February 5, 2025 • 33 mins
Kylie Wade from Organizing for Life joins us to share her incredible journey from project management and marketing to transforming cluttered spaces into serene havens. Discover how her unique concept of "visual victories" empowers her clients to achieve remarkable organizational results in just six hours. Whether you're a busy parent or feeling overwhelmed by clutter, Kylie's insights will inspire you to rethink your approach to home organization and tap into the potential for immediate change.
The conversation takes an intriguing turn as we explore the influence of Amazon's delivery services on modern organization practices. Kylie provides a detailed look into her consultative process, which includes a no-cost discovery call and a personalized approach to decluttering and reorganizing spaces. Her commitment to creating a judgment-free zone ensures that clients receive tailored solutions that seamlessly integrate into their lives, resulting in functional and deeply satisfying environments.
As life changes and schedules become busier, maintaining an organized home can feel like a daunting task. Kylie shares her experiences in establishing a business that fills the gap for home maintenance services, offering solutions that ease the chaos of relocation through comprehensive concierge moving services. From choosing reliable movers to crafting personalized storage solutions, she highlights the importance of decluttering before a move and creating spaces that reflect personal style and needs. Connect with us on our Instagram and website to explore more organizing tips and stories that can transform your lifestyle.
To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:22):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee.
And on the way we'll havediscussions about mortgages and
we'll interview people in thereal estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
(00:42):
And now your host, christineReed.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Welcome back everybody to another wonderful
podcast here at BenchmarkHappenings, and I'm so excited
today to talk to the star of ourshow, Kylie Wade, with
Organizing for Life.
So, kylie, thank you for beingon today.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yes, thank you so much for having me.
I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Well, I'm excited to have you here because after I've
looked at your website andwe've had a short conversation
before this podcast, I'm like,oh my gosh, I mean, what a
perfect company to have.
You've got to be so busy andhelping people get organized.
I feel like life today is sochaotic.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Yes, absolutely.
I think that's so much of whatit is.
You know our clients.
The first thing they always sayto us is I'm so embarrassed to
let you into our home, and thefirst thing I say is we all have
too much to do and so I'm justhere to help with the things
that I can take off of yourplate and get things under
control.
That way it can be maintained.
Versus that, maybe, what youknow, when I have a weekend off
(01:52):
or I get that time, you knowthat time that just never comes
because it's the next stomachbug.
You know, kids, sports,whatever it may be that keeps us
so busy and out of our homesfor long enough to say what are
some really great systemsthat'll work really well, and
that's all we think about, ofcourse.
So you're just bringing in theexperts and bringing in that
expertise and also bringing inyou know we force multiply the
(02:16):
efforts that you want to make.
And so you're like I want topark my car in the garage and we
say, okay, x, y and Z needs tohappen to get you there and we
can do it in a day, and so welove being able to do that.
Historically in my career, I'vedone a lot of project
management for tech companiesand television companies, and so
you know being able to havethese, what I like to call
(02:38):
visual victories- in a day wherewe transform a space.
This morning I was just in apantry, and so it's so cool
because by the time you leavethat space, it's it's entirely
different, and the person youleave in that space is, at times
, entirely different as well.
They are changed for it, andand that's part of the beauty
and what we love most about whatwe do- and and you talk about
(02:59):
that that change.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
What I love about this is you actually see the
results in a day.
And you know, and I've been incapital sales for 20 years and
so my projects move along at asnail's pace.
It takes a long time to see thefruit of all of your effort and
I know you were in projectmanagement and have just an
(03:24):
amazing work history that youknow.
Feel free to share that.
I think it's just veryinteresting all that you've done
at such a young age, but justbeing able to see that
accomplishment in a day, I meanthat's awesome.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Absolutely yes, it's.
It's so amazing.
We posted a reel, uh, recentlytoo, and and I'm always trying
to think about you know, I havea marketing PR background and
I've I've strayed far from that.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Most of my career Isn't that funny how a lot of
times our degrees um, you knowwe stray from those and yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah.
So the foundations are stillthere and I'm digging them up,
I'm dusting off the cobwebs andsaying, okay, what?
Um?
What's my sales pitch Like?
How do I really evoke emotionin the way that we sell our
services, cause to us it's, it'sso natural and it's what we do.
But then you have to, like, puton all those different hats as
a business owner and say, okay,well, well, how do I really
convince someone?
(04:21):
You know and and maybe they'rein different states of mind, and
so one way that I was thinkingabout that is you know, you're
only six hours of our time awayfrom an ideal transformation.
Some days it's seven or eight,but a lot of times we're working
six hour days.
We love to cater to moms andsay, hey, we're accommodating of
that schedule with those thatwe hire.
(04:43):
That's something that'simportant to us.
But two, sometimes we're in theof that schedule with those
that we hire.
Um, that's something that'simportant to us.
Um, but but two, sometimeswe're in the thick of it and we
go by those milestones in theproject.
You know, I want this hallwaycleared.
I want them to have this by theend of the day.
Usually, we're looking for anearly win for our clients,
especially, too, if it's taken alittle convincing to get in
their door.
We want to say look, look whatthis can look like and look how
(05:04):
quickly this can look differentfor you, and so I love those
things, and so so that six hoursthat one day you know from that
transformation.
I think that's a way that we'vereally hammered at home, cause,
absolutely, you know, you know,I'll, I'll, I'll just quickly
segue into you know the workexperience I have and and how
that has translated into theservices we offer today and how
(05:26):
I've built my business.
Um, you know, I uh left collegeand I did get that marketing PR
degree pre Instagram, so thattells you, uh, a little bit
about my age.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I mean, I'm telling you what would we do without
social media.
Oh my gosh, I don't even know.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
It's like what would we do without it and thinking
about that from that businessowner standpoint.
But then like mentally, whatwould I do without it?
Like probably so much moreoutdoor time.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
You know, it's like such a blessing, I think, with
our business and having thatmarketing and that advertising
for us, but then on the personalside of it, it's like we could
use less of that time, right,yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
And you know, even though it is a specialty of mine
, I've hired it out because Ihave so many demons.
You know about it.
I want to provide so much value, I have so many grand ideas,
but I'm also incredibly ADHD.
You could ask anybody on my team, and so you know at times it's
hard for me to get myself acrossthat finish line where I don't
have that accountability, likethe clients where I'm promising
(06:28):
transformations of their space,that 100% it's happening, but
anything I promise myself I sortof come up short.
But yeah, so these are justsuper important things where
it's like I know I need to dothis and what does it take to
get there, so sort of maybeproject management's going to be
sort of our lens in this, sosort of taking like, what
resources can I infuse into it?
(06:50):
So you know, we, for ourclients, are, of course, a
resource, but I have to thinkabout that the same way for my
business, right Is, how do weget there faster?
Is it more people?
Is it, you know, morenetworking, more lead generation
?
You're always thinking aboutthe right place to use your
resources, your energy and yourtime.
And, and definitely you know,throughout my experience, you
know I started out of college Iworked at tennis channel, did
(07:13):
project management, did, um, youknow anything I could do to
keep my foot in the door.
I love tennis.
I was doing, you know what Iloved out in LA and moved there
from Alabama, so I am aSoutherner.
But what you know, what I foundthere is, you know there was
this position.
It was called a runner position, and so in that position it was
(07:33):
.
It was very supportive to thepeople with a lot of expertise
within the.
You know the control rooms, andthen you know the productions at
large, and so this person islike what do I do?
Can I get you coffee?
Can I get you lunch?
Let me just keep things moving.
Well, I've now infused, youknow, that role into our
business as well.
