Nancy & David
We had the pleasure of working with David and Nancy this spring. They were moving from a patio home in East Austin to a brand-new apartment off Southwest Parkway. What made this move special, was its timing. We started working with David and Nancy just as the city was shutting down due to the coronavirus. We had our first meeting on 3/24, the same day Austin’s shelter-in-place order was issued.
At our initial meeting, we were in masks and maintained the recommended six-foot distancing. Rather than moving at our leisure through the house, we moved with alacrity. Where we always take lots of photographs, we took lots and lots of photographs.
Typically, we photograph and measure the new space to create floor plans. Because the city was shut-down, we didn’t see the new apartment until the day before we packed. We did have a floor plan to work off, and as is common, it was not exactly like the actual apartment. Therefore, we created the floor plan in real time on our walk through.
To make this move easier for Nancy and David, we packed on one day and moved the next. We used a team of extraordinary and efficient movers. Everyone worked in masks and gloves. Furniture was wrapped in single-use paper blankets rather than cloth pads to reduce risk of contamination. Loading the trailer on Day One, shortened the length of move day. It also got everything we touched out of their home for their last night. This further minimized risk of contamination. After we finished packing and loading, we wiped everyplace we touched with disinfectant.
The next day we offloaded into the new apartment. Again, we worked in masks and gloves. Furniture was placed, boxes were broken down and removed as they were unpacked. When we finished, we wiped every surface with disinfectant. We handled the move with a focus on safety, and David and Nancy walked into a beautiful apartment.
“When my husband’s daughter presented us the gift of Leah and John to help us move, I asked, “WHY? What can they do that I can’t do myself?” I soon knew the answer … EVERYTHING!
We were scheduled to move on May 1st, just as the reports of Covid were rattling our souls and consciousness and any semblance of order. We are in the ‘bad demographic’ … plus, we are old and stubborn and pride ourselves on our independence. My response to Covid was my typical one … panic and find some order amidst the chaos. We are in ‘house arrest’ and couldn’t fathom having ‘strangers’ in our midst.
Leah presented her playbook. She anticipated my every moment of crisis and had already planned for my next anxiety attack. She came to visit, decked out in mask and gloves. I have never yet seen her smile … but it is there. She photographed every drawer and shelf and clothes closet and asked a zillion questions.
On packing and moving day (the day following packing, which was also a gift … it was a bit much to do it all in one day), Leah and John came with a group of ‘big boys’ who could do what David and I would never ever do. They worked smoothly and seemingly effortlessly in hyper-speed. Sheer force and muscle. It was actually fabulous to watch their teamwork. Fun on otherwise a very bittersweet day.
And then the real show began. They unpacked and put everything in place just as Leah’s photos indicated. They even brought a ‘kitchen goddess’ to be sure everything was accessible and the spices were in alphabetical order.
We were blown out.
And a couple days later, Leah and John called and asked if they could hang our pictures. You would think that two old kids could hang pictures but hey, why not? They came. They hung the pictures … far better than we ever would … if ever.
Moving at any point is filled with emotion. It was especially so while Covid was rampant. And old timers have an extra challenge … stuck in our old ways when they don’t work.
Leah and John are a team of thoughtful caring people who are one step ahead … organized, kind, listening always, taking care of what would have likely been the impossible for us.
We are immensely grateful. ”