Thursday, July 1, 2010

ONE STEP AT A TIME PROFESSIONAL ORGANISING


ONE STEP at a TIME can offer you the following services in the Western Cape South Africa:-

 

 MOVING

Moving can be very stressful for anyone – even just thinking about it stresses people out! Well, no need to feel overwhelmed and panicky – I’m a Professional Organiser and Life Coach and am used to doing this. It’s not “just a job” for me – I actually enjoy it and take great care and pride in what I do. My motto I work by is “every job I undertake is a future reference” and this has proved to be true. So don’t be shy – ask for references!  

This all started 12 years ago when I helped my Mother move into a retirement complex (Nerina in Fish Hoek) by clearing out, packing up, getting the flat painted and carpeted in Nerina, buying some new things and selling a lot of stuff from the old house. Then I unpacked everything, hung the curtains up and organised a handyman to connect the TV, put pictures on the walls and a few more shelves up. Then it was back to the old house and clearing that, renovating and getting it let out through an agent.

So what can I do for you?
  • Are you needing assistance to move into a retirement home or just down-sizing into a smaller place? 
  • Need me to arrange the removal  company and collect boxes?
  • Need help sorting through cupboards and the garage? 
  • I will sell your furniture. The smaller things can also be sold. But some I will donate and the rest I will take to recycle.
  • Pack everything up.
  • Do you have new things to buy ie a smaller fridge for the new place? Curtains?
  • Post to redirect? People to notify of new address? Clothes to label?
  • Want everything unpacked on the day of the move?
  • I can assist with the moving out and moving in to your new place. I will organise cleaning, tidying the garden, handing over keys and running errands.

  (I ALSO HELP BUSY YOUNG FAMILIES - OR STRESSED OUT BACHELORS - or PREGNANT LADIES - not only retired people)

  DROWNING IN CLUTTER
  • Once again, let me help you step by step. It's sometimes very difficult to start clearing and you may be feeling overwhelmed. 
  • Don't be embarrassed - I've seen it all - for big jobs, I bring in a couple more people to help. 
  • Your mess is a job for me - this makes me happy!!  I love mess - I love chaos - I love clearing it all up.
  • In just one day you will notice a big difference and  slowly but surely your home becomes clearer, lighter and brighter. 
  • I have an eye for colour and design too and can advise you or help you to purchase new things.  
  •  Sometimes what you think will take all week only takes ONE DAY.
before - messy cluttered room HOME OFFICE 
  • Papers all over and everything in a mess? 
  • Can never find your accounts or insurance papers?
  • Need filing done and new folders and files purchased?
  • Need a workable plan set up? 
  • Overwhelmed and don't know where to start?
  • Your life runs so much smoother if you know where all your papers are whether its medical, insurance, new guarantees or bank statements. 
 Benefits of having a neat and tidy home or office:- 
after - organized room
  • You feel less stressed
  • You will have more time and energy
  • You can now enjoy your possessions and surroundings
  • You will work better and focus more
  • You will feel more relaxed and carefree
  • You will be able to FIND THINGS AGAIN!
  • You will feel like a HUGE weight has been lifted from your shoulders.
You will then think "why didn't I do this ten years ago?"
 SELLING

Let me help you sell your house as quickly as possible. There are numerous things you can do (at a very low cost) to prepare your home so that it is shown in the best possible light to prospective buyers. Often an outsider can see things you do not.

LOTS OF FURNITURE, garden pots and tools, kitchen things, ornaments, clothes and pictures to sell? There are various options available, so before you give everything away - lets discuss this - let me liaise with the buyers to get the best possible price for you. Even the small things can bring in a little money for you.

 DECEASED ESTATE

I will also assist with "deceased estates". I obtain the best price for the client and sell everything - as well as dealing with Uncle Fred who wants the TV, cousin William the old sofa and the nosy neighbour from across the road, the "special" dinner service. Some items you may like to donate and the rest ie if damaged or too old and stained and just not worth anything - these I will take to recycle. Then the house is cleared, cleaned and the keys are handed over.