You know, in the early days Iwas out on my own.
(07:54):
Margaret Porterfield and I cametogether and brought our
businesses together, and when wedid, we were both just like now
.
This is something that we can'tdo every single day, all day,
you know, until we're we'reretirement age, because it is
very physical work.
And so bringing in roles likethat has been strategic for us,
that we say let's bring someonein younger who can really, you
(08:17):
know, help us haul things, getthings out, because that's
another thing that we like to do.
I mentioned those, thosevictories for the clients.
Sure, as soon as they make thatdecision, those items leave the
house and they start to see thatspace open up and we say this
is, this is a big part of it anda cost savings too, cause if we
can save them a junk collar orsomething you know, we are able
to do that because we're justlike get it out Black trash bags
(08:38):
.
We don't want any secondguessing of that decision.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
I was going to say you know what?
The longer things stay, youstart to say as the owner, you
have the second guessing.
Well, maybe I could use thatand wow what a gift to have, you
know an outsider, third party,come in, nope, you don't need it
.
So really, organizing for lifeis basically you guys come in,
you sit down with your client,let's talk about all the amazing
(09:10):
things that you offer yourclients through organization.
I mean, I feel better justtalking to you because I'm
thinking I'm going to definitely, I'm definitely going to use
some organization, so I'llprobably be calling you.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yes, that's fantastic .
You know where to find me.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Yes, I do.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Yeah, so you know, we started with just basic home
organization, which, of course,is inclusive of decluttering.
That's the most important firststep, because otherwise you're
just organizing clutter, and sowhat you're finding is bins are
already full when those shelvesare beautiful, everything's in
containers, but you don't haveany room for life, and so what
(09:49):
we like to do is go ahead anddeclutter and give you about 30%
of room for growth, becauseAmazon's too easy.
You know I joke.
Amazon keeps us in businessbecause it's so easy to send
things to your home InCalifornia.
They would come that daysometimes or the next day, so it
was even faster.
You didn't even have to thinkabout it.
You're like I'll have thistomorrow and you click that
(10:12):
order button and so what we seeis we're just like okay, we have
a lot of boxes coming in andout of the house For me.
I use it as a cheat I order mygroceries on Amazon.
They've got that whole, youknow a whole foods 365 brands.
You can get some organic thingson there.
So it is strategic in certainways.
But we need to make sure thatwe have systems in the house so
we have a place to break downboxes and keep those until they
(10:34):
leave the home.
So things like that.
We like to be able to thinkabout that.
When we sit down, we talk tothose clients, you know, first
they they fill out a lead form,they go to our website and then
they'll receive a prompt andit'll say hey, let's go ahead
and set up your free discoverycall.
So that discovery call iscompletely free because the
client's filling us out as muchas we're filling them out and
two, we want to be as budgetfriendly as possible, but over
(10:58):
the evolution of this past yearand the growth of the business,
we've definitely figured out ourcosts a lot better.
And we were really donating alot of time.
We were not careful withproduct, and these are things
that we've gotten better with.
So we can be strategic and saywe'd love to be in your budget.
Like you know, what can we do?
Can we help with thedecluttering, can we give you
homework?
There's definitely things thatwe can think of.
(11:18):
So we love to talk that through.
But on that discovery call,it's our goal to say how can you
work with us, in what capacity?
And so then we say are youready for a consult?
Then we go into your home.
We used to just go straight tohomes, but it was a lot of hey,
maybe we took the day off workto go do that consult and then
that lead sort of died out on us.
So these are the things thatwe've learned to say let's
(11:40):
really feel that out and that'sjust this really safe place
because they are getting to knowus before they invite us into a
home which is incrediblyvulnerable.
And we, we are the judgment freezone.
You know I always tell ourclients.
You know I go into your homeand I go.
This belongs there, that's here.
Okay, there, there are symptomsover here that there's
something that's not working.
Maybe it's all the kids' shoesare at the door and there's none
(12:03):
in their closets, so maybe weneed a better mudroom set up or
or some sort of.
You know, not everybody has amudroom right and so everything
looks different.
So we're thinking through,client by client, for their
lifestyle, what are these reallygreat systems that would set
them up for success?
And so you know, we're talkingthrough that in the consult we
are.
We are measuring things andmaking sure you know what's the
(12:24):
inside color of the drawers sowe can match those with drawer
dividers, different things likethat.
And we're making all of thosenotes that way we can come back
ready to go.
We do.
You know first that we call it asort and edit day where it's
you know, seemingly chaotic,right, we pull everything out
and we say, all right, let'slook at everything together.
And you know, in severalprojects we've had like, do you
(12:46):
need four crockpots?
And if it's not grandma who'sentertaining everybody for every
holiday, we say, maybe we canget rid of one or two, or big
fan of those all-in-oneappliances, the air fryer,
instapot, crockpot combos.
Those do really well,especially too if you're limited
on space.
So we say, what kind ofsolutions could we?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Right.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
And so after that declutter day, we know what
needs to remain in the space andthen we move on to the
organizing and and it's.
It's such a tease because yousee the space and it's it's sort
of opening up and you'refeeling really great, but that
we call it the product installday.
That's where we say, ok, thisis where you know all of the
crayons go, we need it, we needsomething there.
That way, if the kids take it,you know there's something
(13:29):
missing.
Or you know, today pantries aretop of mind, because I, you know
, I'm working in a pantry and Ialso redid mine over the weekend
and I brought back some oldbins that I hadn't used in a
while and one of them saidprotein and I sit it in my
pantry and it's empty and I gothat's my grocery shopping.
Right there I go, I need somecans of tuna, I need some beef
(13:52):
of tuna, I need some beef sticks.
You know different things likethat that fulfill that category
of food that my familyconsistently enjoys.
And so those labeled bins, theyhold that space.
That way it's not like, oh, the, the set of sheets that was
there is gone, and now there'ssomebody put toys in there.
You know something like thatEverybody in the family can get
on board with the system andthen from there, you know, we
(14:18):
get to do this grand reveal.
We had a really fun one onFriday, where we um, you know
took a space and reclaimed itfor our clients.
So it had been sort of the thecatch all room.
But we were able to really gothrough that, unpack some boxes
from a move and just made thisbeautiful craft room set up and
I was like I'm going to lock youout because I want that HGTV
moment, I want you to walk inand just be wowed by the space.
And it was so much fun, likeall day long.
(14:38):
She's like I'd ask herquestions.
She's like can I peek?
And I'm like no, and so we hada ton of fun and, um, you know,
I left there feeling so, so goodabout what we do, because some
days it's a little hard.
We can't quite get thedecluttering where we need it to
be to say you're really greatand great value from us, but it
is hard.
We have different attachmentsto different items that can mean
(14:59):
different things.
It's a connection to a person aplace, a different version of
you, sometimes it's really hardto let go of.
So we're very well versed inthat.
And then also, too, you know,we we try to be very meaningful
with our donations and so we'reorganizing for life with
well-placed donations, which is,you know, a nod to my business
partner, margaret.
She had well-placedorganization and when we brought
(15:21):
them together and we both havethis, you know this mission
about how we have thesewonderful items a lot of times
tags on unused things that it'sjust you know hey.
I bought it and my life changed,or it was on sale you know, and
so all of those things, we'reable to take those and say, hey,
(15:42):
we've got partner organizationsin town, nonprofits, various
charities that we work with, andwe're able to take those
donations and rehome them.
This was a little bit hindered,of course, by Helene, because
everybody started bringing outtheir donations.
A lot of places got reallytapped out.
But it's also, too.
