Hands on help with estate clearances in Canberra

Feedback from clients

Again, thank you for such a wonderful job a big job, mostly for Ada who’s been there over 45 years.
The place looks amazing now.

Done as quick as we could to help Ada get into her retirement village.
Today was the first opening with lots of people attending.

A lot of people commented howbeautifully presented, a lot of it was attributed to you for helping kick started along, getting through the tricky bits.

A big thank you to you. 🧡
(And to your team!!!)

—Cairo, Cook
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My sister, my husband and I were very happy with the thorough effort Melissa and her team put into clearing out our Dad’s home of the last 27 years. The process was smooth and coordinated right from my first meeting with Melissa at the house. We highly recommend Melissa and her team and would not hesitate to use them again.

—Jodie, Ngunnawal
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The care in their name really is in the work that they do. Melissa was like a member of the family – and without her and her team, and their combined local knowledge, we could not have accomplished all that needed to be done to move a loved one into a nursing home from a house full of memories.

—Robyn, Lyons
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic service and support. Wonderful team of people. Nothing too much trouble. Excellent communication from start to finish!

—Steven, Evatt
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I really want to thank you and your team for the incredible job they have done for our family.

The two ladies are absolute Angels!!

What they have achieved in a short amount of time is incredible. Rachel is an absolute Star with what she knows and her keen eye for unique treasures and connecting dots. She has a lovely way with people and is well respected with great people skills.

Both Rachel and Kate were so lovely and respectful, caring and yet efficient all in the one bundle. They went out of their way to make sure everything was done to our satisfaction, watched out for Rocky and all with a smile, even at times conversing late at night. They simply delivered an outstanding service with an enormous heart!

Once again thank you for your amazing service, it has been a blessing for our family.

You have created a heartfelt unique service in the marketplace and thank you for helping humans in this special way.

—Anna, Evatt
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I highly recommend Downsizing with Care to anyone who needs assistance with any sort of decluttering, downsizing and dealing with clearing possessions following the passing of a loved one.

Melissa and her team took the heartache and worry out of clearing out my elderly cousins home. It was not only the professionalism and incredible organisation skills of her team, it was also their gentle care of my mother who was grieving the loss of her dearest cousin. With much care and respect the team guided us through what otherwise would have been an overwhelming task.

Thank you for your wonderful service!

—Kathryn, Weston
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Melissa, Rachel and the team. We are very happy.

—Bruce, Red Hill
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We had such a good experience working with Melissa and the team after my mother passed away. They did a great job on clearing out her home with kindness and sensitivity, taking time to coordinate multiple people on our behalf as we are based interstate.

We would not hesitate to recommend their services!

—Alyx, Richardson
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Our clients generally want to:

  • Make sure that items stay out of landfill and go to a good cause
  • Sell items of value in a fair, transparent way
  • Honour the legacy of a life well lived

What we do

Sensitive sorting

We handle possessions compassionately, following the wishes of family members

Ethical sales

Fast turnaround

Responsible rehoming

Mature staff

Full coordination

Frequently asked questions

We understand that this is a sensitive and busy time for you and your family.

We prioritise rehoming items through sales, op shops, and tip shops to keep possessions out of landfill. We also make sure certain belongings go to specialist charities where they will be truly valued.

We identify items with potential resale value and facilitate their sale through auction houses, second-hand dealers, or online marketplaces to help defray your project costs. Because we take no commission on sales, you receive the full proceeds while we handle the logistics of sorting and transportation.

Where we are helping you meet a real estate deadline, we can help to turn around the home in 2-3 weeks. Where it is a more sensitive situation, we can work with you as needed over a longer timeframe.

We regularly work with interstate families and set aside boxes of sentimental items for their final decision. If desired, we can then coordinate the distribution and transport of these items to ensure your loved ones receive them safely,.

We can help sell or sort items as required. We simply charge $150/hour (inclusive of GST and packing supplies) for any of the work that you would like us to do. Whether you want us to sort one cupboard or manage the entire job.

For items that can be donated, we make sure they go to the "right place". For example, usable food goes to a Street Pantry, old blankets go to the RSPCA, and we will use specialist charities for certain items.

Yes, for unattended estate clearances, we can give a quote of what you can expect the project to cost.

ABOUT US

I'm Melissa and I'm here to help

My team and I started helping people downsize and work with deceased estates in 2018 and have since been able to assist families across the Canberra region.

In that time, we have been able to develop a wide network of rehoming options and have processes for dealing with anything we find in a home.

I was honoured to be a finalist in the 2023 COTA ACT Seniors Achievement Awards. I count myself lucky to be able to serve our remarkable clients.