Clutter-Free Gifts for the Holidays

We all deal with clutter in different ways.  Some of us handle it as it comes into the home.  Some go on weekend binges and clean out large areas of the home in a day or two.  Others wait until January, and make the resolution to get more organized.  Then life happens...

So my question is, do you really want to add to your clutter over the holidays?  Do you want to add clutter to others' homes?  Why would you?  Wouldn't life be easier if you DIDN'T add to the many piles already accumulated? 

And yet, it's fun to exchange gifts.  So how about buying clutter-free gifts?  Gifts that won't get shoved to the back of a closet or end up under the bed?  Here are some ideas:

For the techie in your life:

• A subscription to online back-up storage
• Useful apps for their phone/tablet
• An eBook reader to consolidate their book collection
• A wireless digital frame to enjoy family photos
• Software for their computer
• Pay for a subscription to Amazon Prime - unlimited downloads and free shipping!

For the family:

• What's on their bucket list that you can check off?
• Go out to a nice dinner, no electronic devices allowed!
• Plan a weekend getaway with the family
• Hire a photographer for a family portrait session
• Offer to baby-sit for nieces/nephews and grandchildren
• Buy a gift certificate for a day (or afternoon) at the spa
• Start a savings account for your grandchildren
• Pay for a membership to a museum, botanic garden, or health club

For the elderly:

• Consumables - their favorite desserts, fruits or teas
• Time - spend time visiting.  Use it to write down family history and anecdotes.
• Cleaning service for their home
• Hire a handyman for a day to fix those little things
• Create a coupon book for errands or services, like a trip to the library or a shampoo and cut.

Still not sure what to do?  Donate to a charitable cause close to the person’s heart.  Don’t give to a charity of your choice, rather select a cause that is dear to them, and make a donation in their name.  You'll both feel good, and others will benefit.

What clutter-free gifts have you exchanged with others?

Clutter-free Ways to Thank Your Household and Its Members

Your home is your shelter from the environment.  It is a haven for your family.  It is a place where friends gather and have fun over the holidays and all year long. 

So, have you said ‘thank-you’ to it lately?

Probably not, because it wouldn’t hear you anyway.  But here are some ideas to show your thanks to your home and family without spending much money or adding to the clutter in your home.   

FOR THE HOME

·    Control the Humidity—Too much moisture in the air can cause damage to furniture, fabrics, photographs, food, etc.  Too little moisture can cause damage to wood, your health, your plants, etc.  This may be in the living areas of your home, or most especially in basements and attics.  While household humidifiers and de-humidifiers help the living areas, they do not usually reach the attic, garage or crawl spaces in your home.  So pay special attention to what you store in those areas. 

·    Control Temperatures—Just as too much/little moisture in the air can cause damage, so can extreme temperatures.  Pipes can freeze in the winter if not insulated.  Ice can form on your A/C unit if air isn’t flowing properly.  Candles can melt in your attic in the summer, and snowglobes can crack in the winter.  Expansion/contraction can harm foundations and framing.  Keep temperatures as even as possible throughout your home throughout the year. 

·    Check Batteries—What good is a battery back-up for your sump pump, smoke detector, or computer if the batteries themselves are dead?  Check and change them regularly.  The extra time it takes to unscrew the cover of your smoke detector is worth the thousands of dollars in repairs and lost belongings in the case of a non-functioning alarm during a fire.

·    Clean Thoroughly—This may seem obvious to you, but we’re not talking about a casual dust and mop job.  We’re talking deep-down, nitty-gritty, get the grease off your stovetop and mold off your shower doors.  And it’s not just about being clean.  It’s about being healthy.  The longer you let dust and grit sit, the greater your chances for harboring viruses or other germs.

·    Make Repairs—Again, this may seem obvious, but we’ve all been there.  You know the screen needs repairing.  But you just don’t have the time to take the door down and bring it to the hardware store for repair.  So you let it sit.  Meanwhile, wasps find their way in, start building nests in your attic, and before you know it, their home is so big, the moisture starts dripping through your ceiling.  Now, you not only need the screen repaired, you also need an exterminator to kill the wasps and a handyman to repair your ceiling.  Was it worth it? 

