The Magic Basket refers to the central location for coordinating our personal assistant/personal concierge activities/tasks in a home. It doesn't have to be a basket. It could be a drawer, a box, a closet - any place that is easily accessible and can hold things.

It works like this. During the week clients will being doing something and think of a task they need us to complete. They could be opening the mail and get a discount coupon for a new coffee maker. This reminds them that they have wanted to purchase that new coffee maker and with the new discount coupon now is a good time. They put the coupon and a note directing us to purchase the item in the basket.

The new shirt that they purchased for their son at Old Navy is the wrong size. They put the shirt and the reciept with a note on it saying "return - wrong size - get size x" in the magic basket.

The client remembers that they want to go to that new play next month. They write a note asking you to purchase tickets and place it in the magic basket.

While cleaning their contacts they run out of saline solution. They toss the empty bottle in the magic basket.

Upon watching a rental dvd from Blockbuster the client puts it back in the case and puts it in the magic basket.

We know that if the magic basket contains empty containers that is our direction to get replacements. Library books or video rentals need returning. Most things tend to be self-explanatory but sometimes require a note to clarify.

The point of the magic basket is to eliminate the need of a client having to remember all the new or irregular tasks they want us to do for them that week and write them out in a note. We want to make the process of using us as easy as possible -thus the magic basket.

Here is an example of a magic basket after one of our visits. Note items such as replacement light bulbs and our invoice.

The magic basket also works both ways. We place the replacement items and various receipts for the day in the basket for the client.

Here are some tips should you decide to create a magic basket for your clients:

** Place it where most of the administrative activity takes place in the house and where all the members of the household pass it during the day. Most often, this is in the kitchen where people typically open and sort mail, write out grocery lists, etc.

** Use something that matches the decor. It needs to be in plain site so it should be tasteful. If it is placed out of site it will be out of mind as well.

** Get some that is both open on top and has handles. You want it to be able to hold oversize items on occasion and sometimes it will need to be carried.

** Be careful to ensure that everyone knows what the magic basket is for. We have had instances of the part time housekeeper mistaking the basket for trash and emptying it!

A magic basket/drawer/box can help to streamline your tasks and provides a central point for passing material back and forth between you and your client. It also conditions your clients to regular use of your services. Now that is magic!

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