Different Path Services
A downsizing service and more.
Operating since 2017
before staging, Nov 2018
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about
You do not have to walk this path alone
Different Path Services can assist with packing, moving, sorting, staging and managing a property.
A few years ago I was in the position of having to deal with my mother's home after she suddenly went into a care home. She had a beautiful, large waterfront property. It took three years to empty the home, manage her illness and ultimately her passing. I felt alone and overwhelmed.
However, my background as a social worker and my passion for organization led me to wonder if I couldn't help others who would go through the same experience.
Susan Ko, Owner
Shortly after, a friend of mine had a similar experience. His mother lived near me, he lived overseas. She was diagnosed with cancer and died within a few months. I was able to help based on my previous experience.
Several years later, here I am with a business helping families at a place in life where they need to empty a home, sort, donate or store the furniture and possessions.
My mother's property
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Services
Consultation
I will come to the home, meet with you and review what needs to to be done. Deciding what needs to happen can be overwhelming, and I will assist with a process and a timeline, no matter what you need done. I can provide a written plan of how to proceed, based on the needs and presenting situation, as well as refer for services I do not provide.
Sorting and packing, selling
Do you have possessions that need to be sorted? We will identify which items can be sold, recycled or donated. We can sell them for you online or through consignment. We will provide boxes and pack them safely. I will ensure very little goes into landfill, and know all the places for donations and recycling.
Property Management
Is there an empty property that needs to be maintained for a period of time? We can maintain the property, including lawn mowing/gardening, collecting and forwarding mail, site visits. Need us to manage tenants? We can do that as well.
PET CARE
Are there pets that need re-homing, or onsite care? We can provide this service if requested.
Moving & STORAGE
We can move possessions to a new site, within the home, or deliver them to a place you decide. We have the capacity for storage as well, which we charge per week or month.
STAGING
Does the home or condominium need to be sold? Using the furniture that exists in the home and adding items we provide, I can stage the home for resale to get the best possible price.
“Thank you. I feel better leaving knowing you are here to help”
Meals & Companionship
I can coordinate healthy nutritious meals and drop them off, and arrange visits for companionship or travel to appointments. My background in social work helps me to work with all individuals at all stages of aging.
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Satisfied Customers
“When my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year she was placed under home hospice care. Although everything sounded like it would run smoothly, my family and I soon discovered that there were very real and critical gaps in in the system...Susan helped us set up a flexible system to provide regular, nutritious meals for my mother. As important as this was, the thing we found most valuable was the consistency...Susan was the extra set of eyes that my mother and I needed, and it helped us hugely to be able to rely on her experience. Ultimately, you want people there who care. We’ll always be grateful to Susan for her heart and hard work... Wes T, 2017”
“I had a large 3 level house full of 35 years of acquired things. Since I was moving into a retirement centre, probably more than 90% of the house contents had to go.
Susan and her co-workers Cyndi and Mike did a fabulous job of sorting through massive amounts of stuff, some destined to the dump, some to re-cycle, some to consignment and some to re-sale, all of which they totally did themselves.
I was health compromised so was unable to be any help except to indicate what I wanted to keep. They took care of everything else, for which I was very grateful. They obtained a storage locker for me and transported stuff there that I did not immediately need.
Everything that they packed made it to the new locations without any damage. The cost of their services was partially offset by the sale of the goods, but more importantly I would have been totally unable to do this myself. They were great people to work with and worked around my schedule and the real estate person’s showing schedule. I happily recommend them”… Reg Mitchell, 2020
“I recently used Different Path Services when I needed to clean up and organize items after someone close to me passed away. I found Susan, the owner, to be very professional and organized. However, she was also sensitive to my situation. She took all the time I needed to talk to me about every item and help me decide whether they should be sold, donated or thrown out. The best part for me was that, once decided, all the items were gone! She arranged for ads to be placed online, took donation items to the organization I chose and discarded others. If items couldn’t be sold right away, she stored them for me. This way I was not left staring at all the memories and I could begin to move on. I would also like to say she is very trustworthy and honest. Some jewelry was accidentally left in a small non-descript box and, when she discovered this, she contacted me immediately and returned the items! I am very grateful”… MH, 2019
“I recommended Susan to my elderly client that was moving into a retirement home. My client felt so overwhelmed with the whole prospect of trying to get her place ready for the market, that she called Susan. My client and I are both so thrilled with Susan’s expertise, efficiency and warm personality. She decluttered, organized and brought stuff to charity, the auction houses or sold it online. Susan also has an amazing eye for staging using existing furniture and bringing in the finishing touches. I would highly recommend Susan anytime”... Krista V, Realtor, 2018
“Sue was our downsizing doula when we finally took the plunge. We’d still be sorting books if it wasn’t for her: disciplined, diligent, cheerful, and mistress of the internet” …Harry Swain, 2021
“Sue was a great help to us when we needed to clear out my in-laws home in a very short time. She was able to get the items we needed to sell posted online and sold quickly. She is also very knowledgeable in knowing how much to price items for sale. She was also helpful in taking care of delivering donatable items to the appropriate places. I would highly recommend her to anyone who needs help in downsizing.” SB, 2021
“When the pressure to liquidate a waterfront Victoria condominium met us head on we fortunately turned to Sue Ko and Different Path Services for relief and resolution. Our challenge was compounded by the fact that our mother was aging alone in Victoria and our residence is across the border in Oregon.
Thirty years of accumulated possessions , furnishings and art work needed distribution, sales and charitable gifting. After interviewing various companies designed to accommodate these tasks we found only one party sensitive to all of our needs : cost, timeliness local resources and connections.
Without reservation I would readily recommend Sue Ko and her team to address all the needs of downsizing and preparing a home for resale. She proved to be the consummate professional being both efficient and sensitive to our unique challenges . “
AFR, 2022
Before and After Photos
After Staging, Nov 2018
Before Staging, Victoria 2018
After Staging, Victoria 2018
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CONTACT susan directly
Get in touch! You will get a reply by the next business day.
Or if you prefer, contact Different Path Services by phone at 250-891-5969 or email Susan at differentpath17@gmail.com.