·    Use Biodegradable Cleaners—Your house and your environment will thank you.  There are less harmful abrasives in biodegradable cleansers, and less pollutants running through your plumbing.  Be nice to your floors and countertops, as well as your sewer by using chemical-free cleaning products.

·    Purify Your Air—Perhaps it’s because we’ve grown accustomed to the ‘smell’ of our houses, that we don’t really realize they have an odor to them.  Whether it’s the pets, the cooking, the cleaning supplies or the human element, there are pollutants floating about the air in our homes. Running an air purifier will clean out these unwanted smells and germs, leaving behind a healthier, happier you.

·    Perform a Home Inspection—One of the best gifts you can give your home is an inspection. By identifying problem areas before they get too large, you may be preventing permanent damage to the home.  Yes, they cost a few hundred dollars, but isn’t it worth the investment of the inspection and the small repair rather than a major catastrophe in the home?  Inspectors are trained to see things you aren’t.  To you, your roof may look fine from the outside, but an inspector may find loose flashing, which is letting water seep into the attic, causing mold and mildew, which is making you sick. Be preventative rather than reactive.

FOR THE FAMILY 

·    Cook Healthy—The food you put into your system is the fuel that charges your body.  If you are loading up on sugars and fats, you are not giving it the proper nutrition it needs to get through the day.  And a lifetime of bad eating habits can take its toll later in life.  Start now by giving your family the gift of health.

·    Give Compliments—Giving someone a compliment does wonders for his/her self-esteem.  Praise your family often, even for the smallest efforts.  And always remember to say thank you for anything they do, no matter how menial.  They are happier knowing you appreciate their efforts, and will in turn help you more.

·    Offer Services—Not everyone in your family has the same resources you do.  Perhaps it’s an elderly parent who can’t get to the grocery store, or a handicapped cousin who can’t drive to the hair salon.  Find someone who will come to their home and provide these services for them if you can't.  There are even mobile pet grooming companies who will come to your house and wash the dog, which may be too much for an elderly person to do on their own.

·    Give the Gift of Tickets—Don’t clutter up your home or those of your extended family with little trinkets or more clothes.  Give gifts like tickets to a play, tickets to the museum, or gift cards for consumable items such as gasoline or food.  Giving them an item gives them one more thing to maintain or clean.  They will be more thankful for a gift that doesn’t require effort on their part—only enjoyment.

·    Give the Gift of Time—The best way to give thanks to family and friends is to give them more of your time.  Whether it’s a walk in the park, a trip to the zoo, or sitting and watching a movie together, time is too precious to take for granted.  These are the memories you want them to have.

·    Run Errands—Just as precious as time spent with people is time spent doing things for them.  Whether it’s picking up a prescription or dropping off the dry cleaning, those little tasks say ‘thank you’ like no card can.

 FOR YOURSELF

·    Schedule time for yourself—You are the backbone of your family.  You are what keeps them running and functioning.  Do you ever thank yourself for a job well done?  You can do that by scheduling time for yourself every day.  Even if it’s just a half hour at night to read, or an hour with a friend for coffee, you should thank the person who keeps you going—yourself.

·    Take an Artist’s Day—To borrow from Julia Cameron, take an Artist’s Day.  Spend time doing something fun and inspirational, whether it’s a trip to the art museum, a walk in the forest preserves, or browsing through journals and pens in the book store, spend some nurturing your creative side.

·    Begin an Exercise Program—Yes, the benefit will be weight loss, but you will also be more energetic and able to get through a long day if you exercise regularly.  You don’t have to join a health club and work out two hours a day.  Start simple with a walk around the block or sit-ups in the living room.  Your body will thank you in return.

·    Eat Healthy—Just as you should feed your family healthy meals, you should also eat healthy yourself.  You are no good to your family if you are not healthy or functioning well.  Give your body the fuel it needs to keep running.

·    Have Regular Check-ups—Part of a healthy lifestyle is seeing your physician on a regular basis for check-ups.  Like your home, finding a problem in the early stages can prevent serious illness down the road.  So see your doctor and get the tests recommended for your age group.

