At Daybreak, we build strong relationships with each of our clients.
We don’t "execute a list of services." We create personal stories with each move.

The scenarios are different, but the theme always remains the same -
Daybreak builds trusting relationships with every client and provides
expert and compassionate service.

You may find yourself in one of these client stories.

Eric's Move
Elaine's Move
Ann's Move

Busy physician and adult child needed help coordinating an out-of-province move for his father.

Three months prior to my meeting with Eric, his dad had moved from his apartment in West Vancouver to a care facility near Eric and his family in Alberta. Eric hired a local realtor who was a long time friend of his family, so he was comfortable that she would look after their best interests in a sale where he would not be present.

In this particular sale, the realtor recommended that the apartment should be completely clear of furniture and household possessions. While some homes show best with the furnishings intact, at times it is better to have the home or apartment empty and cleanly painted. This way the prospective buyers can envision themselves and their furniture, artwork and accessories in that space.

As timing would have it, Eric was just about to begin a family vacation --- a driving holiday in British Columbia. He had a choice to make! As a busy physician, along with his wife who was also a busy physician, booking off vacation time was not an easy feat. The trip was planned. The children were excited. At the realtor’s suggestion, Eric called Daybreak.

When I arrived at the apartment, it was immediately clear to me that Eric had put his physician’s skill to work. Before I got there, he had methodically moved through the apartment, operating with surgical precision, keen attention to detail, and a lot of sticky notes!

Eric and I then identified what furniture and personal possessions needed to be shipped to Alberta and what was destined for family in Vancouver, as well as charities. This process was completed in short order. Eric and his family were ready to begin their vacation!

Daybreak went to work coordinating with out-of-province movers, charities, cleaners and the building manager. We arranged for storage in Alberta and kept in contact with the moving company so that Eric would know exactly when the truck arrived at the storage facility.

We packed all of Eric’s father’s personal possessions. His father was an avid car collector and aficionado. He had beautiful car models, trophies, books, and auto memorabilia that he was missing in his new residence in Alberta. Daybreak’s professional organizers took extra care in packing these special treasures so they would arrive in perfect condition.

I had a wonderful time living vicariously through Eric’s vacation. As he travelled, he often lost cell connection, so I followed his trail with faxes that kept him updated with our progress. Daybreak supervised the Move Day while Eric splashed in the lakes with his children. While it was a great trip for both of us, I didn’t get much of a suntan!

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Adult daughter and her siblings needed help clearing their parents home after it had been sold.

Elaine’s mother had recently passed away, and her father had just moved to a care facility that would support him through his dementia. Elaine and her two siblings suddenly found themselves with a home filled with furniture and household possessions that none of them needed. Not only did they not know where to take the items, they had full time jobs and families, which restricted the time they had to deal with their situation. Elaine was grieving the passing of her mother, worrying about her father’s confused response to his new home, and was feeling absolutely overwhelmed with all that was left to do.

And the clock was ticking fast – the home had been sold and the new owners were taking possession in one week’s time!

Elaine called Daybreak and I met with her the next day. I toured the home with her and helped her make the selections of furniture and personal effects that her family wanted to keep. Daybreak then coordinated the donation of a truckload of furniture to a charity that provides care services to foster children and their families in British Columbia. These families would indeed be thrilled to receive this furniture, which was just like new! We organized for the charity furniture to be loaded on the same moving truck as was delivering furniture to the family in order to save time and money.

Elaine and her siblings had determined a budget that they wanted to work within. Daybreak accommodated that budget and organized the transition plan so that the family would do the sorting, organizing and packing. Daybreak provided guidance, instruction, and regular communication as the family worked through their tasks. Daybreak delivered the smaller boxes of household items to a variety of charities and also disposed of all items destined for the transfer station.

Daybreak coordinated with the moving company and assisted with the moving estimate. We also provided a documented list of exactly what furniture was going to the family and charity so that the truck would be loaded efficiently, the family would be informed as to the allocation, and the movers could easily identify each piece that they would deliver and unload to specific rooms.

On Move Day, Daybreak met the movers and reviewed the plan with them. We supervised the move and coordinated with Elaine who was at the other home waiting for the delivery of furniture to the family. We checked every nook and cranny to make sure that nothing was left behind. With the home emptied, clean and tidy, it was all ready for the realtor to pass it along to its new owners the next day.

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Working mother who sold her home had no time to orchestrate clearing the home and helping her adult children move.

Ann had just sold her family home where her three adult children had been living since she had moved to a smaller apartment across town. As a busy, full time executive director, she certainly did not have much free time on her hands to clear out the home she and her husband had lived in for so many years.

When her husband passed away, Ann had moved the belongings she wanted to take with her, but she wasn’t up to clearing out the garage and storage areas. She had left furniture and household goods behind for her children, some that they had outgrown and were not taking with them.

Now, going back to dispose or disperse of all this was not only a time consuming and physical job, but there were so many memories attached. And then there were all those books --- perhaps 2,000! Her husband, a university professor, had been a voracious collector and those books deserved to find a home where others could appreciate them.

Add to the mix three adult children, all with busy careers, who were moving to three different homes and weren’t that interested or keen in the moving process. Who is?? Plus there were three more children out of town to consider, who may have wanted some of the family possessions! This was indeed an organizing challenge!

Ann, through her realtor, called Daybreak. I met with her and we toured her home. While we discussed the logistics of coordinating the three moves of her children, she also told me stories about this home where she and her husband had raised their family. I felt privileged to help her close this chapter in her life.

Ann and her family wanted to do their own packing. Daybreak ordered the packing cartons and materials and provided them with a packing kit, as well as precise instructions that would ensure that the Move Day was well organized and efficient. I reminded them that moving companies charge by the hour, so it was important to be ready to go when they arrived.

Three days before the new owners took possession, Daybreak professional organizers cleared through the basement and garage, coordinating the disposal. As in many basements, there was a large amount of Hazardous Waste products that required special disposal. We also worked closely with the children to make sure that skis, guitars, movie equipment, suitcases, etc were claimed and tagged to go to the correct homes.

We carefully packed the books and delivered them to the library, where they would be sorted – some to be added to the library collection, the rest to be included in their community book sales. Ann realized after the fact that going through her husband’s books would have been emotionally difficult.

The day before the move, Daybreak helped the adult children complete their packing and confirmed the inventories and their destinations. On Move Day, while Ann was at work, Daybreak supervised the move, reviewing the plan with the movers so that the truck could be loaded in the right order. The children waited at their respective homes to receive their belongings.

The home was now empty and ready to be professionally cleaned. Ann arrived at the end of the day to collect a few personal things and quietly say goodbye to her lovely home.

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