I kept telling peoplethroughout that I said what's
(16:04):
hard is all these organizationscan't, they don't have the
capacity to sort in the way thatthey need to, and so a lot of
times too, we try to pre-sortand say this is really great
stuff, this needs to go here, ormaybe some items are sort of
tattered and they're meant fortextile recycling at that point.
So we try to be really mindfulof those things.
And especially, too, if we havegreat organizations like the
(16:24):
River, for example, they makejewelry.
So like my mind goes to themevery time we come across
jewelry, it's broken.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
I did not know that they make jewelry they do.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Yeah, so they do, and then they sell them at a
certain point.
So I actually from a client acouple of weeks ago have a big
box that we need to deliver tothem, and so we love to do
things like that, because thenwe say this is very meaningful
and so we were able to packagethat up, but it does take a lot
of burden on our own resources.
So that's sort of just like ourside hustle that we're able to
put that energy and that time,but that's something that we're
(16:56):
really looking to develop inthis next year.
That's more geared towards ourphilanthropic side.
But as far as the growth of ourbusiness, you know a lot of the
services that we're offering.
Additionally, they're thingsthat mean a lot to me, or, you
know, in my life I've neededmyself, so um you know, after
(17:16):
when I was in LA, we we were notwith family.
You know, we families inTennessee and Alabama, and so if
they came out that's great,otherwise we didn't have help.
I spent three hours a day in mycar.
Um, we were in a tiny apartment, so I like to say that's where
I really built my organizingmuscles, because I was
constantly reworking ourapartment to make things fit, as
(17:37):
we had a toddler and all thethings that come with a toddler
that you are desperate to get tosleep.
We had like three swings at onepoint in a 900 square foot loft
.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
I was going to ask you.
Your apartment was probablysmall.
Being in California and tryingto organize and I can't imagine
all the things that go withhaving a child there's so much
stuff.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
So so much.
And then you know, even with mykids, now four and six, we're
building those habits too withthem.
And so you know, myfour-year-old would be like
mommy.
I'm organizing, and it's socute.
Yes and last night, I wastelling, um, you know, I was
telling one of our girls today.
I was like, oh my gosh, my, myson, you know, my six-year-old
was making I'm trying to get himin the kitchen with me and so
(18:21):
he was making a fruit plate andI was like, oh my gosh, he was
like color coordinating it andit was like so cute, and I was
just like it was such a proudmom moment, absolutely.
So I love that and you know,and it's really great because it
helps me.
You know, like today, and youknow, in the project that we
were working on, I'm just like,oh, moms, you know, I got you.
Okay, the snacks do not need tobe in a visible container,
(18:41):
otherwise that ruins every meal.
You know all the things we knowand we've got got you.
You know, and so we, we havesuch a diverse range of
experience and then, um, and adiverse range of needs and
understanding of differentsituations, and so it's really
wonderful and and that you know,I'm constantly, my wheels are
(19:05):
always turning, you know.
I'm always thinking about whatare really great systems.
And as a mom, a working mom andyou know I had a couple hours a
night with my son I was likehow do I maximize this time with
my son?
And so, you know, when we movedhere during the pandemic of
course we hid in our homes for acouple of years, slowly started
getting out sort of buildingthis business and I was showing
the organization of my own homewhich was really impactful and
(19:28):
that that started my growth andstarted my path towards this
business.
Um, but it was really fun.
You know, just saying I'd loveto look at spaces holistically
and design for the holisticspace versus you go to TJ Maxx
and you love this, and then youknow there's something at target
oh gosh, don't even get mestarted on target Right, uh, or
home goods.
How fun it could be to go inand just curate these pieces and
(19:49):
you're like I love this.
How fun it could be to go inand just curate these pieces and
you're like I love this.
Nothing matches it right now.
At some point you know I'llfind something and you know you
dream.
But then we have this likemishmash of things that don't
quite go together in a space.
And so you know we love when wecome in to say let's look at
(20:13):
the space holistically.
Is it okay if we swap some bins?
We'll reuse anything we can,but I'd love to say let me
design it.
You know, just just looking atthis one area.
And so it's just been so fun todo that and I I just thoroughly
enjoyed it in my home after themashup.
That was my LA apartment, and so, as that grew, I'd go back to
work.
You know, cause I was onmaternity leave when I first
started this.
Go back to work, and you knowI'm crazy busy, so.
So I said there's a gap in themarket.
I spent four hours cleaning formy cleaner coming.
(20:34):
You know I want them to haveaccess to every surface.
I was like we need something tobe able to clean and not.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Uh, my sister-in-law talks, says that it's like she
has to mow the house, yeah,before her housekeeper comes
over, because there's so muchclutter it's so true.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
And then you're like, well, they move things and
you're getting to know them andyou know new new services you're
hiring or new cleaners thatcome and, and so you know I
would do that, and so I was likeI need a clean for the cleaners
person.
So we set up a maintenanceservice in the business that was
modeled after you know, I'dbring girls into my home and I
was like, okay, my husband doesthe laundry, which is fantastic,
right.
But then, he'll do like twoweeks of laundry, and I have
(21:14):
eight loads to put away.
So that's my job or I just farmit out.
So I'd bring my girls over andI'd say, hey, here's how the
closets are set up.
You're basically resetting theclosets, you're resetting rooms,
so we have some structure inplace.
You can see how things arelabeled, how they're organized.
Everything has a home.
It just needs to go back intime for the cleaner coming.
Of course, I try to get my kidsto clean their rooms before
(21:37):
bedtime and practice good habitslike that, especially now that
we've adopted a dog.
However, you know, there's justthe looming threat.
I was like she'll eat it.
You know, don't leave it on thefloor, which has been great,
great ammunition for mom andkeeping the house clean and
keeping things off my, my uhliving room floor.
Um, but they, you know, if, ifit's just a chaotic week, it's
(21:58):
crazy.
I'm like, oh my gosh, cleanercomes tomorrow.
Like we've just got to likehustle and get things you know
buckled up, so she has all theaccess that she needs to to all
the spaces and corners andcobwebs, and so, um, I modeled,
modeled that into ourmaintenance services and that's
something that we're offering.
We're like everything has aplace to go.
We've organized your homebefore.
We just need to reset thoserooms for you and help you keep
(22:19):
it maintained.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yes.
That's the key is keeping ityou know, and do you find that
most people start with when theycontact you, like, hey, I just
want to work on my closet or mypantry, and then you work on
that project, finish it andthey're like well, how about we
do the?
Speaker 3 (22:38):
next project, I would .
Speaker 2 (22:41):
If you come to my house, we'll do one thing, and
then I know we're going to startBecause my closet's a wreck.
I love closets.
Okay, well, I need to and Iactually want to redo my closet.
My pantry's a wreck as well.
All my storage spaces arebasically a wreck.
I mean, it's like I've justthrown stuff here and there,
(23:03):
I've tried to organize and yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
It's hard, but when there's structure and there's a
place for everything to go, it'ssuch a game changer.
Like even when we're cominginto a space for the first time,
we bring sorting bins andthat's huge.
And at home you could recreatethat with like keep your Amazon
boxes, do different things, andyou know, I always have a
donation box ready to go in myhome because I'm making that
more of a habit.
I put this shirt on.
(23:25):
I don't like it, it needs to go.
So things like that, especiallythat way my husband can't be
like you have plenty of clothes.
I'm like no, I don't.
You know, I've beendecluttering and so you know
it's.
It's great to be mindful ofthose things in day to day life.
Or like there's a really noisytoy that comes home and you're
like oh where did that go?
(23:52):
the toy rotation that way?
It's just out of sight, out ofmind.
