19, Nov 2024
A while ago, I wrote an article explaining different definitions of value, indicating that people perceive value and worth differently. Behaviour economists and psychologists call this phenomenon the Endowment Effect. The Influence and Impact of the Endowment Effect Influence Several theories attempt to explain the psychology behind the endowment effect,… Read more
16, Sep 2024
During my years as a professional organizer in Vancouver, I discovered that the one thing that can easily derail the downsizing process is toys. Seriously, who wants to work when you can play – especially with toys from your youth? These toys remind us of a time when we were… Read more
13, Sep 2024
I was honoured to be a guest on the Your Estate Matters podcast with hosts Nicole Garton and Greg Brennand of Heritage Trust. Their podcast focuses on estates, including helping Canadians build and preserve their legacies. We discussed my background and how I started my company, Out of Chaos, over… Read more
19, Aug 2024
Paintings, photographs, and other framed artwork adorn the walls of our homes and offices. They add aesthetic appeal to a room and reflect our personality. Sometimes, we purchase these pieces as status symbols or as an investment, hoping their value will increase over time. Unfortunately, most framed artwork is not… Read more
15, Jul 2024
In today’s marketplace, timing is crucial when selling or donating your possessions. Tina Beer Hamlin of Coast Consignment joins me in this blog post to discuss why delays don’t pay when you’re trying to sell or donate your items. Recently, Coast Consignment received ten beautiful vintage and antique Persian carpets… Read more
15, Apr 2024
After over two decades of working in the organizing and downsizing business, we’ve learned that people usually come across these categories of items when they clear out their parents’ house. Brown Furniture Brown furniture is a term furniture dealers use to describe items constructed from solid wood. Some brown furniture… Read more
18, Mar 2024
Whether from childhood sports leagues, academic achievements, or professional milestones, old trophies and awards often pose a dilemma. They represent significant achievements in our lives and, as such, often hold sentimental value. However, as our lives evolve, there comes a time when we must let them go. Here is some… Read more
19, Feb 2024
Downsizing to a smaller home can be a daunting task. A significant challenge during this process can be disposing of large or unique pieces of furniture. These pieces often hold sentimental value or serve as statement pieces in a home. It can make letting go and “re-homing” them problematic. However,… Read more
15, Jan 2024
Some people collect coins and banknotes as a hobby. It’s a great way to learn about the history. In fact, almost all countries – Canada included – issue coins to commemorate significant events. Often, people accumulate currency of interest over their lifetime, or they might inherit some from a relative…. Read more
13, Nov 2023
Last year, during an estate clearout, the Out of Chaos team found some military medals. We posted a few pictures of them on social media. Colleague Jacki Hollywood chimed in and identified the medals for us. This year, I thought it was fitting to have her write a guest post… Read more
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Linda and her team at Out of Chaos are consummate pros. I first became aware of Out of Chaos after hearing friends rave about a workshop Linda had presented at a large corporate event.
It is obvious that Linda not only loves her work but is highly skilled at what she does. I initially hired Linda when I was consolidating 2 households into 1 and she set up smart organizational systems that ended up saving me time/energy and that also looked beautiful, for the entire length of my stay in that home. Linda also taught me how to maintain those systems, and how to set up others like them, as needed. Linda understands the psychology of clutter and so I felt like I got double the value – both in terms of her practical services and for her help in leading me to understand why I was holding onto stuff that I no longer needed and how to avoid those unhealthy tendencies in the future. Linda provides significant value to clients. She understands that her client has high standards and expects expert and expedient results, while still being cost-conscious.
I have referred Out of Chaos to many friends who have been equally thrilled with the long-term results. One of these was my elderly mother. Linda and her team worked effectively and compassionately with her and managed to get a huge and complex house job done in record time.
I would HIGHLY recommend Linda to a variety of different clients – from corporate professionals who want/need existing workspaces and systems overhauled, to blended families combining households, to the families of ageing parents when the time comes for the major move and downsize from the family home to residential or hospital care.
— Julie S.