Transition Solutions

Clear and precise

Some people just work on a level of organisation that is quite incredible. We like to think that we (Shanoo and I 😜) operate like this, so when we meet a kindred spirit it is like the ultimate Marie Kondo experience!

Our client was moving from a superbly organised estate home to a retirement village. The sewing room had been carefully built into a study cupboard (just swing the doors open to discover an Aladdin's Cave of joy for a home sewer); similarly with the home office, kitchen, tv cupboards, toolroom. This was then mirrored in the new home in the retirement village, focusing on the efficiency of form and function rather than just reducing size - what a joy to simply move it across.

A lot of rightsizing took place prior to us coming on site, so only the most loved and necessary items were moved across. Care was taken to ensure that the Persian carpets were laid with the nap in the right direction to reflect the light properly to enhance the colour - now that is precision thinking!

What a joy to work with these wonderful clients! We can honestly say that even after 10 years assisting our clients move their lives, we were awestruck with the precision thinking!

Our relationship cycle

Shanoo and I are always at some stage or other in our relationship cycle with our clients and you might find it interesting to understand our process from beginning to end. We are just starting a cycle with a new client (well, not so new as we have already moved one set of mum and dad, as well as facilitated a pack up of an estate in PE for another in-law in the same family – so this is not a new, NEW).

We first start with a home visit with whomever needs to be involved to allow everyone to meet us and feel comfortable with who we are. Meet and greet. We do a walk around, understand current lifestyle, volume in the home/garden/garage/shed, what next step lifestyle will involve (hobbies, activities, do’s and don’ts), our process, what it will take and how we will action it. Sometimes we include a visit to the new home at this stage as well.

We go away, plan our approach, critically considering the stress levels that moves like this can bring and the client’s propensity to manage this upheaval. We focus on each client individually – no one-plan suits all approach. We produce a detailed quotation for family to discuss and interrogate with us.

If all is accepted, then we go to work. Agreeing dates, allocating materials, admin assistance with issues like Telkom, Wi-Fi connectivity, removers (local, national or international), dump collections, curtains, tv installation, handiman service, even estate agents if a property is still to be sold. Auction and charity liaison and collections. Site visit to new home to agree cupboard space and how many boxes of household effects can reasonably be accommodated in the cupboards available (we admit that this is not an area where we normally have total agreement with our clients, but we try our best not to overload the new home!) We unfortunately don’t rehome parrots or the like 😜.

And when it is time to get the show on the road, we arrive, downsize with the client right beside us (or clear instructions from family) over a couple of days, packing all the while – move day and unpack, and then manage collections and a surface wipe at old home, hand over keys! Voila.

Sometimes our relationship continues even further with ongoing care visits to the clients. Whatever is needed. We mean it when we say we are “Here for You”!

Delightful Dinky

In the course of our work, we see beautiful fine china, exquisite silver, crystal and works of art. But when we uncover a collection of Dinky cars in their original boxes it is like being in toy heaven. And then, to top it all, boxes of Britains Soldiers – beautifully crafted, perfect in detail.

Pure delight!