For a little bit before Icompletely like a guilty mom,
just take it off and just letthat guilt eat me alive.
When they ask where it is.
But yeah, there's, themaintenance is key and, and you
know, there's so many things toowhere it's just just moms have
too much to do.
It's just, it's crazymaintaining a home, or maybe you
live alone and all that burdenson you the inside of the house.
(24:12):
The outside of the house, it'sjust too much.
We have people who have hadinjuries, surgeries, different
things.
That has stopped them frombeing able to really function in
their place.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
And us.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Giving them a reset says everything's back to normal
, it's manageable again, andthat's such a gift to be able to
give that to our clients.
And then from there, additionalservices we're branching into
concierge moves, which isfantastic.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
So tell me about that , because I think what's great
about that is with us havingthis mortgage business and
concierge moves and things likethat, because we have a lot of
times we'll give clients,families, a moving package and
it's got a little book.
If they have children, it has alittle book in it, the
(24:56):
Bernstein Bears Moving Day, andit's all about moving.
And then we have the tape andthe labels and just all kinds of
really neat things.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
So I think that would be awesome.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
So tell us a little bit about that concierge moving.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Moving is oh gosh.
I have a presentation forrealtors that has so many great
stats.
I should have scribbled a fewdown, but I think one of them
that stands out is like movingis, like such a like a huge life
event.
It's almost worse than adivorce.
And so it's, it can be sodisruptive, especially if you're
moving across the country.
So not only are you trying topack up everything that you
(25:34):
maybe haven't, you know, youhaven't thought about in a very
long time, like for us we movedfrom Los Angeles, we had a
storage unit, my husband had amusic studio and then we had our
apartments.
We had things in threedifferent places.
We had come out here for acouple months and we had to like
go back just to pack up.
Took us three weeks to pack up,while also working remotely,
(25:55):
but we were away from our sonLuke at the time and it was
really hard.
So thinking about that and likegiving these items our time
over like just missing.
You know him like crazy.
We also had a bad experiencewith the movers too, because as
soon as they put everything onthe truck, they doubled the
price and I was like that iscrazy.
And so that's something I stillthink about to this day and,
(26:17):
you know, just like all of ourother services, I'm like I don't
want anybody to feel like that.
So you know, here, you know, inthe Tri-Cities, we're trying to
partner with movers.
We had a really great movingcompany who would recommend us
to their clients and it was sucha great partnership and so we
had a great relationship withthe movers and we could say, hey
, you know what time will youguys be here?
(26:38):
We want to make sure we're here.
You know, and ready and andthey knew we were going to
they're like things are going tobe in much better state.
You know when we pack things upversus you know if, if they
come and they just have towrangle it all, similarly to
they're under a time crunch, sothey'll.
You know, a lot of times too,we'll unpack clients and we
would find, like shampoo bottleswith heirlooms.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
I've had the experience.
Yes, I understand what you'resaying so that's, that's, that's
a great service um to offer.
And you know, I think, justpartnering with not only
realtors but a lender and justyou know that business and
making those recommendations.
So how can we, how can ourclients and those listening find
(27:25):
you?
What do they?
Where do they?
Speaker 3 (27:26):
need to go, yeah, so we always say find us on
Instagram because that's ourresume and so you're going to go
and you're going to be inspired, or maybe, if it's not the
right time, for you know we staytop of mind, so we're
organizing for life on Instagramand you know we like to post
tips and tricks like here's yourdeclutter prompts, so we send
people there first, but also ourwebsite.
I love that you were able tolook it over.
(27:48):
We do need to add you know, likeour concierge moves on there,
that the decluttering that we doum which saves so much money by
the time you've moved, causeyou're, we're guaranteeing
you're not moving clutter andyou're starting exactly, and
that's what I did.
I packed it all up fromCalifornia and then that that
cost doubled, and so these arethe things that I want to say.
I want a better experience foryou.
(28:08):
You know we've, we've done oneday moves where, literally on
moving day, they're in their bedthat night.
There are photos on the walllike all that like we've.
We've hung art done all thethings and it's been just so
magical to do that.
You know, that's on the smallerscale.
Are are you know moves thatwe've done for senior citizens
who were downsizing and movinginto assisted living?
(28:30):
We just did a huge movebeginning of December where we
did a whole home and she's likeI want all the pretty things.
And we're like, oh yes, you arespeaking our language and I
shopped in three differentstates.
I got so excited and so it wasso much fun being able to say
you love baking, we made thisbeautiful baking drawer and
thinking about special surprisesfor the kids.
We try to get to know thefamily.
(28:50):
One daughter was a Swifty andso we're like we really need to
display you know the thingswhere she went to the Arrows
tour in her closet, and so wemade that very special and so we
love these things that we cando.
And then also, you know I saidhere's your fridge, here's a
structure for the way they hadtwo fridges like how dreamy.
Two fridges like how dreamy,and so.
(29:13):
I was like okay, treat onefridge like things food that's
been made, you know, ready to go, ready to eat, and others.
Ingredients are quick, you knowquick snacks ready to go.
And so that way too, it's justtwo very different looks and two
very different functions andthe way that you're thinking
about those things, the client,would, you know, text us for a
week saying, okay, what do youthink about this?
And we're like, all right,here's a new hamper
recommendation or this or that,and so we're always happy to do
that too.
But they were like we want tobe in our home by Christmas and
(29:36):
we had them moved in.
You know, we worked four longdays, like four and a half long
days, and so we had beginning ofDecember.
They were in their home, and soit was really magical, but we
didn't get to fully pack them.
So when we do get to fully pack, we're even faster on the
unpack because we knoweverything we've we've been able
to plan for it.
And so it's really wonderful.
So, to know more about us, ourservices, you can certainly go
(29:58):
to our website, but Instagram aswell.
I need to do better on storiesand, and you know, sort of
showing up and saying this iswhere we are today, but we get
so in the thick of it, orsometimes too, for the client's
privacy.
You know we're just making surethat we're being very discreet.
We do ask permission andsometimes we're like super
playful and fun with it, cause Imean you've got to have fun
right.
You, just you know like you knowwe we Margaret's great at it.
(30:21):
She, she knows how to likereally tease the clients and be
like you know you don't reallyneed that, do you?
And like, I'm just like, do youwant to donate it?
But then there's other areaswhere you know we, we pass the
baton and I'm, like, you know,the mad scientist when it comes
to installing the product andand so we just have so much fun.
And our team, you know, evenlast week we did a retreat with
(30:43):
our team.
We did this full day oftraining and it just really
feels like a family, and so it'sbeen really special building
that team and finding thosepeople that are like our core
people.
And there's still people thatyou just want to hang out with
or, you know, you invite theirfamily over to your kids'
birthday parties.
And so it's been just so muchfun just building that after
working for corporate Americafor so long and you know the
(31:05):
volatility.
That was the tech, or is youknow?
The tech industry, and so I gotto say, let me, let me step out
of that and do something thatI'm incredibly passionate about
and that I have full control of,but also with you know, the
mindfulness of everything I'velearned there about you know,
scalable workflows and and howto really, um you know, build a
business.
(31:25):
I was always very organized, soyou know that was something that
was a strong point at work.
And so that definitely helps asfar as like creating all the
things that you need to do inbusiness, and so it's been a fun
ride so far, and I've just soenjoyed getting to know Johnson
City.
You know, my husband grew uphere, but now I know more people
than he does.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
It's a great place.
We love East Tennessee, but wewere born and raised here.
But, kylie, thank you so muchfor being here today.
Organizing for life and it'sall about cleaning out the
clutter, getting organized,de-stressing your life,
everything having a place andhaving those right systems in
(32:07):
place, and I know that you andMargaret have really put
together a very special company.
