Downsizing with Care is a Canberra based business who help people declutter, downsize and move to a new home.

Our clients don’t want to just throw their memories away in a skip. They really want to find a good home for their possessions or sell them with a minimum of hassle. Above all, they want to be in control of what happens to everything, so that they avoid burdening others with the job and are ready to move onto the next stage in their lives.

Our clients are in full control during the whole process (whilst we do the heavy lifting). Instead of facing the prospect of downsizing and moving single-handedly or leaving friends and family to deal with mystery boxes in the garage and junk room, they are now really pleased that they can see their important possessions preserved and responsibly redistributed.

Our team of Lead Organisers and highly capable staff are compassionate, understanding and committed to help you downsize in the most effective way possible.

Mary Breen
Lead Organiser and Downsizing Specialist

Mary originally hails from Ireland and takes great pride in helping people. She has a great knack for making clients feel taken care of and is known to use a cup of tea to help people chart a path forward with their downsizing project. She uses her experience as an interior designer and mother of two grown boys to move mountains, figuratively and literally speaking, and help make a house feel like a home. She is also our resident expert on antiques and collectibles and can often be seen frequenting Canberra’s antique dealers and auction houses.

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Marie White
Lead Organiser, Downsizing and Hoarding Specialist

Through her work with Downsizing with Care, Marie has helped householders throughout the Canberra region downsize and move.  A softly spoken “people person” and consummate project manager, she instantly sets people at ease.  Having helped our clients, family members and friends with hoarding situations and deceased estates, she knows too well the emotional role which possessions can play in our lives. Marie is currently completing professional certifications with the Institute for Challenging Disorganisation

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Karen Ottley
Lead Organiser and Hoarding Specialist

Karen is compassionate, empathetic, patient and brings the experience of having helped people in her personal life in hoarding situations to her work.  She has completed training by Hoarding Home Solutions – Australia’s pre-eminent training organisation for independent service providers who work with hoarders.  Prior to working with Downsizing with Care, Karen homeschooled her daughter and worked as a singing teacher through which she undoubtedly practiced her boundless patience and joyful sense of humour.

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Melissa Freasier
Lead Organiser and Founder

Melissa has personal experience with growing up in a home with a lot of joy, love and laughter but also a lot of accumulations! She is a Certified Organizing Specialist, a member of the Institute of Professional Organisers (IOPO) and regularly speaks on the subjects of downsizing and decluttering.  She has had the pleasure of personally assisting dozens of householders to declutter, downsize and move. Prior to starting Downsizing with Care, Melissa worked as a teacher, trainer and technical writer.

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