Out with the clutter!

Thanks to Pillar to Post for this tidbit of information:

Preparing a home for sale requires more than an average cleaning. Most sellers understand that they must keep their house neat and tidy in order to attract potential buyers, but many may be overwhelmed or sidetracked when faced with seriously removing clutter. Beyond dusting and scrubbing, a de-cluttered home shows off its spaciousness and allows potential buyers to imagine themselves living there. Here are a few proven strategies to help homeowners take control of their space.

Empty it Out

Once you have identified your clutter hot spots it's time to pull everything out of that closet, shelving unit, or drawer and sort through what you really do and do not need. Start slowly and resist the urge to go into a frenzied clean. A successful purge requires time, commitment and motivation.

The Uselessness of Potential

Sometimes the hardest things to let go of are the things we've never used. Giving up on the idea of what that thing could be is an important part of letting it go. This is true for the things we've used but may never use again. A good rule of thumb: if you haven't used it in a year then you probably don't need it.

Give it a Home

Staying organized sometimes means finding a place for something and keeping it there. Key rings, newspaper racks, bill holders, and plastic storage containers can all help calm that "where did I put it?" frantic feeling.

Get it Out

Once you have made a pile of things to be cleared out the final step is making sure it gets out of your house! A yard sale can clear out the clutter and bring in some extra cash. If putting together a sale is too much work, donate your extra goods to your favorite local charity.

Kick the Habit

Once you've cleared out the clutter, it's important to adopt habits that prevent the problem from occurring again. Establish routines to help such as sorting mail over the recycle bin, always keeping a "give away" box in your hallway, and thinking twice about whether or not you really need something before you buy it. Cutting down is another way to fend off clutter!

Tourists Beaming in to Vulcan

This article is from the Town of Vulcan Newsletter - Volume 32 August 17, 2009

At 2:45pm MDT, Tuesday August 4, 2009 the Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station welcomed the 16,694 visitor through its doors this year, officially breaking the record for the total number of annual visitors to Vulcan set at the end of 2008. As of Monday August 10, the Trek Station's visitor numbers are continuing to skyrocket - already tourism staff have welcomed 1,383 visitors in the first 10 days of the month.

Thanks in part to the success of the new Star Trek movie, released in May 2009, more visitors than ever before are laying in a course to this quirky little science-fiction town on the prairies.

"Tourism is hopping in Vulcan this year," delared Tourism Coordinator, Dayna Dickens, "and with just under five months remaining in 2009, it looks like we are going to shatter last year's visitor record!"

In addition to teh increased interest in Vulcan, generated by the release of the new film, Dickens notices more people are staying close to home this year and exploring some of the undiscovered tourism gems in their own backyards."

"According to visitor stats, 40% of our guests are originating in Calgary and Southern Alberta" reports Dickens. "Being only a one hour drive from both Calgary and Lethbridge, Vulcan is an ideal destination for daytripping families looking for a fun activity."