Guiding Clients Through Life’s Transitions

Look how we’ve grown!

Guiding clients through life’s transitions
Reflections from our founder

In 1993, I moved from Philadelphia to California and started my business, Rent-a-Wife, providing housekeeping, catering, and running errands for clients out of Paul and Maryanne Pearson’s home. During those early years with Rent-a-Wife, I met Tom Wright, one of Hill & Co’s (now Compass) long-esteemed top San Francisco realtors, and he tucked away my business card, promising to keep me in mind for his relocating clients.

23 years later, when the time came to downsize from his own Telegraph Hill condo of 40 years, he pulled my business card from his Rolodex and called to ask for our help.

My team stepped in to sort, liquidate, donate and recycle the items from Tom’s many years of life. Tom is now thriving in an independent living community and grateful for Changing Places’ expert assistance.

Over the years, we’ve helped countless clients through their varied transitions. Since the Rent-a-Wife years, we’ve undergone some transitions of our own. In 1997 a business coach wisely told me to change the name of my company. We’ve also outgrown my home office. Changing Places is now headquartered in San Rafael at La Plaza Offices, expanding to an award winning staff of 35 and offering a larger menu of concierge services than ever before. What hasn’t changed, aside from my hair turning gray, is the company’s commitment to delivering excellence…one job at a time.

~ Margaret Fearey Walsh

TEAM SPOTLIGHT

ANDREA SANDVIG, PROJECT MANAGER
Andrea contributes over 30 years experience in strategic partnerships, project management, marketing and design initiatives with domestic and international clients. Her work, with residential and academic construction projects, has been acknowledged by national and international publications. She has lived and worked on four continents. Andrea holds degrees in Cultural Anthropology and Spanish Literature. She has been a Bay Area resident since 1981 and raised her family in Marin.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
“Katie and her firm are absolutely the best of the best and make what seems the impossible….possible with the least amount of stress and frustration you can imagine. Katie and her crew have a way about them that provides a “TLC” to the most daunting tasks.”
– Neal Ward, Compass Real Estate
Changing Places cleared a 12,000 ft2 estate in preparation for staging.

“Changing Places is fabulous!”
– Jackie Safier, Estate Resolution Client
Changing Places helped with everything from settling an estate of 10,000 ft, fine furnishings consignment, personal home organizing and even a referral of a permanent house keeper.

“Please know that you folks saved my life or at least my sanity. Please thank everyone involved: working with them was one of the few bright spots in my ordeal.”
– Erik Voss, Estate Resolution Client
Changing Places cleared a family home, full of antiques, helped with a family auction and shipping to multiple heirs, arranged an estate sale, and emptied the entire house in 3 weeks to hand over to the realtor.

A Heartfelt Testimonial

“What a magnificent team!  Our heartfelt thanks for turning  a spontaneous, difficult move for our 94 year old mom and our family into a calm, happy, and fulfilling event.  We had just  a days notice to move her from an 900 square foot home into a small 300 square foot apartment.  OMG…how could we get this done.  We called Changing-Places first thing.”

 
We NEVER could have accomplished the move without your support, expertise, and diligent guidance and work.
 
Mary Lee and Laura worked tirelessly emptying the old apartment and making sure items were moved, donated, consigned or recycled and they did this all with professionalism, care and smiles.  The old place was left completely empty.  Just wonderful and gratifying to work with them.
 
The same day, they set up our mom’s new small “home” with infinite eye to detail.  They turned a bland, empty space into a serene, cozy, beautiful one. They unknowingly gave a true gift to our family when mom walked into the new completed room for the first time and smiled with joy, saying  “You did this all for me! It’s so beautiful!” and then we were told the next day that she had a great night’s sleep in her new surroundings.   Mary Lee and Laura, you gave us peace of mind.
 
Changing-Places has done it again.  We called and you were there in an instant.  We have used your services for 3 generations of our family’s moves and for those of many clients in our real estate dealings.
You always, always, come through with grace, ease, and precision.
 
We know you will be there again when we call.  Your services and caring are priceless.”
 
Many, many thanks to you all,

Donna & Steve Gothelf

Ultimate Holiday Gift

Ultimate Holiday Gift

Looking for a holiday gift for someone special?
Give the ultimate gift of organizing:
A Changing Places Gift Certificate

Give Yourself the ultimate gift of organization this Holiday Season Between planning a holiday party, shopping for gifts or hosting company, it feels like your to-do list never ends. Changing Places can help keep you organized and on track during the craziness of the holiday season.

