Not long ago, I needed a week to prepare for company. If you just dropped by, you wouldn’t get in the front door. I had a dirty little secret: I was a rotten housekeeper.

Some might blame the undiagnosed ADHD; it was tough staying on task long enough to finish the job. Others would give me a break; after all, I worked full-time while raising two highly energetic young girls. I personally tended to blame my childhood; as the youngest of three, everyone else picked up after me.

We have two young girls, Serina and Sophia. I worried about the examples my husband, David, and I were setting for them. David was the youngest child too. As an adult, his clothes still wound up short of the hamper, scattered on the floor, and I had a heck of a time managing paperwork and simply shuffled bills, students forms, etc. from pile to pile.

So what happened nearly 16 years into our marriage to completely transform us? Real estate!

We put our house on the market in March and magically became quite the homemakers. Everything looks great and smells clean. A sense of urgency moved into our home and we love her.

The kitchen gets cleaned right after dinner. No more waiting until “later.” My bills go directly from mail box to filing cabinet. Junk mail gets tossed. Recycling goes out pronto. I once heard a great organizational acronym: T.O.T. Touch one time. Don’t just pick something up and move it so you will have to put it away later. If you already have it in your hands, put it in its place.

David, a former college basketball player, has improved his housekeeping game as well. For starters, he scores by shooting his clothes into the hamper.

My daily routine has undergone a major overhaul. Every morning, I sweep and wipe down the bathroom vanities and kitchen counters before dropping the girls off at school and heading into work. Both girls are still fed and dressed, although we occasionally brush our hair in the car. (Still striving for progress, not perfection.)

So yes, it is frustrating to have your house on the market, especially in these uncertain times, but I have maintained the “glass is half-full” mentality and this is my silver lining. Now to hold on to the same housekeeping habits when we move into our new house!

Then, my friends, you are most welcome to drop in. Anytime.