 SMALL JOBS

Please call even if its just a mornings work - that's absolutely fine. People often find they just don't get around to doing the job, but if they have made the appointment and someone is coming and they are paying - then the job finally gets done! Hoorah! Don't leave it all for your family to do when they come for their visit. And often that one appointment gives them a kick start to carrying on themselves.

 I work in the Southern Suburbs down to the deep South and around to Hout Bay.




A LITTLE ABOUT ME

  About ten years ago I qualified as a life coach as I felt passionate in uplifting and motivating people and at the same time, I started helping people move and de-clutter the two things becoming more and more combined as time went by.

I found that a lot of my coaching has come with helping people get through the emotional upheaval of moving, decluttering and often coming to terms with the loss of a loved one; it's not just about packing up boxes or selling things. I offer a very personalized service and treat your situation with respect and your property with a gentle hand. I will work with you step by step at the pace you are comfortable with.

REFERENCES AVAILABLE

Barbara Shepherd  072 437-2810  You are welcome to whatsapp me

or email: barbshepherd1@gmail.com 

16 comments:

  1. thanks so much for helping me pack up and prepare for the big day - knowing you were coming was enough to have me feel relaxed! Sally Glencairn

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  2. hi Barb
    once again a big thanks to you for supervising the whole move - it all turned out to be as you said "great fun". I wish you much success with your future jobs. Jeane Sun Valley

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  3. having someone oversee the whole move was fantastic from bringing the boxes to packing, to cleaning the empty flat tehn unpacking ont he other side and taking all the empty boxes and papers away on the same day - brilliant service!!!

    Sheila and Mike Fish Hoek

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  4. hi Barbara,
    many thanks for organising my office and bedroom cupboards - what a relief and wonderful to get all that filing done i cant tell you!! In a short while I'll get you to come back and tackle more rooms in my home.
    kind regards
    Desiree
    Glencairn

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  5. Dear Barbara
    it was a pleasure dealing with you - you made the whole de-cluttering enjoyable after the initial shock that is.
    I cant believe we got thru so much in a few hours - amazing - i thought it would take days. I was so embarrassed for you to see my house, but you were so kind and professional in every way, that I soon forgot to be embarrassed.

    God bless, what a wonderful service!

    may family and I are forever in your debt.

    from the Van Der Westhuizens
    take care

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  6. Hello Barbara

    I have the utmost faith in you and am sure everything will be completed in
    good time! It will be such a relief to have the house off our hands and it
    will let my Mom move on too...she seems to have gone from the one extreme of
    hoarding to the other of getting rid of everything!!

    Your plans sound great...I am taking the dining room table and sideboard and
    also would ask that any papers, photos, certificates or items of sentimental
    value etc are packed for my garage...I can sort through these at a later
    date...

    Otherwise, thanks again for all your help! You have been brilliant with my
    mother and I really appreciate that!

    Love Diane

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  7. Dear Barbara

    Thanks for doing such a great job. If you would like you can come to me and I will pay you.

    I will most definitely recommend you.

    Regards
    Dante

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  8. Dear Barbra
    you don't realize what a God sent you have been, I really do not know what I would have done without you.

    thanks again
    Bev:) happy

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  9. Dear Barbara,

    Remember me from 18, Plane Crescent, - its nearly six months since I moved and have just recently opened more boxes, cartons, etc. and am starting to find papers, cards, letters, etc. and your leaflet with you e-mail address.

    So thank you for your help - its such a wonderful service and I would never have managed.......Off now to open another carton.

