Staying organized during a busy season can be daunting, or even impossible, for some. Here are some great ways to cut down on the clutter and keep your clients' files controlled.

In The Office

• Before you file anything, take a real look at what you're putting away. Many of us stack papers and pile things up that we may never need or look at again. Realtor.org recommends that you "organize those you must keep so they correspond with how you transact business. For instance, arrange papers by prospect or neighborhood. Make one file each for maps, expense reports, and legal documents."
• Use different colors for folders or tabs to indicate the types of files in your system. And of course, make sure everything is clearly labeled for easy retrieval.
• If something can be scanned and saved electronically - do it. Keep it all safe in a cloud-based system like Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar.
• Finally, use a quiet day to organize the paperwork and do it frequently to avoid getting overwhelmed.

On The Road

• Keep your papers in a plastic file case to make things easier to tote so that your important documents won't be left behind, damaged by rain, ruined by food, etc.
• Find a container that you can easily store on the floor of the backseat to keep the things you often need, like an umbrella, clipboard, measuring tape, air fresheners, etc. By keeping it all in one handy container, you'll be able to carry things easily into the house and unload at your own office or home.

Helpful Apps

• Apps like Everlance and MileIQ will track your mileage automatically so you'll have it at your fingertips at tax time.
• Circle Back will clean and complete contact information and merge duplicates so that your list can stay up to date.
• If you're looking to simplify your social media pursuits, Pocket is an easy to use bookmark tool that helps you to save content and articles you find on the web to your “pocket,” making it much easier to access (and remember) for your blog or newsletters later.

What tools do you use to keep your business in order? We'd love to hear about them!