Do you regularly clutter clear your home?

Do you regularly clutter clear your home?

Joan and I run the Handyman business together. I do the hands-on and Joan shares her amazing organizing, money, and business knowledge. I know Joan’s help has made our business successful.
 
Even though Joan is my “Tidy up Queen“, we are taking a clutter cleaning workshop together. 

We take workshops and classes to learn new things together, you know to “sharpen our saw”. This week is The Ultimate Clutter Clearing Workshop. Today I learned to hold our living spaces in my mind, to imagine/explore the feel of all the items in the environment.

Through this exercise, I was able to find my irritation with a chair blocking our entrance into the living room. Joan and I then talked about other issues we had with the rest of the house. Our discussion led to the decision to move that chair into another area of our home.

However, as Joan pointed out, the wood tone of the chair, a Captain’s Chair, was the wrong wood tone. She suggested that I change the color by using a product I have used for clients’ cabinets in their homes. The product is Watco. A Danish finishing oil that colors and stains wood. I look forward to that project so as to enjoy the chair in its rightful place.

With Joan’s guidance, we have already “Tidied Up” throughout the house. That’s what made this workshop energizing. We have already talked about other suggestions we have in order to make our home more pleasurable.

We hope we can help you with any “Tidy Up” projects you have. Maybe clearing stuff out or to a new place in your home? Just give us a call.

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How do you celebrate October’s holidays and your legacy?

October always reminds me of the holiday, Day of the Dead. The holiday is a time to remember our ancestors who are not with us physically. The time to celebrate their legacy.

I remember my dad coming to all my high school football games. He cheered and whistled, clearly louder than most anyone there. Dad and I continued celebrating football together, going to Raiders football games. We were at the ‘Heidi Game’ in 1968; where the Raiders scored two touch downs in the last 50-seconds to win over the New York Jets. Dad was hoarse for a whole week.

I remember sharing sports with my father-in-law, as well. Name the sport and he watched, attended, or listened to it. Two of his favorites were the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland A’s. Whether on television or radio, you can be sure he watched or listened.

I learned from my father-in-law, not only the enjoyment of a ballpark, but savoring the best hot dogs in the area at Casper’s Hayward. He thoroughly enjoyed a good hot dog piled high with sauerkraut.

Stay tuned for my next October newsletter, due out the 24th, where I will share more memories and family legacies … in honor of the Day of the Dead (Oct 31 through Nov 2).

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Who knew I could go from Ebenezer Scrooge to delight at Christmastime?

Bah Humbug! That was me in years past. I was turned off by Black Friday, Cyber Monday and shopping with millions of my Christmas shopping BFFs. The over the top hectic energy, made me grumpy.

This year is different. I have put up outdoor LED Christmas lights (energy efficient) on the exterior of the house, hung over-sized Christmas balls on the eaves, and helped and participated in several holiday gatherings hosted in our home.

You might even catch me singing along with Christmas carols, or watching Hallmark holiday movies, with my wife — two of her most favorite ways to celebrate the holidays.

Seems I’ve turned over a new leaf … have a new attitude. Who knew I could go from Ebenezer Scrooge to someone delighted with Christmastime.

In that spirit, here are The Fix-It Professionals — Top 10 Gift Ideas for the Holidays! Enjoy!

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Did you know I speak the special language of IKEA?

I belong to a networking group, Delta Networking Partners (DNP). We share referrals to promote each other’s businesses. At the start of each meeting we introduce ourselves. You know, the typical 30-second elevator speech you would give to a stranger on an elevator

Last week my elevator speech was, “I can say thank you in Portuguese. I can say thank you in Spanish. I can say thank you in English … I am tri-lingual!” At this point, the group was wondering what this had to do with being a handyman and electrician.

I then said, “I can also speak IKEA.”

After a few chuckles, for those who got the joke, I continued with my story about a recent client appointment where I had put together an IKEA baby crib for a couple expecting a baby girl.

The husband is not that handy. Add to that, IKEA is not an easy language to understand, even for the handy type.

I also shared the story of a client who hired me to finish assembling an outdoor basketball hoop — a free standing one. The husband had not completed the assembly and left it undone.

An easy project for me to complete. I’ve learned the easiest way is to lay out all the nuts, bolts, screws and parts; so all is at the ready. I know where to get the next part. After I finished, the wife told her husband she had completed the project.

After all, she didn’t want her hubby to be upset she hired someone else to get it done! No problem for me — that’s what I do. I fix what your husband fixed — or didn’t finish!

Just goes to say we can help you save time and your marriage! 

Enjoy our Top 10 Time, Money, and Labor Savers!

And, just in case none of the top 10 are in your area of expertise or desire to do around your home, consider asking for our help with our September special —  Labor Saver Special Offer.

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Is your home “staycation” ready?

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