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The Changing Places Survival Guide to Sheltering in Place

Sheltering in place

THE CHANGING PLACES SURVIVAL GUIDE
TO SHELTERING-IN-PLACE

Now, more than ever, the Changing Places mission to create order, peace of mind, and beauty, rings true. These jarring times bring uncertainty, anxiety and disorder.

We feel passionately that offering the resources we cultivated over the last two weeks is a gift we can give you: our clients, partners and friends.

How are you and your loved ones doing? Send us a quick note to let us know what your new “normal” looks like.

We’re all in this together.

Breathe. Connect. Stay positive.

With gratitude,
Margaret Walsh, Katie Carr & The Changing Places Team

Changing Places is here for you:

TO CREATE ORDER

Order begins with clarity.

  • We’ve been amazed how many of us don’t fully understand what COVID-19 is. This enlightening video explains it calmly, clearly and scientifically.
  • Are you struggling to keep your kids engaged and homeschooling even when their schoolwork is done for the day? Khan Academy is an amazing resource, with its library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and. And even better: it's all free!
  • Have you found yourself clearing out your closet/garage/spare room? Read these tips on what to do with your extra stuff while you’re stuck at home.

 

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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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We’re Hiring! Project Coordinator

Project Coordinator

This position is part-time/3 days a week

Changing Places is a woman-owned Marin company celebrating its 27th year in business. Our team is expanding to accommodate our exciting growth.

This is a career posting – not just a job posting.

Who We Are

We’re a team of professional home organizers who manage the complex process of high-end moves, in addition to renovate, and stage homes anywhere in the word. Our business is fast paced, high-touch, fun, and different every day. We offer a flexible yet hardworking environment.

We are looking for a new Project Coordinator to support our executive team. You will manage mostly business related tasks for the management team, namely the owner and vice president (VP).

We prefer candidates who reside in Marin County.

Responsibilities:

  • Answering phones and routing calls to the correct person or taking messages.
  • Performing office duties that include ordering supplies and miscellaneous office maintenance
  • Basic travel planning including hotels, air, car and events bookings
  • Provide general administrative support to office staff, namely the owner and vice president
  • Handle annual dues and subscriptions
  • Product ordering & research

 

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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.

Meet Jennifer Land

Jennifer is a native Californian from La Jolla, and has a degree in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley. She has a highly successful history of residential architectural design and construction project management that serves her well in the role of Senior Project Coordinator. Jennifer is highly organized, an excellent communicator and is client focused. Her attention to detail, process and big picture vision make her a vital part of the Changing Places Home Office team.

Jennifer joined Changing Places in November of 2018. She is a mother of three and lives in northern Marin with her husband, youngest child and two dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the great outdoors and appreciating the arts.

Changing Places Won Best Home Organizer For 2019!!

We’re thrilled to announce our 10th consecutive win
in the prestigious Pacific Sun Poll!!

Thank you for all of your support!

Why We Won Best Home Organizer:

  • 26 years of experience
  • One stop shop for relocation
  • Save clients money
  • There’s a team behind the team
  • Most comprehensive insurance coverage in the industry
  • Most extensive network of resources and partners
  • Proven local, national and international moves
  • Designers, architects, and stagers on our team
  • Accuracy, attention to detail and record keeping
  • Compassionate, devoted and loyal team
  • Satisfaction and peace of mind delivered

What Our Clients Are Saying

“Katie and her team at Changing Places are true miracle workers. They not only have the process of organizing, clearing, packing, moving, storing, and unpacking your home down to a science, they do it all with such acumen, that their clients feel completely confident and at ease.”

– Steven Mavromihalis, Compass Real Estate

Contact us to learn more about or organization services:

Tel: (415) 461-6257
Info@Changing-Places.com

TEAM SPOTLIGHT – Meet Julie Hornsby

Meet Julie Hornsby
Assistant Project Manager, Expert Organizer, and Luxury Specialist

Julie is the consummate ambassador for Changing Places. Meticulous and detail-oriented, but also utterly charming, Julie wins the heart of every client. She’s one of CP’s most versatile organizers, happy to be deployed in a cluttered garage or a beautifully remodeled kitchen. She comes to Changing Places with over 30 years of experience in customer service and hospitality, including years at the luxurious (now closed) Gump’s. She is passionate about finding the perfect home for our clients’ possessions, whether it’s consigning antique sterling silver or donating art supplies for local kids.

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