Thank you, and looking forwardto getting to know you more and
also having you come to my house.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
Yes, sign me up.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Well, Kelly, thank you so much and I hope you'll
come back.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Oh, certainly Thank you for having me.
This has been such a blessing.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
It has been.
Thank you for having me.
This has been such a blessing.
It has been.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(32:55):
If you did make sure to likerate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405 and the
website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(33:17):
Benchmark Happenings.
This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:22):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee.
And on the way we'll havediscussions about mortgages and
we'll interview people in thereal estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
(00:42):
And now your host, christineReed.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Welcome back everybody to another wonderful
podcast here at BenchmarkHappenings, and I'm so excited
today to talk to the star of ourshow, Kylie Wade, with
Organizing for Life.
So, kylie, thank you for beingon today.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yes, thank you so much for having me.
I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Well, I'm excited to have you here because after I've
looked at your website andwe've had a short conversation
before this podcast, I'm like,oh my gosh, I mean, what a
perfect company to have.
You've got to be so busy andhelping people get organized.
I feel like life today is sochaotic.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Yes, absolutely.
I think that's so much of whatit is.
You know our clients.
The first thing they always sayto us is I'm so embarrassed to
let you into our home, and thefirst thing I say is we all have
too much to do and so I'm justhere to help with the things
that I can take off of yourplate and get things under
control.
That way it can be maintained.
Versus that, maybe, what youknow, when I have a weekend off
(01:52):
or I get that time, you knowthat time that just never comes
because it's the next stomachbug.
You know, kids, sports,whatever it may be that keeps us
so busy and out of our homesfor long enough to say what are
some really great systemsthat'll work really well, and
that's all we think about, ofcourse.
So you're just bringing in theexperts and bringing in that
expertise and also bringing inyou know we force multiply the
(02:16):
efforts that you want to make.
And so you're like I want topark my car in the garage and we
say, okay, x, y and Z needs tohappen to get you there and we
can do it in a day, and so welove being able to do that.
Historically in my career, I'vedone a lot of project
management for tech companiesand television companies, and so
you know being able to havethese, what I like to call
(02:38):
visual victories- in a day wherewe transform a space.
This morning I was just in apantry, and so it's so cool
because by the time you leavethat space, it's it's entirely
different, and the person youleave in that space is, at times
, entirely different as well.
They are changed for it, andand that's part of the beauty
and what we love most about whatwe do- and and you talk about
(02:59):
that that change.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
What I love about this is you actually see the
results in a day.
And you know, and I've been incapital sales for 20 years and
so my projects move along at asnail's pace.
It takes a long time to see thefruit of all of your effort and
I know you were in projectmanagement and have just an
(03:24):
amazing work history that youknow.
Feel free to share that.
I think it's just veryinteresting all that you've done
at such a young age, but justbeing able to see that
accomplishment in a day, I meanthat's awesome.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Absolutely yes, it's.
It's so amazing.
We posted a reel, uh, recentlytoo, and and I'm always trying
to think about you know, I havea marketing PR background and
I've I've strayed far from that.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Most of my career Isn't that funny how a lot of
times our degrees um, you knowwe stray from those and yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah.
So the foundations are stillthere and I'm digging them up,
I'm dusting off the cobwebs andsaying, okay, what?
Um?
What's my sales pitch Like?
How do I really evoke emotionin the way that we sell our
services, cause to us it's, it'sso natural and it's what we do.
But then you have to, like, puton all those different hats as
a business owner and say, okay,well, well, how do I really
convince someone?
(04:21):
You know and and maybe they'rein different states of mind, and
so one way that I was thinkingabout that is you know, you're
only six hours of our time awayfrom an ideal transformation.
Some days it's seven or eight,but a lot of times we're working
six hour days.
We love to cater to moms andsay, hey, we're accommodating of
that schedule with those thatwe hire.
(04:43):
That's something that'simportant to us.
But two, sometimes we're in theof that schedule with those
that we hire.
Um, that's something that'simportant to us.
Um, but but two, sometimeswe're in the thick of it and we
go by those milestones in theproject.
You know, I want this hallwaycleared.
I want them to have this by theend of the day.
Usually, we're looking for anearly win for our clients,
especially, too, if it's taken alittle convincing to get in
their door.
We want to say look, look whatthis can look like and look how
(05:04):
quickly this can look differentfor you, and so I love those
things, and so so that six hoursthat one day you know from that
transformation.
I think that's a way that we'vereally hammered at home, cause,
absolutely, you know, you know,I'll, I'll, I'll just quickly
segue into you know the workexperience I have and and how
that has translated into theservices we offer today and how
(05:26):
I've built my business.
Um, you know, I uh left collegeand I did get that marketing PR
degree pre Instagram, so thattells you, uh, a little bit
about my age.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I mean, I'm telling you what would we do without
social media.
Oh my gosh, I don't even know.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
It's like what would we do without it and thinking
about that from that businessowner standpoint.
But then like mentally, whatwould I do without it?
Like probably so much moreoutdoor time.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
You know, it's like such a blessing, I think, with
our business and having thatmarketing and that advertising
for us, but then on the personalside of it, it's like we could
use less of that time, right,yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
And you know, even though it is a specialty of mine
, I've hired it out because Ihave so many demons.
You know about it.
I want to provide so much value, I have so many grand ideas,
but I'm also incredibly ADHD.
You could ask anybody on my team, and so you know at times it's
hard for me to get myself acrossthat finish line where I don't
have that accountability, likethe clients where I'm promising
(06:28):
transformations of their space,that 100% it's happening, but
anything I promise myself I sortof come up short.
But yeah, so these are justsuper important things where
it's like I know I need to dothis and what does it take to
get there, so sort of maybeproject management's going to be
sort of our lens in this, sosort of taking like, what
resources can I infuse into it?
(06:50):
So you know, we, for ourclients, are, of course, a
resource, but I have to thinkabout that the same way for my
business, right Is, how do weget there faster?
Is it more people?
Is it, you know, morenetworking, more lead generation
?
You're always thinking aboutthe right place to use your
resources, your energy and yourtime.
And, and definitely you know,throughout my experience, you
know I started out of college Iworked at tennis channel, did
(07:13):
project management, did, um, youknow anything I could do to
keep my foot in the door.
I love tennis.
I was doing, you know what Iloved out in LA and moved there
from Alabama, so I am aSoutherner.
But what you know, what I foundthere is, you know there was
this position.
It was called a runner position, and so in that position it was
(07:33):
.
It was very supportive to thepeople with a lot of expertise
within the.
You know the control rooms, andthen you know the productions at
large, and so this person islike what do I do?
Can I get you coffee?
Can I get you lunch?
Let me just keep things moving.
Well, I've now infused, youknow, that role into our
business as well.
You know, in the early days Iwas out on my own.
(07:54):
Margaret Porterfield and I cametogether and brought our
businesses together, and when wedid, we were both just like now
.
This is something that we can'tdo every single day, all day,
you know, until we're we'reretirement age, because it is
very physical work.
And so bringing in roles likethat has been strategic for us,
that we say let's bring someonein younger who can really, you
(08:17):
know, help us haul things, getthings out, because that's
another thing that we like to do.
I mentioned those, thosevictories for the clients.
Sure, as soon as they make thatdecision, those items leave the
house and they start to see thatspace open up and we say this
is, this is a big part of it anda cost savings too, cause if we
can save them a junk collar orsomething you know, we are able
to do that because we're justlike get it out Black trash bags
(08:38):
.
We don't want any secondguessing of that decision.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
I was going to say you know what?
