Organize Your Garage in No Time

Barry's book covers all the bases. He starts out by helping set a goal, create a plan, and envision the finished project. Then using small steps and understanding humor he guides the reader through the important basics of the organizing process as it applies to storage areas. From there Barry opens the world of storage options. Do you hang it, put it on a shelf, in a cabinet, or a drawer? He has pictures galore of different products and tricks you can devise yourself. These suggestions are invaluable for someone who needs to know what he or she has to choose from. And he addresses how you can use what you already have for storage, the cost of what you will need, and having a garage sale. Some of the best chapters are the extra ones about storage in sheds, attics, and basements. He even throws in a chapter on storage of seasonal and holiday items. Barry has left no stone unturned. If you need to organize your garage, you have what you need here.

As a professional organizer, I really enjoyed this book. I thought that Barry's humor and easy style made this book a joy to read. I also found the tables, photos and spreadsheets very useful and informative. I have suggested that my clients read this book before we tackle their garage. It gives them a good overview of how we will analyze and plan their project and implement the systems we put in place. Professional organizers and homeowners will benefit from the information they gain from reading Barry's book.

The garage has always been a sore spot around our house, until I discovered this book. It was just the help I needed to whip it into shape. Barry made it so easy, and the book delivers on its promise-to get the garage organized in no time. It worked so well that I bought several to give as holiday gifts to my four sisters-in-law who had the same problem! They loved it too.

This book offers so much more than I expected. First of all, it is amazingly comprehensive. Izsak tells you (entertainly) and shows you (with great pictures)the most efficient way to use every inch of your garage from floor to ceiling. He even presents the pros and cons of moving certain things to the basement, attic, a shed, or self-storage unit. Want to eliminate stuff? He offers tips on how to toss, donate, or sell. The book is so well organized (no surprise there!) and easy to read that you will find what you need, then keep on reading--the solutions to problems are that intriguing. If you are a woman, don't shy away thinking the garage is a man's domain. Anyone can follow Izsak's advice, and he even explains the safest way to lift things without injury. The appendix lists websites for investigating and purchasing shelves, cabinets, workbenches, containers and more. Best of all, many of his practical steps to the garage apply equally well to every room in the house. It's a great tool, reference book, and gift idea for someone who says he just doesn't know where to begin.

Garage organizing (or any organizing, for that matter) may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of fun. Barry Izsak's book may not necessarily change that completely, but it *will* make the organizing process a lot less daunting. One of the things I like best about this book is its friendly, straightforward tone; it almost seems like Barry's right there next to you as you read. He's honest, direct, and funny, and he provides just the right amount of tough love to help you get over the hurdles between you and an organized garage. Another great aspect of this book is that it's full of pictures and product recommendations. I picked up lots of ideas for garage furniture and gadgets I can use in my work as a professional organizer, and also came away with a better sense of how to deal with oddly shaped items and spaces when organizing garages. Finally, though Barry touches on some organizing theory (i.e., where to begin, how to sort and purge, how to categorize, etc.), it never seems dry or overwhelming; rather, it's just enough to point you in the right direction and show you how to work through the process step-by-step. For anyone who's turned off by organizing books that seem too text-heavy or too theoretical, Organize Your Garage in No Time will be a welcome departure.