Contact Us | 650.740.4911
You have questions – We have answers!
Below are some resources for you to check out. The easiest way to get information is to contact us. We’re happy to help!
Books
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
- Sell, Keep, or Toss?: How to Downsize a Home, Settle an Estate, and Appraise Personal Property by Harry L. Rinker
- Moving for Seniors: A Step-by-Step Workbookby Barbara H. Morris
- Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save, What to Let Go by Marni Jameson
Articles and Tips
- NYTimes.com: Moving Is a Monumental Task for Many Older Americans
- Nextavenue.org: Sorry, Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Stuff
- Nextavenue.org: What you said about “Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Stuff”
- Nextavenue.org: How to Know If Your Parents’ Stuff Has Value
- Wiki How: How to Downsize Your Home
- About.com: How to get rid of a Used Sofa
- AARP.com: 20 Tips to Declutter and Clean Up your Home
- AARP.com: The Downsizing Dilemma
- NYTimes.com: Helping the Elderly Downsize
- Grandparents.com: How to Downsize a Lifetime of Your Parents’ Stuff
- Mercurynews.com: 10 Steps to Stop Hoarding
- Mercurynews.com: When Seniors Need to Downsize
- WSJ.com: The True Value of Priceless Antiques
- WSJ.com: Why the Market for Heirloom and Secondhand Furniture has Disappeared
- Bankrate.com: Retired Seniors' Guide to Downsizing
Checklists
AGING IN PLACE
Tips on how to make your home more Senior Friendly – so you can Age In Place
- Ageinplace.org: Making Your Home Senior Friendly
- US Department of Health and Human Services: Home Modification
SORTING
How do I know what to keep and what to get rid of?
- Questions to Ask yourself when Sorting
- TheSpruce.org: 5 Reasons You Keep Clutter in Your Home (and in Your Life)
Stuff
- Financial Clutter, What To Keep and What to Get Rid Of by Suze Orman
- How long to keep financial records (Bankrate.com)
Financial Records (papers to keep, and for how long?)
SELLING
Who can help me sell my stuff?
• Bonhams & Butterfields – San Francisco | (415) 503-3200 |
• Clars Auction Gallery – Oakland | (510) 428-0100 |
• Michaan’s Auctions – Alameda | (510) 740-0220 |
• MaxSold.com | (650) 713-3478 |
• Afterwards – Menlo Park | (650) 324-2377 |
• Home Consignment Center – San Carlos | (650) 508-8317 |
• Home Consignment Center – Mountain View | (650) 964-7212 |
• Sutterfield Consignment Gallery – Burlingame | (650) 579-7800 |
• Unexpected Treasures | (650) 595-1002 |
• Shoppe Ten Liquidators | (650) 787-8941 |
• KSA Estate Sales & Appraisal | (650) 345-2926 |
• MaxSold | (650) 713-3478 |
• ebay.com | |
• sfbay.craigslist.org | |
• facebook.com | |
• Nextdoor.com | |
DONATING
Where can I donate my unwanted items?
• Goodwill – (no pick-up) seven donation sites | (888) 446-6394 |
• St. Vincent DePaul – to schedule a pick-up | (650) 871-6844 |
• Salvation Army – to schedule a pick-up | (800) 958-7825 |
• PARCA – to schedule a pick-up | (650) 312-0725 |
• Shelter Network – call for donation locations | (650) 685-5880 |
• Ecumenical Hunger Program – schedule pick-up | (650) 323-7781 |
• Humane Society – resale shop in Burlingame | (650) 344-1662 |
• Habitat for Humanity, ReStore – San Carlos | (650) 847-4000 |
• St. Francis Center – Redwood City | (650) 365-7829 |
• The Bay Area Furniture bank – Sunnyvale | (650) 969-2100 |
- Books – contact your local library
- Collections – contact your local children’s hospital, school, museum and historic home
- Craft Supply, Games, Puzzles, Toys – contact local nursing homes, day care centers, adult day care centers, nursery schools and church schools
- Eyeglasses – eye bank, funeral homes, Lion’s Club, optometrists
- Office supplies – contact your local church or school
RECYCLING, HAULING, TRASH REMOVAL
How do I recycle, reduce, and reuse my unwanted things? Who can haul away my trash?
Check your local garbage collection service company for specifics about garbage, recyclables, compost, household hazardous waste, and extra services like bulky item collection, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), debris boxes, E-waste, household batteries, used motor oil and motor oil filters, etc.
Recycling and hauling services
• Goin’ Green | (650) 814-2889 |
• EcoHaul | (800) 326-4285 |
• Remoov | (415) 857-2791 |
• 1-800-GOT-JUNK | 800-GOT-JUNK |
• College Hunks Moving Junk – San Jose | (408) 868-5444 |
Reduce, reuse and recycle guide for San Mateo County smcsustainability.org
(PS. Unfortunately Santa Clara County does not have a guide similar to San Mateo.)
• Check the website: Don't Rush to Flush for a location near you | |
"Partnering with you in this experience has been wonderful. From our first meeting, Mom and Dad felt comfortable with you and trusted you to help us through the process of downsizing and relocating to their new home. Your manner with them was respectful, kind and gentle. Being out of state myself, it was a tremendous help to have you on the ground locally with all of your network of service providers to find the best providers for our particular situation, at the best price. On sorting day, you worked alongside me, keeping me focused and providing support for the hard decisions. In the meantime, you managed vehicle transport for my parents' car. On moving day, you provided masterful oversight of the process, from packing to "green disposal" of items left behind, leaving the house completely empty and broom clean.
My parents and I feel so fortunate to have had your support through this experience. Because of your skill, experience, kind nature and excellent network of service providers, the process from start to finish was smooth, efficient and drama-free. We enthusiastically recommend your services to anyone considering a move for their elderly loved ones.
"
Dianne S
Kirkland, WA
"Maria was a life saver for me. I had to clean out my late mother’s house and had been putting this big job off for months because I didn’t know where to begin.
I heard about Maria and hired her immediately! She was with me through the entire job. She was so organized and that made my job so much easier. She is also kind and caring, I loved working with her!
Thanks to Maria, we emptied out the entire house in just a few days.
I could never have done it without her!
"
Karen G
Menlo Park