Tag: moving

Stuff Management: Moving, Estate Sales, Yard Sales, Downsizing & Organizing

Posted on by Kat Gilpatrick

Moving? Preparing to list your home? Making your space more livable? Just making space?

Whatever it is, it requires a handful of different tasks carried out — or services rendered —  and making sense of it all can be challenging, especially if you’re under the wire to get a job done; if it’s a difficult moment in time or if there are many decision makers involved, etc.

I’ve put together a handy guide for how to manage these projects, who can help, and how to get there.

Why would I be an expert on this? Because, as a Real Estate Agent I help all kinds of people prepare to move, to de-clutter or downsize; to organize for a more streamlined living space or to prepare to put their homes on the market.

I help with move management, coordinating customized services like estate sales, auctions, clear-outs, and of course the moves themselves. In situations where an estate requires a combination of jobs done, (off-site online estate sale item distribution, inventory and donation coordination, movers and clear-out, deep cleaning and storage space decisions) And of course personally, as a consumer of these services and someone who’s been knee-deep in the work myself, I have partnered with some of the best resources in the country to achieve custom outcomes.

When there’s individual or bulk item selling, you’ve got the classic tried and true yard/garage sales; Craigslist listings and Facebook Marketplace to name a few, as well as antique and resale selling for furniture, appliances, home decor, etc.

In any part of the country, there are options and preferred vendors, and it can be dizzying who to choose, how to get started: scoping the size of your jobs and specific needs, etc. One thing remains the same however, one common cry of those in this stage of the game: “I have too much stuff!”

 

What Services Do You Need?

Here are some of the folks who can make your life much easier, and what you need, of course depends entirely on you.

  • Organizing and Decluttering Professionals – There are all shapes and sizes for these kinds of services. One of my favorites in the Bay Area is Rita Rey. Read on for a bit more about what Rita offers below.
  • Preparing for Marketing Your Home Professionals:
    • Declutter and streamline your home
    • Assist with decision-making about what items to keep
    • Arrange for a donation, sale, or disposal of unwanted items and supervise removal
    • Stage home with existing furnishings
    • Arrange for furniture and heavy items to be moved within your home (if needed)
    • Pack and arrange for the removal of items not needed for staging
  • Downsizing – much of the above tasks apply, with an emphasis on removal or rehoming of items rather than staging and listing preparation. This can be DIY of course, or you can enlist some support!
  • Storage Rental or Pods – Knowing what you need and what serves your specific purpose and then aligning with the right contract and combination.
  • Estate Sale or Auction and full service coordination for larger jobs and important transitions – These are incredibly valuable services for those assisting after a loved one’s passing, or extreme downsizing, estate sales being especially useful if you’re able to conduct onsite. If unable to do this, an auction may be the way to go. Folks like Caring Transitions’ Jessi and Ryan, in Phoenix AZ are the gold standard, and the bar by which I measure all the rest. Check out what their services include here, and check out below the reasons why they love what they do, and people love them so much.

  • Yard Sale or Online Selling – Doesn’t need much explanation – but there are certainly pro tips and best times of year depending on your location.
  • Move Management or Movers – I am often surprised that people are unaware that these fully managed suites of services are available, and increasingly popular as a large part of our population is aging into a category who’s best served by folks like The Move Makers, here in the Portland Area.
  • Cleaners – There are regular house cleaners, and there are move-out specialists, and of course other specific services like carpet cleaning, window and gutters, etc. Some companies specialize in whole-house readiness, and this is a phenomenal choice for a one-and-done kind of approach, or for those heftier scenarios. I’ve recently had the good fortune to work with Shawna at Maid to Organize and am loving their work ethic and availability. These fine Portland area folks specialize in Estates, Hoarding, & Generally overwhelming spaces & situations, or as they put it: Professional Organizing, Cleaning & Estate Clearing as a wholistic package offering.

 

When I asked Rita, of Rita Rey organizing in the SF Bay Area, to tell me a bit about what makes her services so special, it really resonated with her passion, and spoke to her compassion:

“I just love to be part of the process of helping my clients achieve a sense of peace and surround themselves with things that make them happy. Letting go can be scary, but less scary than facing the chaos daily. I have not heard one client say that it was not worth it despite being scared to start the letting-go process.”
When I asked Jessi of Caring Transitions, in AZ, to talk about what was meaningful to them in terms of serving their transitioning clientele, she told me:
“Our job is simple: to make sure your lifelong treasures and family heirlooms are cared for in their new home.”
And they do this by featuring a really seamless online auction service, which sets them apart from other packing/moving/estate sale services.
No matter what your project is, it’s yours, and it’s important, and having someone by your side to help or advise you is worth it’s weight in gold. I hope this has been a little assistance!

A Guide to Finding Your Tribe in Your New Hometown

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Have you just closed on your dream home and moved into a new neighborhood? Maybe you uprooted your family for work and you’re settling into a new city, state or even a foreign country!

Feeling connected to your new community can be a critical step in the moving process, as we humans tend to be social creatures and – let’s face it – need a little help from time to time!

As someone who has moved numerous times and helped many others find their homes and settle into their new neighborhoods, I’ve noticed a few things can help people feel more integrated:

1. Be willing to break the ice.

Let down your guard and be the first to wave “hello” as you pass by a neighbor on the street or take a ride in the elevator.

Initially, you might be greeted with some confusion, but your new neighbors will start to recognize you as a familiar face in the area. 

2. Join a community Facebook Group.

The main reason I’m on this platform these days is for the groups I’ve joined. It’s a great way to get to know some people in the community – even before you move!

Ask logistical questions, share about your experience or simply read what others are posting.