Saying thank-you to others makes them feel good.  Saying thank-you to others makes you feel good.  Saying thank-you to yourself is something you don’t always think about.  Don’t you think it’s time to start giving yourself a pat on the back and saying ‘well done!’ 
 

 

Autumn Tips to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Autumn is the most beautiful season of the year, with the brilliant reds, oranges and yellows dominating the landscape. Early morning frost sparkles in the first light of dawn, and harvest moons shine overhead.  But autumn also means the harsh winter months are ahead.  And with that in mind, you should be preparing your home for the cold weather.  Here are some tasks you should be planning.

INSIDE THE HOME

·        Make an appointment to have furnace and humidifier inspected

·        Change the furnace filter

·        Drain your water heater to clear sediment from the bottom

·        Have chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned if necessary

·        Call for delivery of firewood

·        Replace storm windows and doors; store screens after repairing

·        Seal leaks in windows with caulk or weather stripping

·        Replace worn door sweeps to stop drafts

·        Check insulation in attic and walls

·        Flip your mattresses

·        Store summer blankets and clothes, and pull out winter blankets and clothes

·        Have winter coats cleaned if you didn’t take them to the cleaners in the spring

·        Check boots for tears or leaks; make sure your children’s boots still fit them

·        Purchase extra mittens/hats/scarves to replace lost ones in a hurry, or to have on hand for guests

·        Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

·        Collect emergency supplies (including food and water) in the event of a power outage

OUTSIDE THE HOME

·        Clean, drain and cover your pool

·        Cover and store your patio furniture

·        Pick up toys and bikes from the yard and store

·        Drain the gas and oil from your lawnmower

·        Clean downspouts after leaves are done falling

·        Check that gutters are securely attached to the house

·        Check roof for missing or broken shingles/tiles

·        Check flashing around chimney for leaks

·        Fill oil or propane tanks

·        Disconnect hoses from outdoor water faucets and drain before storing

·        Drain outdoor water valves

·        Insulate your septic system and other outdoor plumbing to prevent freeze-ups

·        Caulk around entry points for all pipes and ducts in exterior wall (repeat inside the home also)

·        Trim tree branches away from the house and power lines

·        Fertilize your lawn

·        Cover perennials as necessary (leaves work well for insulation)

·        Plant early spring flower bulbs

·        Bring potted perennials indoors

·        Harvest vegetables before the first freeze

·        Prepare your snow thrower for use

·        Check snow shovels—replace if necessary

·        Lay out mats at the front and back doors to trap snow and ice

·        Place a boot tray outside the back door for wet boots

·        Buy salt for icy stairs and walkways (be careful using around plants and pets)

Don’t wait until the first snow storm to take care of these matters.  You never know when the first snow will hit.  Sometimes it’s in the middle of the night, too late to run to the store, and you’ll find yourself in a dark house without batteries for your flashlight or gas for the snow thrower.  Be prepared. 

 

 

Helping Those Who Can't Help Themselves

I was recently put in touch with a woman who will be moving soon.  Moves are stressful for most of us, but for those with physical challenges, it's even more so.

This woman, I'll call her Helen, has Multiple Sclerosis.  Daily tasks like getting your mail from the mailbox, are simple for us, but near impossible for her.  Her current home is a maintenance-free townhouse with two bedrooms, two baths, a den, a living room, dining room and kitchen.  It's not too big for her.  But even though it is on the first floor, it's inconvenient.

Her garage access is through two heavy doors and down a hallway.  Her mailbox is down the driveway and across the street.  Her closets were full of clothes she no longer wears, because of job and health situations. The clothes she wears are in piles on the spare bed, difficult to find.

She made the decision to move to a home in a senior community with the option of assisted living should she need it in the future.  She will have one less bedroom and one less bathroom, but the garage is attached to her house. And she is having a contractor build her a railing to help her down the one step to her car.

When she called me in to help, she was overwhelmed.  She didn't know how she would sort and get rid of the items she wouldn't be bringing to her new home.  The stress was beginning to consume her.

