12, Jul 2021
There’s a moment in every family where it’s time to have “The Talk” about downsizing with older relatives. Often, children have “the talk” with their parents, but they could be dealing with aunts, uncles, cousins, or a family friend who needs to downsize. It can be an emotionally charged topic… Read more
14, Jun 2021
After almost 20 years of experience helping our clients move from one home to another, we have found household goods stashed in some interesting places. The Out of Chaos team has learned to look everywhere in a home to ensure everything is packed securely and loaded on the moving van…. Read more
27, May 2021
I was delighted to be a guest on the In The House Podcast with real estate experts & dynamic hosts Jenny Wun and Toni Sing. Their energy sparked a great conversation. Here are some of the highlights of our discussion. The Out of Chaos Story I discussed my background and… Read more
17, May 2021
When helping clients declutter and downsize, they often wish to sell possessions that they no longer need or want. When placing items for sale, there is often confusion about an item’s value and worth. First, let’s look at a few definitions. Definitions Market Value This is simply the most probable… Read more
19, Apr 2021
If you have a piano that you no longer want, you’re not alone. In fact, I work with many clients who face the dilemma: what to do with that old piano. There are many reasons people no longer want their pianos. For example, they downsize and can’t fit it into… Read more
22, Mar 2021
Many of our residential clients who are moving, downsizing, or decluttering ask us about selling their unwanted goods by consignment. To help readers learn more about the process, I invited Tina Beer Hamlin of Coast Consignment to tell us all about the consignment process. Tell us about Coast Consignment. Coast… Read more
22, Feb 2021
One of my top ten tips for a stress-free move is to pack your suitcase as if you were going on a working vacation. Even if you are moving locally, you might have to stay in a hotel or at a friend’s place unexpectedly. For example, there might be a… Read more
25, Jan 2021
Early in 2020, before the pandemic hit, Mustel Group and Sotheby’s International Realty released a report on real estate trends and ageing in place. It revealed that about 86% of Baby Boomers would like to live in their current home for as long as possible. Even though older adults do… Read more
16, Nov 2020
I read an excellent and touching article in the New York Times entitled “Down the Basement Stairs and Into the Past.” The author recounts his experiences when decluttering and downsizing memorabilia. As a professional organizer, I help people go through boxes, bags, and bins of their collection of souvenirs, inherited… Read more
10, Oct 2020
Estate planning used to be pretty straight-forward. You prepared a will that stated all of your ‘worldly goods’ would be given to your next of kin. Your executor wrapped up your financial affairs and ensured your kin received your goods. Today, some of our ‘worldly goods’ are invisible – our… Read more
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Out of Chaos brought us back from the brink of administrative ruin.
— George Laquian, Crucible Consulting Group Ltd.