The longer things stay, youstart to say as the owner, you
have the second guessing.
Well, maybe I could use thatand wow what a gift to have, you
know an outsider, third party,come in, nope, you don't need it
.
So really, organizing for lifeis basically you guys come in,
you sit down with your client,let's talk about all the amazing
(09:10):
things that you offer yourclients through organization.
I mean, I feel better justtalking to you because I'm
thinking I'm going to definitely, I'm definitely going to use
some organization, so I'llprobably be calling you.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yes, that's fantastic .
You know where to find me.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Yes, I do.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Yeah, so you know, we started with just basic home
organization, which, of course,is inclusive of decluttering.
That's the most important firststep, because otherwise you're
just organizing clutter, and sowhat you're finding is bins are
already full when those shelvesare beautiful, everything's in
containers, but you don't haveany room for life, and so what
(09:49):
we like to do is go ahead anddeclutter and give you about 30%
of room for growth, becauseAmazon's too easy.
You know I joke.
Amazon keeps us in businessbecause it's so easy to send
things to your home InCalifornia.
They would come that daysometimes or the next day, so it
was even faster.
You didn't even have to thinkabout it.
You're like I'll have thistomorrow and you click that
(10:12):
order button and so what we seeis we're just like okay, we have
a lot of boxes coming in andout of the house For me.
I use it as a cheat I order mygroceries on Amazon.
They've got that whole, youknow a whole foods 365 brands.
You can get some organic thingson there.
So it is strategic in certainways.
But we need to make sure thatwe have systems in the house so
we have a place to break downboxes and keep those until they
(10:34):
leave the home.
So things like that.
We like to be able to thinkabout that.
When we sit down, we talk tothose clients, you know, first
they they fill out a lead form,they go to our website and then
they'll receive a prompt andit'll say hey, let's go ahead
and set up your free discoverycall.
So that discovery call iscompletely free because the
client's filling us out as muchas we're filling them out and
two, we want to be as budgetfriendly as possible, but over
(10:58):
the evolution of this past yearand the growth of the business,
we've definitely figured out ourcosts a lot better.
And we were really donating alot of time.
We were not careful withproduct, and these are things
that we've gotten better with.
So we can be strategic and saywe'd love to be in your budget.
Like you know, what can we do?
Can we help with thedecluttering, can we give you
homework?
There's definitely things thatwe can think of.
(11:18):
So we love to talk that through.
But on that discovery call,it's our goal to say how can you
work with us, in what capacity?
And so then we say are youready for a consult?
Then we go into your home.
We used to just go straight tohomes, but it was a lot of hey,
maybe we took the day off workto go do that consult and then
that lead sort of died out on us.
So these are the things thatwe've learned to say let's
(11:40):
really feel that out and that'sjust this really safe place
because they are getting to knowus before they invite us into a
home which is incrediblyvulnerable.
And we, we are the judgment freezone.
You know I always tell ourclients.
You know I go into your homeand I go.
This belongs there, that's here.
Okay, there, there are symptomsover here that there's
something that's not working.
Maybe it's all the kids' shoesare at the door and there's none
(12:03):
in their closets, so maybe weneed a better mudroom set up or
or some sort of.
You know, not everybody has amudroom right and so everything
looks different.
So we're thinking through,client by client, for their
lifestyle, what are these reallygreat systems that would set
them up for success?
And so you know, we're talkingthrough that in the consult we
are.
We are measuring things andmaking sure you know what's the
(12:24):
inside color of the drawers sowe can match those with drawer
dividers, different things likethat.
And we're making all of thosenotes that way we can come back
ready to go.
We do.
You know first that we call it asort and edit day where it's
you know, seemingly chaotic,right, we pull everything out
and we say, all right, let'slook at everything together.
And you know, in severalprojects we've had like, do you
(12:46):
need four crockpots?
And if it's not grandma who'sentertaining everybody for every
holiday, we say, maybe we canget rid of one or two, or big
fan of those all-in-oneappliances, the air fryer,
instapot, crockpot combos.
Those do really well,especially too if you're limited
on space.
So we say, what kind ofsolutions could we?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Right.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
And so after that declutter day, we know what
needs to remain in the space andthen we move on to the
organizing and and it's.
It's such a tease because yousee the space and it's it's sort
of opening up and you'refeeling really great, but that
we call it the product installday.
That's where we say, ok, thisis where you know all of the
crayons go, we need it, we needsomething there.
That way, if the kids take it,you know there's something
(13:29):
missing.
Or you know, today pantries aretop of mind, because I, you know
, I'm working in a pantry and Ialso redid mine over the weekend
and I brought back some oldbins that I hadn't used in a
while and one of them saidprotein and I sit it in my
pantry and it's empty and I gothat's my grocery shopping.
Right there I go, I need somecans of tuna, I need some beef
(13:52):
of tuna, I need some beef sticks.
You know different things likethat that fulfill that category
of food that my familyconsistently enjoys.
And so those labeled bins, theyhold that space.
That way it's not like, oh, the, the set of sheets that was
there is gone, and now there'ssomebody put toys in there.
You know something like thatEverybody in the family can get
on board with the system andthen from there, you know, we
(14:18):
get to do this grand reveal.
We had a really fun one onFriday, where we um, you know
took a space and reclaimed itfor our clients.
So it had been sort of the thecatch all room.
But we were able to really gothrough that, unpack some boxes
from a move and just made thisbeautiful craft room set up and
I was like I'm going to lock youout because I want that HGTV
moment, I want you to walk inand just be wowed by the space.
And it was so much fun, likeall day long.
(14:38):
She's like I'd ask herquestions.
She's like can I peek?
And I'm like no, and so we hada ton of fun and, um, you know,
I left there feeling so, so goodabout what we do, because some
days it's a little hard.
We can't quite get thedecluttering where we need it to
be to say you're really greatand great value from us, but it
is hard.
We have different attachmentsto different items that can mean
(14:59):
different things.
It's a connection to a person aplace, a different version of
you, sometimes it's really hardto let go of.
So we're very well versed inthat.
And then also, too, you know,we we try to be very meaningful
with our donations and so we'reorganizing for life with
well-placed donations, which is,you know, a nod to my business
partner, margaret.
She had well-placedorganization and when we brought
(15:21):
them together and we both havethis, you know this mission
about how we have thesewonderful items a lot of times
tags on unused things that it'sjust you know hey.
I bought it and my life changed,or it was on sale you know, and
so all of those things, we'reable to take those and say, hey,
(15:42):
we've got partner organizationsin town, nonprofits, various
charities that we work with, andwe're able to take those
donations and rehome them.
This was a little bit hindered,of course, by Helene, because
everybody started bringing outtheir donations.
A lot of places got reallytapped out.
But it's also, too.
I kept telling peoplethroughout that I said what's
(16:04):
hard is all these organizationscan't, they don't have the
capacity to sort in the way thatthey need to, and so a lot of
times too, we try to pre-sortand say this is really great
stuff, this needs to go here, ormaybe some items are sort of
tattered and they're meant fortextile recycling at that point.
So we try to be really mindfulof those things.
And especially, too, if we havegreat organizations like the
(16:24):
River, for example, they makejewelry.
So like my mind goes to themevery time we come across
jewelry, it's broken.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
I did not know that they make jewelry they do.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Yeah, so they do, and then they sell them at a
certain point.
So I actually from a client acouple of weeks ago have a big
box that we need to deliver tothem, and so we love to do
things like that, because thenwe say this is very meaningful
and so we were able to packagethat up, but it does take a lot
of burden on our own resources.