I assured her that not only would I be able to help sort her belongings, I could take all the donations with me to a charity.

We started on her main closet.  Her decisions were easy to make.  Most of the clothes were from her work days.  They were dressier and smaller than anything she wore now.  And the 50 boxes of shoes on her shelf? They could all go!  They were all heels she could no longer wear.  I dropped the first load off at Goodwill.

At our second session, we went through her spare closet.  Half of these clothes could go also.  And we sorted through the items on the floor.  Christmas decorations stayed.  But we parted with a painting and a briefcase.  Again, I dropped these donations off at Goodwill.  And since we don't have another session scheduled for a while, I mailed her the receipts.

Once the remodeling is close to being done at her new home, I will meet her there and look at her new space.  We will measure closets, count kitchen cabinets, and determine whether or not what is left will fit into her new space.  If not, there will be more sorting to do.   We will also talk about closet re-design, and possibly make the rods more accessible for her.  She is unsteady on her feet, so reaching up can cause her to lose her balance.

This is just one client I've helped who has the will and the time to do this all on her own, but not the physical ability.  While still overwhelmed at the thought of moving, she is relieved to know that I will be there along the way to help.

A Tale of Three “Lucy”s – Lucy Three Is Moving!

A Tale of Three “Lucy”s – Lucy Three

You have probably heard from several sources to plan ahead when moving.  It’s never too early to start thinking about what to pack and how it will get to the new facility.  This past November, I was faced with three moves at the same time.  I will call my clients Lucy 1, Lucy 2 and Lucy 3. 

Lucy 1 lived in an apartment on the 15^th floor.  The view was wonderful, the space was large.  But there was this pesky little issue of persistent leaks that the property manager shrugged off as a small problem.  But mold growing under the carpet for years, and several trips to the hospital were hardly small issues for my client, retired from her teaching position.  It was time for a move.

Lucy 2 lived in a maintenance-free townhouse.  At 89 years old, her memory was failing and she had caregivers coming every day to help her dress and eat.  As her disease progressed, it became clear to the daughter that her mother needed someone watching her 24 hours/day. 

Lucy 3 lived in development specifically for residents over 55 years of age.  The homes were single family, but maintenance-free.  A widow, she lived there alone, but had children and grandchildren in the area to help.  She was able to drive, but when her multiple sclerosis and the weather got worse, she was unable to go outside.  She had to rely more and more on others, and began falling more frequently.  When she fell, she couldn’t get up on her own.  She decided to move to assisted living.

Over the next few posts, I will tell the stories of each of my clients and the unique challenges each faced. 

Here is the story of Lucy 3:

Bedroom 2 Before Staging

Lucy Three is a widow who moved from her lake home in Wisconsin to a senior community for residents 55 years of age and over.  It was ideal for her.  There was no maintenance, and she could keep her independence because she was still able to drive.  Several children lived nearby, as did grandchildren.  She was able to function quite well for years, driving herself to doctor appointments or the dentist.  But as her MS progressed, she began falling more.

The community had an alarm system for health emergencies, which Lucy was able to use.  But when the falls became more frequent, she decided she either had to get some help or move to assisted living.  After weighing her options, Lucy decided to move to assisted living.  

Once the decision was made, the family sprang into action under my direction.  Rooms were measured in the new apartment, and floor plans drawn to see what furniture could go with Lucy.  In addition to the furniture, Lucy had to choose which of her personal belongings she wanted to bring with, as it wouldn’t all fit in the new place.

The family then got together to pack what Lucy needed.  As they packed, they sorted through the rest of Lucy’s belongings, claiming what they wanted.  The family also took photos and posted them on Flickr so the children who lived out of state could select what they wanted. 

Bedroom 2 After Staging

In Lucy 3’s case, the family overpacked, boxing items up that could have been left out for staging.  Also, they used the spare bedroom as a holding place for anything Lucy wasn’t taking with her, and was available to the family.  That’s what I was faced with when I came in to stage the home.

