THE SIMPLE LIFE

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/archives/display_detail.htm?StoryID=55055

Slice OF Life

Entrepreneur helps people downsize, manage domestic, business worlds
By KAREN GARDNER News-Post Staff kgardner@fredericknewspost.com FREDERICK — Downsizing a home, office or corporation requires part business sense, part sales sense and part psychological sense, and Laurie Zook can do it all. Ms. Zook runs Mission Transition out of her Frederick home. She specializes in moving and estate sales, packing and set up, interior design consultation, property cleanup and updating. No job is too small, although she prefers jobs where she can make a difference in someone’s life. Often that someone is a senior citizen who is moving from a larger house into a smaller one. Many are seniors moving from a home they’ve lived in for many years into independent living situations where on-site health care is available. She helped her most recent client make $26,000. The 85-year-old man moved from his Washington-area home into an independent living apartment because he wanted to be near his wife who was in a nursing home. “He was in total breakdown,” Ms. Zook said. “We started working with him, got a Dumpster in his driveway, and went through his papers, piece by piece.” She doesn’t throw anything away without examining it first and checking with the client. She found uncashed traveler’s checks and valuable coins from a coin collection. “I threw all the junk away and organized the house to the point where he knew where things were,” she said. The man decided what to sell and what to keep, and she set up a tag sale, which took place over several weekends. She started the job in mid-November and had it completed in late December. About 60 percent of her clients are senior citizens. With the first of the baby boomers turning 60 this year, her business has the potential to get much larger. She employs part time assistants. She is preparing a book for real estate agents and others who deal with clients moving into new spaces. She helps clients pack, organize estate sales, plan furniture placement in a new home, oversee the moving process and arrange spaces in the new home. “I am not a moving company,” she said. “But I can help them find movers.” Older people are often emotionally attached to their things, she said. “Their kids either don’t want to deal with it or can’t handle it,” she said. “It’s very emotional for everyone. I’m objective.” She has dealt with people who keep everything. “I’ve worked with people who are on the verge of being hoarders,” she said. “Most are in-between.” Her fees are hourly, and she charges a percentage of the proceeds from estate sales ranging from 25 to 40 percent. Ms. Zook, 47, has a background in interior design, office space planning and sales. “I’m an artist and a designer,” she said. “I try to keep things in a happy balance.” She has helped young couples move; helped stay-at-home moms organize their closets; and organized home offices. She also organizes corporate moves. Much of her business is in the Washington area, but she’s hoping to do more work in Frederick. “I do any part of a house or garage or business,” she said. “Nothing is too dirty.” She gets referrals from real estate agents. Other business comes from ads in senior newspapers and word of mouth. “They’re usually surprised one person will do all that,” she said. “It’s a great business, and I’m challenged by how I’m going to make it grow.”