So that's sort of just like ourside hustle that we're able to
put that energy and that time,but that's something that we're
(16:56):
really looking to develop inthis next year.
That's more geared towards ourphilanthropic side.
But as far as the growth of ourbusiness, you know a lot of the
services that we're offering.
Additionally, they're thingsthat mean a lot to me, or, you
know, in my life I've neededmyself, so um you know, after
(17:16):
when I was in LA, we we were notwith family.
You know, we families inTennessee and Alabama, and so if
they came out that's great,otherwise we didn't have help.
I spent three hours a day in mycar.
Um, we were in a tiny apartment, so I like to say that's where
I really built my organizingmuscles, because I was
constantly reworking ourapartment to make things fit, as
(17:37):
we had a toddler and all thethings that come with a toddler
that you are desperate to get tosleep.
We had like three swings at onepoint in a 900 square foot loft
.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
I was going to ask you.
Your apartment was probablysmall.
Being in California and tryingto organize and I can't imagine
all the things that go withhaving a child there's so much
stuff.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
So so much.
And then you know, even with mykids, now four and six, we're
building those habits too withthem.
And so you know, myfour-year-old would be like
mommy.
I'm organizing, and it's socute.
Yes and last night, I wastelling, um, you know, I was
telling one of our girls today.
I was like, oh my gosh, my, myson, you know, my six-year-old
was making I'm trying to get himin the kitchen with me and so
(18:21):
he was making a fruit plate andI was like, oh my gosh, he was
like color coordinating it andit was like so cute, and I was
just like it was such a proudmom moment, absolutely.
So I love that and you know,and it's really great because it
helps me.
You know, like today, and youknow, in the project that we
were working on, I'm just like,oh, moms, you know, I got you.
Okay, the snacks do not need tobe in a visible container,
(18:41):
otherwise that ruins every meal.
You know all the things we knowand we've got got you.
You know, and so we, we havesuch a diverse range of
experience and then, um, and adiverse range of needs and
understanding of differentsituations, and so it's really
wonderful and and that you know,I'm constantly, my wheels are
(19:05):
always turning, you know.
I'm always thinking about whatare really great systems.
And as a mom, a working mom andyou know I had a couple hours a
night with my son I was likehow do I maximize this time with
my son?
And so, you know, when we movedhere during the pandemic of
course we hid in our homes for acouple of years, slowly started
getting out sort of buildingthis business and I was showing
the organization of my own homewhich was really impactful and
(19:28):
that that started my growth andstarted my path towards this
business.
Um, but it was really fun.
You know, just saying I'd loveto look at spaces holistically
and design for the holisticspace versus you go to TJ Maxx
and you love this, and then youknow there's something at target
oh gosh, don't even get mestarted on target Right, uh, or
home goods.
How fun it could be to go inand just curate these pieces and
(19:49):
you're like I love this.
How fun it could be to go inand just curate these pieces and
you're like I love this.
Nothing matches it right now.
At some point you know I'llfind something and you know you
dream.
But then we have this likemishmash of things that don't
quite go together in a space.
And so you know we love when wecome in to say let's look at
(20:13):
the space holistically.
Is it okay if we swap some bins?
We'll reuse anything we can,but I'd love to say let me
design it.
You know, just just looking atthis one area.
And so it's just been so fun todo that and I I just thoroughly
enjoyed it in my home after themashup.
That was my LA apartment, and so, as that grew, I'd go back to
work.
You know, cause I was onmaternity leave when I first
started this.
Go back to work, and you knowI'm crazy busy, so.
So I said there's a gap in themarket.
I spent four hours cleaning formy cleaner coming.
(20:34):
You know I want them to haveaccess to every surface.
I was like we need something tobe able to clean and not.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Uh, my sister-in-law talks, says that it's like she
has to mow the house, yeah,before her housekeeper comes
over, because there's so muchclutter it's so true.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
And then you're like, well, they move things and
you're getting to know them andyou know new new services you're
hiring or new cleaners thatcome and, and so you know I
would do that, and so I was likeI need a clean for the cleaners
person.
So we set up a maintenanceservice in the business that was
modeled after you know, I'dbring girls into my home and I
was like, okay, my husband doesthe laundry, which is fantastic,
right.
But then, he'll do like twoweeks of laundry, and I have
(21:14):
eight loads to put away.
So that's my job or I just farmit out.
So I'd bring my girls over andI'd say, hey, here's how the
closets are set up.
You're basically resetting theclosets, you're resetting rooms,
so we have some structure inplace.
You can see how things arelabeled, how they're organized.
Everything has a home.
It just needs to go back intime for the cleaner coming.
Of course, I try to get my kidsto clean their rooms before
(21:37):
bedtime and practice good habitslike that, especially now that
we've adopted a dog.
However, you know, there's justthe looming threat.
I was like she'll eat it.
You know, don't leave it on thefloor, which has been great,
great ammunition for mom andkeeping the house clean and
keeping things off my, my uhliving room floor.
Um, but they, you know, if, ifit's just a chaotic week, it's
(21:58):
crazy.
I'm like, oh my gosh, cleanercomes tomorrow.
Like we've just got to likehustle and get things you know
buckled up, so she has all theaccess that she needs to to all
the spaces and corners andcobwebs, and so, um, I modeled,
modeled that into ourmaintenance services and that's
something that we're offering.
We're like everything has aplace to go.
We've organized your homebefore.
We just need to reset thoserooms for you and help you keep
(22:19):
it maintained.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yes.
That's the key is keeping ityou know, and do you find that
most people start with when theycontact you, like, hey, I just
want to work on my closet or mypantry, and then you work on
that project, finish it andthey're like well, how about we
do the?
Speaker 3 (22:38):
next project, I would .
Speaker 2 (22:41):
If you come to my house, we'll do one thing, and
then I know we're going to startBecause my closet's a wreck.
I love closets.
Okay, well, I need to and Iactually want to redo my closet.
My pantry's a wreck as well.
All my storage spaces arebasically a wreck.
I mean, it's like I've justthrown stuff here and there,
(23:03):
I've tried to organize and yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
It's hard, but when there's structure and there's a
place for everything to go, it'ssuch a game changer.
Like even when we're cominginto a space for the first time,
we bring sorting bins andthat's huge.
And at home you could recreatethat with like keep your Amazon
boxes, do different things, andyou know, I always have a
donation box ready to go in myhome because I'm making that
more of a habit.
I put this shirt on.
(23:25):
I don't like it, it needs to go.
So things like that, especiallythat way my husband can't be
like you have plenty of clothes.
I'm like no, I don't.
You know, I've beendecluttering and so you know
it's.
It's great to be mindful ofthose things in day to day life.
Or like there's a really noisytoy that comes home and you're
like oh where did that go?
(23:52):
the toy rotation that way?
It's just out of sight, out ofmind.
For a little bit before Icompletely like a guilty mom,
just take it off and just letthat guilt eat me alive.
When they ask where it is.
But yeah, there's, themaintenance is key and, and you
know, there's so many things toowhere it's just just moms have
too much to do.
It's just, it's crazymaintaining a home, or maybe you
live alone and all that burdenson you the inside of the house.
(24:12):
The outside of the house, it'sjust too much.
We have people who have hadinjuries, surgeries, different
things.
That has stopped them frombeing able to really function in
their place.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
And us.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Giving them a reset says everything's back to normal
, it's manageable again, andthat's such a gift to be able to
give that to our clients.
And then from there, additionalservices we're branching into
concierge moves, which isfantastic.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
So tell me about that , because I think what's great
about that is with us havingthis mortgage business and
concierge moves and things likethat, because we have a lot of
times we'll give clients,families, a moving package and
it's got a little book.
