sunday afternoon and time for the "Open House" circuit. Finally, you are walking through the house of your dreams with large rooms and lots of light. Be mindful that the seller has staged the home to look its' best.

It does not matter what size the home, look beyond the esthetics. Remember to notice the areas not seen; inside closets, cabinets, and the work areas of the house.

Are the closets large enough to accommodate your wardrobe? Before leaving home, measure your closet rods. Then it is easy to compare the needs for the new home.

Considering a larger home? Are there adequate areas on each floor for the vacuum, brooms, and other cleaning supplies? Is the laundry room large enough for both gathering and sorting the clothes to be washed? Does the laundry room have space for a new oversized washer and dryer?

Solutions are always available by planning closets that utilize every inch. Look beyond the existing walls and see if two small rooms can be opened into one larger closet. With a little planning and proper space design there will be no surprises on "move-in" day.

The article Culling Your "Stuff" Can Be Painful Task, from the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, is a great testimony of how overwhelming purging is for someone after the death of a loved one.

Just as important as planning your estate for the family's security, it is also important to not pass on your clutter. Start your purging process now. Go through a little bit each day so not to overwhelm yourself. Keep only what is loved and needed. To help make decisions on paper refer to a records retention schedule.

If it is difficult finding documents, consider changes to your filing system's categories. Especially when dealing with a large amount of information, it is possible that the categories could be more specific.

For instance, filing papers under "Documents" does not give reference to the type of document needed. A deed of trust and could be filled under "Assets" or gym membership could be file under "Clubs" or "Membership Applications".

Do broken ornaments sound like jingle bells? Are last years lights tied tighter than the presents wrapped on Christmas Eve? Make a mental note as decorations are unpacked this year. Then, spend just a little time organizing the decorations as they are packed away after the holidays and next year decking the halls will be easy as fa-la-la-la.

Last year, Chris McKenry was featured on KABC-7 and gave the following organizing tips on packing away decorations:

1. Take Polaroid pictures before decorations come down.
2. Remove hooks to protect ornaments.
3. Use acid-free tissue for wrapping decorations.
4. Wrap tree lights around rolled up newspaper.
5. Place decorations in new, uniform size containers.
6. Place photos and new ornament hooks in containers for next year's use.
7. Label containers with contents.
8. Keep only what you love.

"January is Get Organized Month and the professional organizers of Los Angeles want your vote", states Chris McKenry the president of the National Association of Professional Organizers-Los Angeles Chapter. NAPO-LA is sponsoring the first annual Los Angeles Organizing Awards on January 30, 2006.

Fifteen categories will recognize everything from products, to charities, to media, authors, and of course professional organizers that excel in the service of getting and keeping you organized. The public can vote for two categories:

1. Best Product Resource
2. Best Organizing Book

"This is one of the fasting growing industries. Twenty years ago NAPO was formed with a hand full of members in Los Angeles. Today the national association has over 3,500 members worldwide", says McKenry. Help NAPO-LA celebrate and vote today.

National Association of Professional Organizers
West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

Chris McKenry is President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers