Smooth Move Managers

03/23/2024

02/17/2024

I had the good fortune to be interviewed on TV recently about my business. This clip explains what senior move managers actually do.

Host Ruth Pegeron interviews Adele Logan-Galen, the founder and owner of Smooth Move Managers, in a heartfelt and informative interview! You are watching In ...

02/21/2022

I am very excited to share a recent recommendation I received from a former client:

"I am a former client of Adele's. I highly recommend her. She is a Godsend. She is very professional and organized. She gets the job done. She is very good at what she does. She cares about her clients and their wants and needs. In fact, I want to have her help me again in the future. Whoever hires her will not be disappointed!"
- Norma Shifflett

11/07/2021

Whether you've been naughty or nice, here's a great holiday offer you and/or your clients don't want to miss!

11/14/2020

An offer too good to miss!
Afraid to open your pantry?

Need help organizing your toy closet, basement or attic?

Would you like to finally use your garage to park your car?

Since it is the season of giving, Adele Logan-Galen, founder of local, woman-owned business Smooth Move Managers (www.smoothmovemanagers.com), is offering 3 hours of professional organizing/decluttering for the price of 2!

Having years of experience helping the young and the old live fuller, happier lives with less stuff, Adele is ready to help you!

Moreover, she has recently become certified by the National Association of Senior and Specialty Movers to assist people with decluttering, downsizing and moving during the Covid-19 pandemic.

So call 571-230-5702 or email [email protected] and book your appointment today. Find out how less equals more in 2020!

Offer for new clients only, good till 12/31/2020; and consultation included in 3 hour stint.

Adele Logan-Galen
Founder, Smooth Move Managers
(571) 230-5102
[email protected]
www.smoothmovemanagers.com

09/25/2020

I am proud to say that I have successfully passed all the courses offered by the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM) to declutter and move people safely during this pandemic. Now if only I can figure out how to post a photo of me with all of my PPE. Hmmm....I am working on it. Never too old to learn new tricks!

03/20/2020

I realize that this is a frustrating, stressful time for everyone. However, there is a small silver lining. Since most of us are stuck at home, we can use each day to clean out one closet or one drawer. Just think of how organized and decluttered your home will be at the end of this strange episode!! I'm off to walk my dog and then to declutter my guest room closet, just in case we might have a guest who actually wants to hang up something!

02/25/2020

I found something in the newspaper this past weekend that made me smile. Harrison Ford was featured in Parade and his goal for 2020 is: "I want to finally get rid of half of the things I've accumulated in my life and organize everything. I'm trying to get rid of stuff. It might be useful to somebody else." Wow! You see, the rich and famous have the same problems we do!!

06/04/2019

I had a client die this week. Although it was expected it still is very sad. I continue to be amazed at how much I learn from my clients, and how close we get, if they let me. In the beginning, I was very wary because there was an immense amount of decluttering to be done. I wasn't sure how she would handle it. To my delight and surprise, she gave things away very easily. I would hold up an item and she would look it and wave her hand and say shoo. Give it away. I'm not going to use it. After working closely with her for a year and sorting through numerous piles in nine different rooms, I heard a lot of stories and shared some myself. She was a gentle soul. Extremely generous and kind. Brilliant but not arrogant. And talented!! WOW! She would ask me about my pets. A bright light has gone out in the world, but I am definitely a better person for having known her. It is people like her that me love my job and profession. Years of stories and memories. She will stay with me a long time. Thanks for reading.

04/25/2019

Dear Faithful Smooth Move Managers Facebook Post readers and new ones:

Here is a link to a very interesting article that was in The Washington Post recently:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/04/15/emotional-toll-decluttering-downsizing-your-home/?utm_term=.07fee86611b4

One of the main points of the article is that downsizing is hard. Yes, it is. It is painful and difficult to downsize and no one wants to start the process.

That is why being a senior move manager is so important and meaningful to me. I get to assist people doing something unpleasant. Giving away their belongings that they have had for years.

Books and personal/professional files are the most trying and time consuming to get rid of. When I get rid of/donate my books I try to adopt the mind set that I am not getting rid of something but rather giving something I once cherished to someone else. It makes me feel good instead of sad.

If you know of anyone, senior or not, who needs help decluttering, I would greatly appreciate a referral. Spring is a great time to clean out the shed, garage, or storage room. I bring chocolate!

I think the desire to expand and acquire changes with age — driven in part by the need to downsize, but also as part of a reckoning with mortality. One begins to accept the truism: You can’t take it with you, so you might as well pass it on.

02/28/2019

An extremely interesting article about living with Alzheimer's appeared recently in The Washington Post. Here is the link:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/changing-the-tragedy-narrative-why-a-growing-camp-is-promoting-a-joyful-approach-to-alzheimers/2019/02/21/2c4ed4f0-2244-11e9-81fd-b7b05d5bed90_story.html?utm_term=.3ddb391cccb2

I have a personal interest because my Mom had Alzheimers for almost 15 years. One of my favorite quotes from the article is this: "For caregivers, staying positive means letting go of expectations of how things should be....'We have this tendency were we want that person to be back in our world...We think it's not normal so we want them to stop...Just because it's not our idea of normal?"

At this point, I am going to give a compliment to the Insight Memory Care Center (https://www.insightmcc.org/). They hold free workshops for caregivers on how to successfully cope with Alzheimer's. They helped me a lot! If you are local and are struggling with this, I strongly encourage you to contact them.

Viewing the disease in a more adaptive way — with openness and humor -- is helping some caregivers and patients alike.

02/18/2019

As a follow up for you locals, please note that the Kings Park library (9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA) has a big book drop off bin behind the library with donation receipts available. The donated books are sold at their biannual book sales in May and November. The monies made go to support the excellent educational programs offered throughout the year.

Here is a photo of one of my bookcases (minus the donated books):

02/18/2019

As a bibliophile, sorting and weeding out unwanted (?) books is a challenge. However, I have finally decided that I am only going to keep the volumes that: 1) I honestly feel I am going to reread; 2) I have purchased but haven't read yet; and 3) I have enjoyed so much I would eagerly loan to a friend. This is a hard and fast rule. Although I may have "loved" the book at one point in time, if I don't refer to it or think of it often, or if I know that a local library would have it, I do not have a problem donating it.

A recent article in The Washington Post addresses this issue:
https://live.washingtonpost.com/home-front-20180207.html

The Washington Post hosts a live chat on home and design every week.

09/03/2018

Recently there have been some interesting articles in the print media about decluttering and aging in place. I have attached a link to one of those which I found particularly insightful. One thing to keep in mind, whether or not you decide to age in place or move to a retirement community, you will still need to declutter to make sure that you can move safely in your home.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/letting-go-of-the-past-for-a-less-cluttered-future-moving-into-a-smaller-home/2018/08/22/98bb4262-4a55-11e8-827e-190efaf1f1ee_story.html

Deciding what to keep and what you no longer need can be a daunting and emotional task.

08/06/2018

It is exciting when clients realize that decluttering does not have to be a chore. One client said: "Adele, we are so happy to have you in our lives! Not only are you doing really great things helping (huge understatement) us with the decluttering, you bring lots of fun to the process and make it something to look forward to." For a free consultation, call me at 571-230-5702 or visit www.smoothmovemanagers.com.

03/08/2018