Lucy moved the middle of November.  I was to start staging the home soon after, but a toilet sprang a leak, and flooded the house.  Luckily, it wasn’t anything that moving the furniture and professionally drying out the carpet couldn’t handle.  The water from the master bathroom didn’t go any farther than the main bedroom and part of the living room.  Then the carpet had to be re-stretched. 

I awaited word from the family for when the rooms were ready again.  They put the furniture back where it had been, then called me.  My job was to clean out the front bedroom, pack up the extras, and stage the home.  As I was packing, I put aside some items I knew the family did not claim.  I dropped off a load at Goodwill after clearing out the bedroom.  Items that were questionable with the family remained boxed up and stored in the closet.

Once the staging was done, I let the family know it was ready to list.  This was early February.  I had time to move on to the next project.  Not!  The home sold in ten days!  So back to work! 

Living Room After Staging

The next task was to completely empty the house.  That meant the family had to pick up everything they wanted.  And I had to find outlets for the rest.  I called a dealer, Bob, who buys collections, to see his interest in the Lladros, Madame Alexander Dolls, and Wedgwood Lucy Three was parting with.  I met him at the house on a Sunday morning.  While there, he gave me the name of an auction house in Chicago that might be interested in the furniture.  I took photos of the furniture and sent them to the auction house owner, Roger. 

Bob bought the Lladros, Wedgwood and the dolls. Roger made an offer on the furniture, and I arranged it so he could pick up Lucy 3’s furniture the same day as Lucy 2’s furniture.  It would save him a trip.  He not only loaded up the furniture, but took most of the other donations with him on the truck.  It saved me phone calls to charities, and trips to Goodwill. 

Once all the big pieces were out, the family came and picked up their items.  My next task was to clean out

Dining Room After Staging

the garage.  I packed up the last of the donations in my car and then swept it out.  Then I ran a vacuum cleaner through the rooms, dusted the baseboards, window sills and ceiling fans and took out the last of the garbage. 

I dropped off the key with Lucy Three so she could give it to her real estate agent.  The house closes in April. Another empty house! Another success! 

Next? 

Click here to see Lucy One's Story
Click here to see Lucy Two's Story

A Tale of Three “Lucy”s – Lucy Two Is Moving!

A Tale of Three “Lucy”s – Lucy Two

You have probably heard from several sources to plan ahead when moving.  It’s never too early to start thinking about what to pack and how it will get to the new facility.  This past November, I was faced with three moves at the same time.  I will call my clients Lucy 1, Lucy 2 and Lucy 3. 

Lucy 1 lived in an apartment on the 15^th floor.  The view was wonderful, the space was large.  But there was this pesky little issue of persistent leaks that the property manager shrugged off as a small problem.  But mold growing under the carpet for years, and several trips to the hospital were hardly small issues for my client, retired from her teaching position.  It was time for a move.

Lucy 2 lived in a maintenance-free townhouse.  At 89 years old, her memory was failing and she had caregivers coming every day to help her dress and eat.  As her disease progressed, it became clear to the daughter that her mother needed someone watching her 24 hours/day. 

Lucy 3 lived in development specifically for residents over 55 years of age.  The homes were single family, but maintenance-free.  A widow, she lived there alone, but had children and grandchildren in the area to help.  She was able to drive, but when her multiple sclerosis and the weather got worse, she was unable to go outside.  She had to rely more and more on others, and began falling more frequently.  When she fell, she couldn’t get up on her own.  She decided to move to assisted living.

Over the next few posts, I will tell the stories of each of my clients and the unique challenges each faced. 

Here is the story of Lucy 2:

Lucy Two lived in a maintenance-free townhouse.  Her daughter had recently taken her car keys away from her because her memory was failing and it wasn’t safe to have her on the roads.  She was 88 years old when I started visiting her a few times a week to take her to the grocery store, to get her hair done, etc.  All those things she couldn’t do herself because she wasn’t driving any more.

Dining Room Before Staging

Over the next few months, her health remained stable, but her memory was fading fast.  She would forget to eat.  She didn’t know night from day.  She thought her bedroom was her house, and the rest of her house was the office where she worked.  She soon needed assistance 7 days/week, and someone to visit her every night to make dinner.