If they have children, it has alittle book in it, the
(24:56):
Bernstein Bears Moving Day, andit's all about moving.
And then we have the tape andthe labels and just all kinds of
really neat things.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
So I think that would be awesome.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
So tell us a little bit about that concierge moving.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Moving is oh gosh.
I have a presentation forrealtors that has so many great
stats.
I should have scribbled a fewdown, but I think one of them
that stands out is like movingis, like such a like a huge life
event.
It's almost worse than adivorce.
And so it's, it can be sodisruptive, especially if you're
moving across the country.
So not only are you trying topack up everything that you
(25:34):
maybe haven't, you know, youhaven't thought about in a very
long time, like for us we movedfrom Los Angeles, we had a
storage unit, my husband had amusic studio and then we had our
apartments.
We had things in threedifferent places.
We had come out here for acouple months and we had to like
go back just to pack up.
Took us three weeks to pack up,while also working remotely,
(25:55):
but we were away from our sonLuke at the time and it was
really hard.
So thinking about that and likegiving these items our time
over like just missing.
You know him like crazy.
We also had a bad experiencewith the movers too, because as
soon as they put everything onthe truck, they doubled the
price and I was like that iscrazy.
And so that's something I stillthink about to this day and,
(26:17):
you know, just like all of ourother services, I'm like I don't
want anybody to feel like that.
So you know, here, you know, inthe Tri-Cities, we're trying to
partner with movers.
We had a really great movingcompany who would recommend us
to their clients and it was sucha great partnership and so we
had a great relationship withthe movers and we could say, hey
, you know what time will youguys be here?
(26:38):
We want to make sure we're here.
You know, and ready and andthey knew we were going to
they're like things are going tobe in much better state.
You know when we pack things upversus you know if, if they
come and they just have towrangle it all, similarly to
they're under a time crunch, sothey'll.
You know, a lot of times too,we'll unpack clients and we
would find, like shampoo bottleswith heirlooms.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
I've had the experience.
Yes, I understand what you'resaying so that's, that's, that's
a great service um to offer.
And you know, I think, justpartnering with not only
realtors but a lender and justyou know that business and
making those recommendations.
So how can we, how can ourclients and those listening find
(27:25):
you?
What do they?
Where do they?
Speaker 3 (27:26):
need to go, yeah, so we always say find us on
Instagram because that's ourresume and so you're going to go
and you're going to be inspired, or maybe, if it's not the
right time, for you know we staytop of mind, so we're
organizing for life on Instagramand you know we like to post
tips and tricks like here's yourdeclutter prompts, so we send
people there first, but also ourwebsite.
I love that you were able tolook it over.
(27:48):
We do need to add you know, likeour concierge moves on there,
that the decluttering that we doum which saves so much money by
the time you've moved, causeyou're, we're guaranteeing
you're not moving clutter andyou're starting exactly, and
that's what I did.
I packed it all up fromCalifornia and then that that
cost doubled, and so these arethe things that I want to say.
I want a better experience foryou.
(28:08):
You know we've, we've done oneday moves where, literally on
moving day, they're in their bedthat night.
There are photos on the walllike all that like we've.
We've hung art done all thethings and it's been just so
magical to do that.
You know, that's on the smallerscale.
Are are you know moves thatwe've done for senior citizens
who were downsizing and movinginto assisted living?
(28:30):
We just did a huge movebeginning of December where we
did a whole home and she's likeI want all the pretty things.
And we're like, oh yes, you arespeaking our language and I
shopped in three differentstates.
I got so excited and so it wasso much fun being able to say
you love baking, we made thisbeautiful baking drawer and
thinking about special surprisesfor the kids.
We try to get to know thefamily.
(28:50):
One daughter was a Swifty andso we're like we really need to
display you know the thingswhere she went to the Arrows
tour in her closet, and so wemade that very special and so we
love these things that we cando.
And then also, you know I saidhere's your fridge, here's a
structure for the way they hadtwo fridges like how dreamy.
Two fridges like how dreamy,and so.
(29:13):
I was like okay, treat onefridge like things food that's
been made, you know, ready to go, ready to eat, and others.
Ingredients are quick, you knowquick snacks ready to go.
And so that way too, it's justtwo very different looks and two
very different functions andthe way that you're thinking
about those things, the client,would, you know, text us for a
week saying, okay, what do youthink about this?
And we're like, all right,here's a new hamper
recommendation or this or that,and so we're always happy to do
that too.
But they were like we want tobe in our home by Christmas and
(29:36):
we had them moved in.
You know, we worked four longdays, like four and a half long
days, and so we had beginning ofDecember.
They were in their home, and soit was really magical, but we
didn't get to fully pack them.
So when we do get to fully pack, we're even faster on the
unpack because we knoweverything we've we've been able
to plan for it.
And so it's really wonderful.
So, to know more about us, ourservices, you can certainly go
(29:58):
to our website, but Instagram aswell.
I need to do better on storiesand, and you know, sort of
showing up and saying this iswhere we are today, but we get
so in the thick of it, orsometimes too, for the client's
privacy.
You know we're just making surethat we're being very discreet.
We do ask permission andsometimes we're like super
playful and fun with it, cause Imean you've got to have fun
right.
You, just you know like you knowwe we Margaret's great at it.
(30:21):
She, she knows how to likereally tease the clients and be
like you know you don't reallyneed that, do you?
And like, I'm just like, do youwant to donate it?
But then there's other areaswhere you know we, we pass the
baton and I'm, like, you know,the mad scientist when it comes
to installing the product andand so we just have so much fun.
And our team, you know, evenlast week we did a retreat with
(30:43):
our team.
We did this full day oftraining and it just really
feels like a family, and so it'sbeen really special building
that team and finding thosepeople that are like our core
people.
And there's still people thatyou just want to hang out with
or, you know, you invite theirfamily over to your kids'
birthday parties.
And so it's been just so muchfun just building that after
working for corporate Americafor so long and you know the
(31:05):
volatility.
That was the tech, or is youknow?
The tech industry, and so I gotto say, let me, let me step out
of that and do something thatI'm incredibly passionate about
and that I have full control of,but also with you know, the
mindfulness of everything I'velearned there about you know,
scalable workflows and and howto really, um you know, build a
business.
(31:25):
I was always very organized, soyou know that was something that
was a strong point at work.
And so that definitely helps asfar as like creating all the
things that you need to do inbusiness, and so it's been a fun
ride so far, and I've just soenjoyed getting to know Johnson
City.
You know, my husband grew uphere, but now I know more people
than he does.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
It's a great place.
We love East Tennessee, but wewere born and raised here.
But, kylie, thank you so muchfor being here today.
Organizing for life and it'sall about cleaning out the
clutter, getting organized,de-stressing your life,
everything having a place andhaving those right systems in
(32:07):
place, and I know that you andMargaret have really put
together a very special company.
Thank you, and looking forwardto getting to know you more and
also having you come to my house.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
Yes, sign me up.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Well, Kelly, thank you so much and I hope you'll
come back.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Oh, certainly Thank you for having me.
This has been such a blessing.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
It has been.
Thank you for having me.
This has been such a blessing.
It has been.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(32:55):
If you did make sure to likerate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405 and the
website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(33:17):
Benchmark Happenings.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial
Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Come hang with Amy Poehler. Each week on her podcast, she'll welcome celebrities and fun people to her studio. They'll share stories about their careers, mutual friends, shared enthusiasms, and most importantly, what's been making them laugh. This podcast is not about trying to make you better or giving advice. Amy just wants to have a good time.