3. Attend events and meetings.

Your neighborhood might have an HOA, a neighborhood association or a PTA with monthly meetings that you can join.

Even if you can’t commit regularly, going once or twice can be a great way to meet new people and demonstrate your desire to help support the neighborhood in which you now live.

4. Get creative!

My clients have met their new neighbors over the back fence during showings; while walking their new puppy; or by helping find a lost pet.

There’s no “one way” to find your people, but common factors seem to be a desire to learn more about the community and the desire to help out where you can.

I’m so happy for my clients when they find the home of their dreams, but I know from experience how important finding the right place – including the community – can be for our overall quality of life.

That’s why I hope you find these suggestions helpful!

If you’d like to share about your own neighborhood experience, or want to know more about the suggestions I’ve made, leave a comment below 👇🏼

Create a life you can’t stop thinking about.

Posted on by Living Room Realty

It’s time to make your dreams happen.

Your home can make all the difference in making you want to wake up inspired to tackle your big dreams each day. And maybe just finding the perfect home has been on your mind a lot… 

Do you need a new home office where you can plan your passion projects? Some room for a studio? What is calling you to create a space — and life — all your own?

Just who would you be in a new environment? How would that call you up toward making big things happen in your life?

It might be that today is the day to start making the journey toward getting your new dream home. Contact me if you’re ready to take the first step.

Sadly, Another Piano Is Heading to the Scrap Heap

Posted on by Living Room Realty

 

Back in this piano’s heyday, which was at the end of the 1800s and start of the 1900s, my clients piano would have been a source of home entertainment, as well as being a sign of status, and was often put in the best room in the house.

But in the 1920s, pianos were they were made for the mass market. They were not made to last, they were made to sell. Much like a house, a good piano needs to be built with a good foundation to last. After making several calls and posting free ads online for the piano pictured, my seller has found it impossible to find someone to take this instrument that we had made the focal point in our staging. I’ve heard the same cry from  past clients that find themselves having to take their old well-loved possession to the dump.

What I have learned from talking to piano restoration enthusiasts is that a piano has thousands of moving parts, making restoration a very time-consuming, and specialist business. Just polishing a piano can take 70 hours. They become a money pit. I have also learned firsthand that it can be dangerous to dismantle a piano if you don’t know what you are doing because of the tension of the strings. Snapped fingers don’t feel so good.

I like that all of the old pianos that have brought happiness to people’s lives. And that maybe the piano was even ‘happy’ for its 100+ year life span.

Moving from Out of State

Posted on by Bobby Curtis

2020 flipped most of us upside-down, and in doing that, we got a different perspective. That was the case for Dylan and Steven. Like many of us over this past year, they took the new perspective and used it as opportunity to reassess where they want to live. That brought them to Portland.

Admittedly, when they first reached out to talk about moving here, they were unsure if they would make that move. Not to mention, the idea of buying a house across the country in a busy real estate market was a tad overwhelming. We talked through the ins and outs of the Portland real estate market, the neighborhoods that might be a good fit for them, and what the process would be like looking at houses from 2000 miles away.

Not surprising to me, it didn’t take long for them to become confident in their decision to move to Portland. After that, working together to find a great house was actually pretty easy. I work with many people who move to Portland from out of state. I did that at one point too, so I know what it’s like. And once we start talking about considerations, and why the move here, it seems to become clear. I don’t talk people into moving to Portland. I let them decide that on their own. But I do talk with them about what it has to offer, and what they can expect. If they decide against the move, I at least feel helpful in giving them some additional information to make a great decision for themselves. These guys just arrived, and are off on a new adventure.

Jazzin’ Into A New Beginning

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Jackie had been thinking of a new start and beginning life in Portland. She is an incredibly talented artist and was looking for a space to help her flourish since she now had the opportunity to work remotely.  Check out Jackie’s super catchy music video here:

Life out of state was changing and the price of a small condo was equivalent to a decent sized home in inner Portland.  So, she decided to take the plunge and see what was out here while looking at homes virtually from out of state.  Thankfully she had her trusted father, the ever so knowledgeable Chris, on the ground viewing homes for her.  That’s where we intersected with them on Jackie’s journey.

They called us to set up a showing for a home they were interested in and we were able to see from the get-go that we would be a good fit in working together to accomplish Jackie’s goals. We thought the relationship Jackie and her father Chris was so beautiful. She was trusting in him so much to be her feet and eyes on the ground.  Jason as a father found this so special, because he would hope our daughters would give him the same trust one day.

Then we found the home that started to make Jackie excited about the potential of what she could turn it into. A classic Portland home in inner SE Portland.  It had room to spread out to make her music and yoga studio. Two things that brought so much joy to both Jackie and Chris. Plus they would finally be in the same city together.  In addition there was a separate living quarters which would help give her income for a possible short/long term rental.

So, we went to work crafting an offer that the seller couldn’t refuse. We were so excited to let Jackie and Chris know that her offer was accepted! Now it was time to look into the nitty gritty of what needed to be fixed.  Jason went to work scheduling inspections and lining up contractors to give bids on the big ticket items that came up which were exceeding the allowable credit that her lender could accept. So, we needed to get creative in how we tackled what items needed to be taken care of immediately and which ones could wait.

 

Soon we had a solution that Jackie and Chris felt good about and we went to the seller with their terms.  After a bit of back and forth we arrived at an agreement and the work that needed to be done was scheduled and Jackie was compensated for the rest that she would be taking on herself down the line.

Throughout the journey we were so grateful to have Chris on the ground with us making sure that Jackie was well taken care of. Congratulations Jackie on your new home sweet home! And thank you so much Chris for all your help along this journey.