This went on with a bevy of caretakers over several months.  Lucy began getting more confused.  She didn’t understand why people were coming over when she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.  She thought we were only visiting, and became belligerent when we tried to help.  After some serious episodes, her daughter, Lynn (the only child living in the area), decided to put her into Memory Care.

That decision was difficult enough for Lynn.  But then came the task of selling the townhouse.  It was full to the brim with family memories and loving knick-knacks – most of which Lucy couldn’t even remember how

Parlor Before Staging

she’d acquired.  The day of the move, November 1, Lynn and I took Lucy to her new rooms, stayed for lunch with her, then went home to pack up some belongings while Lucy attended mass at the facility.  We packed enough clothes for the winter months, and some personal effects, like photographs of the great-granddaughters she loved so much. 

The next step was to allow the family to claim what they wanted from the house.  Children came from out of state to pack up/claim what they wanted.  Then, with the help of the real estate agent, we selected those items that would stay in the house for staging.  I marked those items with painter’s tape.

Dining Room After Staging

A junk removal company, Ease Services, came to pick up the furniture we didn’t need for staging.  They took items in good condition to a charity.  Once the belongings were pared down, the entire house was painted and new carpet was installed.  Lynn had a handyman come and do some small cosmetic repairs.

I packed up the small items that we didn’t need for the showing, and with the help of Lucy’s daughter and grandson, the boxes got loaded and dropped off at a local donation center.  I used what was left to stage the house.  I brought in some accent pieces and colorful towels, and set the dining room table.  It looked like a warm, loving home.  

The house was listed on a Thursday.  By Saturday, it sold!  Yes, that quickly!  What did that mean?  The rest of the cabinets had to be emptied, and the furniture removed.  No rest here!  So the phone calls started again. 

Lynn had friends/family come in to take what they wanted/needed for themselves or children who were moving into their own apartments.  Lynn got estimates from moving companies for shipping her sibling’s items to her in Idaho.  Their brother drove up from Florida with a van to get his things.  Once we knew what was unclaimed, I finished emptying all the cabinets, garage, laundry room, etc., and boxed everything up for

Parlor After Staging

charity.

Ease Services came for a second load, taking the items we knew wouldn’t sell.  Then I called an auction house, who loaded up their truck the same day as Lucy Three's load, and paid Lucy Two for what they took away.  I finished cleaning out the garage, taking the garbage to the dumpster, and the last of the donations to Goodwill.  

The house was empty!!  The closing took place on March 28.  It was a real whirlwind of activity.  Thank goodness Lynn worked close to her mom’s house, so between the two of us, we were able to meet with drivers, repairmen, etc..  And although there were a few glitches, it all worked out in the end.  My final task was to mail some mementos we found in Lucy’s drawers to her daughter in Idaho and her grandson in Oregon. 

Lynn and I are going to dinner to celebrate! 

Click here to see Lucy One's Story
Click here to see Lucy Three's Story

A Tale of Three “Lucy”s – Lucy One Is Moving!

A Tale of Three “Lucy”s – Lucy One

You have probably heard from several sources to plan ahead when moving.  It’s never too early to start thinking about what to pack and how it will get to the new facility.  This past November, I was faced with three moves at the same time.  I will call my clients Lucy 1, Lucy 2 and Lucy 3. 

Lucy 1 lived in an apartment on the 15^th floor.  The view was wonderful, the space was large.  But there was this pesky little issue of persistent leaks that the property manager shrugged off as a small problem.  But mold growing under the carpet for years, and several trips to the hospital were hardly small issues for my client, retired from her teaching position.  It was time for a move.

Lucy 2 lived in a maintenance-free townhouse.  At 89 years old, her memory was failing and she had caregivers coming every day to help her dress and eat.  As her disease progressed, it became clear to the daughter that her mother needed someone watching her 24 hours/day. 

Lucy 3 lived in a development specifically for residents over 55 years of age.  The homes were single family, but maintenance-free.  A widow, she lived there alone, but had children and grandchildren in the area to help.  She was able to drive, but when her multiple sclerosis and the weather got worse, she was unable to go outside.  She had to rely more and more on others, and began falling more frequently.  When she fell, she couldn’t get up on her own.  She decided to move to assisted living.