    Sheila Neethling

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  10. Dear Barbara

    I saw your offering on the CES and took a look at your blogspot and just wanted to say that this is a WONDERFUL service that you are offering. I’m not planning to move in the immediate future, but last year I moved my office from an outside building to a room inside the house, then renovated the outside building to turn it into a two-bedroomed cottage for my father, then packed up my father’s house and moved him here, then furnished and converted his cottage into a guest house – and, if I’d known about you then, I would definitely have used your services! I was doing this in the context of a divorce so I did it single handed, and it took several months to get everything done and sorted out. And a good couple of months to recover, afterwards!

    Next time I move I’ll definitely give you a call, and I’ll recommend you to other people.

    kind regards
    Amanda Shirley

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  11. hi Barbara
    Thanks for all your help. I wish you well with your business and have already, and will continue to put a good word in for potential customers who may require your specialised skills.

    Kevin M Claremont

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  12. Dear Barbara

    Thank you for your email and the beautiful “Letting Go” inspiration you sent me. Also for describing your own process a bit more – it seems that you’ve developed a deep wisdom that you had all along, but didn’t know much about at first. I’m glad that you now trust in that wisdom more than in the conventional technique and steps!

    I continued to feel utterly exhausted for another few days, but am starting to feel stronger now. (It’s comforting to know that you also needed that extra sleep when the shifts started to emerge!) I’ve clearly entered into my journey of sorting, releasing, treasuring, ritualing and moving forward, although it’s still moving slowly. In the meantime, I’ve been talking to several friends about the process you’ve helped me enter, and your strong yet subtle skill in guiding me there. I’m eager to tackle some of the ‘tricky’ bits soon, and look forward to asking you for more of your time when I reach that stage. in the meantime, I’ll be happy to receive your “general emails” from time to time.

    With love,

    Pat

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  13. Dear Barbara,

    I have to tell you what an amazing process this morning was for me.

    On the surface of it, we didn’t obviously seem to do too much – some talking, some checking around the house, a little selecting of obvious things for me to get rid of, and well, of course, that lovely ritual with my huge 60th birthday card and my childhood blanket. But on a deeper level, I feel as though I’ve had major surgery (in the most life-affirming, healing way!). I was absolutely exhausted this afternoon, and took to my bed (after I’d moved just a few other little bits into the box). I never go to bed during the day, but today I just had to rest – I felt wiped out. It’s the most amazing feeling – like I’ve needed this ‘surgery’ for a long time, and finally I’m having it done; and I thought it would be an easy, normal process – but it requires my entire being to do this (again, in a completely healthy, positive, constructive way!), and I must look after myself carefully and respectfully as I do it. I realise now that I could have never done a whole day of it. I’m really glad I chose a half day!




    And the other most amazing part of it is how you facilitated it to happen in such an unobtrusive, encouraging, easy way.
    You were SO skilful in following my lead and my needs, yet also intervening every now and then with little perfect steps for that moment.....almost invisibly, yet so powerfully. What you were doing reminds me of the image of how Buddhists turn the prayer wheel – it’s already spinning in its right direction, but they come along and just add a little impetus in the same direction, and that helps it keep going more and more strongly. Life-affirming and prayerful.

    love Pat

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  14. hi Barbara
    thanks so much for helping me de clutter the whole house in 2 weeks flat, sell stuff, organise the move and unpack on the other side.
    I still cant believe it was all done so easily and with a smile every day.
    Now you are helping me sort out my office and work out a filing system.
    I feel lighter and more joyful each week as we work out a system and get everything sorted.
    many many thanks
    Lesley

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  15. thank you Barbara for al the assistance and kindness in helping our mother to her new place.
    Although nervous with you to h elp, it was so much easier for her.

    Always grateful - Tommy and Jane Martin

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  16. Dear Barbara, we cant thank you enough for the massive job you undertook in helping my mom and dad move to evergreen. The love you gave them and the laughter you shared while you were working and getting them to part with stuff was....well...quite amazing! Cant thank you enough �� there is just one problem - they miss you going at two every afternoon!! �� do pop in to see them whenever you like, Leigh

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