How we prepare you for the holidays:

  • clear clutter throughout the house
  • organize your most-used rooms
  • install lights and decorations
  • organize and stock your kitchen for holiday cooking
  • prepare guest rooms to welcome family and friends
  • arrange furniture to allow socializing
  • donate unwanted items to charities
  • create room in your garage for holiday overflow

Contact us for help this holiday season and beyond.
415-461-6256    |   Info@Changing-Places.com

 

We Transform Kids’ Lives Too

Changing Places changes kids’ lives… one  job at a time

 

In our 25 years in business, nearly half of our projects help families and their children to downsize, de-clutter and organize their lives… not just their homes.
Here’s the story about one of our favorite families.

Changing Places began work with the Dempster clan when Madison was 12 years old. We came back to help with six subsequent moves. Here’s what Madison learned during these projects:

  • Each time she moved, she saw how much she accumulated. We helped her to keep what was important to her and let go of the rest.
  • Madison learned the value of purchasing quality items with the question, “Do I need this, or will it become clutter?”
  • It became her philosophy to donate her old treasures, so others can create new memories.
  • She designed her own floor plan,  creating extra space by adding  a platform bed and containers.
  • She rents long term storage for her seasonal items.  She’s a California girl living in the Northeast now, and needs 4 seasons’ worth of clothing.
  • Her organizational skills allow her to be focused, productive and successful.

Madison created a livable tiny space

Madison’s cleverly and thoughtfully designed dorm room allowed her to be organized and productive from day one as a college freshman. She even inspired her roommates and friends!

There is a place for everything… and everything has a place

Changing Places was honored
to help this adorable young lady to become more organized!

Do you and your family need help getting organized?

Please give us a call.
415.461.6257
info@changing-places.com

 

 

“Dear Margaret:

Madison at age 12

Our family sends you and your team a heartfelt “thank you” for moving us into our new home. With Changing Places’ assistance, you took every ounce of stress out of our move. I wish everyone could have such a delightful moving experience—too often we are too bogged down with the logistics and endless unpacking to actually “enjoy” moving let alone the new house. Your team, with it’s magic, had us cooking in our kitchen and sleeping in our beds the first night and completely unpacked within a couple of days!! Thanks to you we are settled and loving our new home.”

– The Dempster Clan (Kim, Mark, Madison, Jack and Yoda (woof!)
San Francisco, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our family sends you and your team a heartfelt “thank you” for moving us into our new home. With Changing Places’ assistance, you took every ounce of stress out of our move. I wish everyone could have such a delightful moving experience—too often we are too bogged down with the logistics and endless unpacking to actually “enjoy” moving let alone the new house. Your team, with it’s magic, had us cooking in our kitchen and sleeping in our beds the first night and completely unpacked within a couple of days!! Thanks to you we are settled and loving our new home.”

– The Dempster Clan (Kim, Mark, Madison, Jack and Yoda (woof!)
San Francisco, CA

The Alternative To Home Staging

Did you know Changing Places stages homes using your own furniture?

How do we do this?

  • de-clutter: closets, cabinets and storage spaces
  • depersonalize: allow potential buyers to envision themselves in your house, not you
  • remove excess furniture, art and knickknacks
  • save you money through light staging
  • get the property on the market quickly, while packing you to move
  • make it fun, effortless and easy

Getting ready to list your house?
Contact us to see how we can help you.
415.461.6257
info@changing-places.com

“Changing-Places is a very reliable source during any move, purge, or home preparation. Simply said, any time you’re “changing places,” they are miracle workers, and very resourceful and trustworthy. I could not recommend them more!”

– Malin Giddings, Compass Real Estate

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
    spacer
  • 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

Condo Renovation Project

This 1,200 square foot condo was constructed in 1975. Until renovation, nothing in the condo had been updated since it was built. From start to finish, the renovation took only 2 1/2 months.

Renovation Details:

  • 160 hours of wall plastering
  • 9 hours of electrical upgrading
  • Popcorn removal
  • Fireplace mantel installation
  • Kitchen gutted and replaced with an ecological chief’s kitchen
  • Kitchen storage increased by 35%
  • 3 pocket doors and 1 barn door – 4 new installations
  • Molding throughout
  • New carpets
  • 2 new bathrooms

Retail Cost: $145,000

Office Renovation Before & After

 

Downstairs Renovation Before & After

 

Kitchen Renovation Before & After

 

Family Room Renovation Before & After