Category: Organizing

Finding You Order, Peace of Mind & Beauty

Peace of Mind

Finding You Order, Peace of Mind & Beauty

As 2020 draws to a close, the Changing Places team reflects on the year that was. Gratitude is the first word that occurs to us. We’re grateful for our clients, partners, hard-working staff and our collective health.

We’re grateful for the very mission we serve: to create order, peace of mind and beauty. Throughout this difficult year, as we’re spending more time at home, it is so gratifying to help our clients make order out of clutter, simplify and beautify their homes.

In this issue, we offer solutions to some of the nagging items on your “home to-do list” and expert tips to create more space.

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Distance Learning & The Organized Home

Distance LearningPhoto: New York Times

We at Changing Places have run out of adjectives to describe life in the “new COVID-19 era”–different, challenging and uncertain are a few. Adding a layer of stress to our lives here in Northern California? The wildfires that are still raging in several counties, threatening homes and life and sanity. Oh, and school just started for many of our kids.

We know this much is true: Your home should be your haven. It should be a place where you find refuge, calm, peace and comfort. The dynamic and stressful world outside should stay outside.

The Optimal Kid’s Workspace

For most American families, the new school year has begun remotely from home, aka “distance learning”. We’ve collected several great tips to optimize the calm and order in your home, while also creating a productive learning space for your kids.

This New York Times article provides awesome tips for setting up a great, productive remote learning space for your kids:

  • Carve out space for schoolwork based on your child’s age and learning style.
  • Consider a rolling cart for moving school supplies from room to room on the fly.
  • A label maker can transform any workspace into one that feels neat and organized.
  • Hang a large white board in your kids’ work area and, depending on their age, use it to help them chart their various meetings and tasks, or do so for your entire family.
  • Headphones are not so much an organizational tool as they are a sanity tool. If you’re trying to work while one kid watches Khan Academy and the other enjoys Sesame Street, you’ll be glad for a set of headphones.
     

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Kitchen Organizing Tips

Kitchen Organizing

Help your kitchen live up to its full potential with the right organization tricks. Our area-specific ideas will get your most essential room in the house organized—and rid yourself of “clutter anxiety” for good.

1) Sort:

Tips before you start to sort “Like with like” is the key. As you review items in your kitchen, edit out anything that is:

  • broken/chipped
  • outdated
  • stained/torn
  • duplicated too many times
  • starting to take up space instead of being useful

2) Do:

Shelf lining: This will help preserve the condition of your shelves and drawers from accidental spills and rubbing from metal and/or plastic. This is especially helpful whether you’re a new home owner or renting. Assess current lining; if you’re reusing, clean and reinstall. This is a good time to switch out shelf lining if you don’t love your current product. We recommend lining under sinks throughout home as well as any high “traffic” area (e.g. mudroom cubbies, pantry shelves, laundry room detergent shelves, etc.). No liner is needed for glass shelves.

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Unpacking & Organizing Strategies for a Fresh Start in Your New Home

You’ve probably heard the thoroughly researched data that moving is one of the most stressful of life events, ahead of divorce or a break up. Finding the best moving company, coordinating packing, and then dealing with a dysfunctional home for weeks after moving day are huge contributors to this stress.

Fortunately we’re here to help get your home organized as fast as possible. If you’re looking for some practical, easy-to-understand tips for stress-free unpacking, take a look at this unpacking article from lifestyle website thespruce.com. Some highlights:

  • Get the essentials unpacked first, then take your time with the rest of the house.
  • Plan each room before you unpack too many boxes.
  • Anticipate future needs. Rather than putting off work—such as lining cabinet shelves or installing closet organizers—do it now, when it is most efficient.
  • Let each member of the family unpack their own bedroom, as applicable. This allows kids to participate in the event.

Spring Home Organizing Tips

Spring has sprung! Are you organized?

Start by studying how you and your family move about your house. Recognize how you utilize each room, and how often you’re there–this will help prioritize your organizing. We’re offering some basic and clever tips for overall home calm: 

Spring Home Organizing

1. RESIST THE PILE HABIT
Most of us walk into our house with purses, groceries, keys, and more. An intuitive “drop zone” off your main entryway creates a home for essential items. It may include a key rack, an inbox for kids’ artwork or bills, or an attractive container for everyday items.
Bonus: Find space in your entryway for a custom–or makeshift–mudroom area.
 

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De-cluttering, organizing and clearing a home to go on the market

  • We take on details of preparing a home to show and sell, so you can quickly get the property on the market
  • We are the only organization and relocation company of our size in Northern California with workers’ compensation, liability and bonding insurance
  • We help to increase the market value of a home

  • De-cluttering, organizing and clearing the house
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  • We are fully insured, which means that hiring us offers peace of mind
  • Staging and design assistance which boost home sale price

“Wow! You worked miracles over 3 days. The house looks spectacular. Night and day makeover. No wonder you keep winning awards. Thank you so much. Excellent to work with you once again!”

– Jackie Safier | Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc.

Before and Afters

Decluttering Transformation

After nine years of living with clutter, this client found us in the Pacific Sun Best of List. We transformed this bachelor pad into a beautiful home in three days! See the proof that we earned our award below.

Project Description:

  • A young single man inherited a house in Corte Madera.
  • Over the years clutter accumulated throughout his home.
  • The rooms in the home were discombobulated with beds in the garage and the dining room in his study.
  • Our team removed 9 years worth of clutter in 3 days.
  • We created a floor plan using his preexisting furniture to create functional rooms which included moving his dining room out of his office.
  • We organized his personal belongings and gave him tools to maintain order.

Before                                                                             After

Before                                                                            After

Senior Downsizing Project in San Francisco

Changing Places makes magic happen!

Project Description:

  • Changing Places moved an older gentleman from a 2,800 Sq Ft home into a 600 Sq Ft apartment in the San Francisco Towers.
  • Our team was able to sell some of our client’s antiques at auction to help eliminate clutter while helping him downsize.
  • The funds made from selling the antiques at auction paid for our client’s entire move plus our services!
  • Our team mapped a floor plan before the move and helped to design our client’s new apartment.
  • Changing Places provided our client with the opportunity to come out and be creative with a little space that he has chosen to spend the next chapter of his life.

Our client’s previous home.  Our team was able to sell some of our client’s antiques at auction while we were helping him downsize.  The funds from the sale of the antiques netted more than double the cost of our services and the moving expenses!

  

Our client’s new apartment in the San Francisco Towers.  An old life replaced by a very fun new one! A fresh start with vibrant colors.

“Changing Places exceeded my expectations. They customized their services to meet my needs. Outstanding is not sufficient praise for what they accomplished.

The move entailed a major downsizing and owner Margaret Walsh made sure that the items I would not be taking were sold in an appropriate venue. Among other things, Margaret Walsh said that the proceeds from the items I sold would pay for Changing Places’ services and the cost of the move. Thus far I have netted more than double the cost of their services and the moving expenses. Moving is stressful—and moving from my home of 35 years was a staggering event. Changing Places made it smooth and successful. Their work reduced my stress enormously.”

Gustavo Serina, San Francisco, CA

Don’t Leave It To Your Heirs: Decluttering Tips For The Senior Community

DownsizingGiven the growing aging baby boomer population around the country, senior decluttering is a HOT topic.

More often, heirs are left with the daunting task of clearing a house that contains decades of clutter. Here’s how to avoid leaving the workload – and the stress – to your heirs.

START IN THE ATTIC
When you’re up against your memories, remember that you are simplifying your life NOT erasing your past.

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