Over the next few posts, I will tell the stories of each of my clients and the unique challenges each faced. 

Here is the story of Lucy 1:

Lucy One lived in a suburban apartment building, close to the train, shopping and many amenities.  Physical limitations prevented her from enjoying most of these attractions.  However, the view west from her 15^th floor apartment was unobstructed and breathtaking throughout the seasons.  The building had onsite laundry facilities, handicap access, handicap parking, secure access and onsite maintenance staff.

As I stated above though, the unit had one big problem – the sliding patio doors leaked, and when it rained, water came in.  At first, we thought it was only during heavy rains.  The water would soak the carpet and seep up upholstered furniture a good 6-8 feet into the room.  After a serious health scare, Lucy had a mold inspector come in to assess the damage.

New Kitchen Before Unpacking

Lucy was in the hospital at the time, so I met the inspectors and gave them access to the unit.  As it turned out, the problem was more extent than we imagined.  Even small amounts of rain were apparently getting through the door.  Mold can’t grow without moisture, and the amount present under the carpet indicated it had been there a long time.  The property manager agreed to replace the carpet, but never addressed the fact that the water was still coming in.  And as long as it still leaked, the mold would continue to grow.  My client decided, with the help of a lawyer, to walk out of her lease.

New Living Room Before Unpacking

She began searching for a new apartment—farther east and closer to the lake.  She wanted a view of the water now that she was retired and home all day to look out her windows.  Well, she found that view, but lost many other features of her old apartment.  Thus began my challenges as a move coordinator.

The new apartment was smaller, and different configurations meant furniture couldn’t be used as it was in the old place.  Lucy had some tough decisions to make.  What furniture/belongings would she take with her, what would she donate, and could she afford offsite storage for the rest? 

She directed me from her extended stay facility.  I would bring photos, and she would tell me what to do with the items.  After several trips, I had marked everything that would be trashed, and packed up what would be going with.  I also set aside boxes for donations.  Her brother helped in this process, taking many of the larger items to the dumpster and helping with packing.  He also brought some boxes to the new apartment before moving day.

Living Room After Some Unpacking

On moving day, the weekend before Thanksgiving, the movers arrived at my house to pick up a piece of furniture my client had had refinished.  They then went to the apartment, where my client’s brother met them to supervise.  The apartment and two storage lockers had to be emptied.  After the truck was loaded and gone, I went to the old apartment and did a final look-through.  It was not necessary to do a thorough cleaning, as the apartment was being gutted and getting a complete make-over.  (Mind you, my client had been living there for 17 years, during which time the building did nothing to update the space.)  But again, they were doing this with the door still leaking.  Good luck to the new tenants.

I closed up the old space, checked the mail for the last time and dropped off the keys. 

I didn’t go to the new apartment on moving day, but went during the week to unpack the priority boxes – kitchen, linens, etc.  Lucy was still at extended stay.  She moved in on Thanksgiving, and was able to enjoy a take-out dinner with her brother and his partner.  There were still boxes to unpack, but at least she was in a healthy environment – no water leaks, no mold. 

Kitchen After Unpacking

The new building and apartment presented challenges, though.  There was no handicap access, no parking for visitors, small elevators, and no garbage chute.  Lucy hired others to help with the unpacking. And while it is a work in progress several months later, it is looking much better!  Many of the boxes still there will be emptied as the rest of the furniture comes in from the storage unit.  I’ve taken in even more donations as we determine there is no home for the items in the new space.  Lucy has purchased organizing systems that will make the most of the space she does have.

Yes, we are still moving things around as we figure out the best configuration for her.  But that’s part of the process.  This was an unexpected move.  My client really had no intentions of moving at this stage of her life.  Yet it was best for her health.  And with proper planning and cooperation all around, it came together. 

If the sun ever shines in Chicago again, Lucy will see that magic place on earth where sky meets water – right from her window.

Click here to see Lucy Two's Story
Click here to see Lucy Three's Story