March 5, 2025 • 48 mins
This episode dives into the emotional intricacies of downsizing from a loved one's home with Belinda Massey of Move On Consciously. We explore the balance between practical and emotional aspects of moving, along with the importance of preserving memories while letting go of belongings for a sustainable future.
• Understanding the emotional impact of downsizing
• The journey from accounting to compassionate moving services
• Honour memories and find value in old belongings
• Environmental commitment through redistributing items
• Strategies for a seamless transition process
• Addressing misconceptions and emotional ties to possessions
• Using social media to effectively sell and share items
• Real-life experiences and lessons learned from personal journeys
• The future of Move On Consciously and its community impact
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Amy Bennett (00:02):
Welcome to Beyond the Signboard, where you get the
opportunity to learn all thereis to know about your real
estate journey fromprofessionals who are passionate
about property.
I'm Amy Bennett, your host, andI look forward to providing you
with education, inspiration anda behind-the-scenes look at the
world of real estate.
Hi everyone, it's Amy Bennetthere from the Beyond the
(00:31):
Signboard podcast, delighted towelcome my guest, belinda Massey
from Move On Consciously.
Thank you for having me, amy,my pleasure.
You, I just said off air,you're so brave.
Belinda Massey (00:45):
Just, we only had the pleasure of meeting last
week and I roped you instraight away.
Oh, it's the podcast.
Once I listened to it, it'sdefinitely one that I want to be
on.
It's lovely.
Thank you for having me.
Amy Bennett (00:51):
My pleasure.
Before we get stuck into it, Ihave just picked up this
beautiful note about yourbusiness, which I think is
absolutely sums up who you are.
So Move On Consciously is aheartfelt initiative inspired by
a personal journey ofcompassion and practicality.
You say here imagine yourparent moving into aged care
after a fall, or passing away,leaving their fully furnished
(01:13):
home vacant.
What you do is an absolute gift.
We're going to delve intowhat's led you to where you are,
the passion for what you do andobviously, hopefully some
education as well, so thatpeople really consider their own
move and also a little bit ofpre-planning, I think is going
to be probably something wediscuss.
Belinda Massey (01:33):
Yes, for sure.
It's always healthy to thinkabout, I guess, those next steps
and so your podcast so far,listening to Kim and moving and
so forth, and there's just somuch in it.
Yes, and I'm happy to be partof people's journeys in that way
.
It's nice to be able to help.
Amy Bennett (01:49):
Yeah, it's amazing because I think also too, you
know, certainly my experience inyou know, both pharmacy
background and then now helpingpeople to downsize is we don't
want to think about that yet, dowe we?
You know, so often, you knowyou'd be the same with clients.
Like you say, it's whensomeone's had a fall, or you
know, ultimately the rubber hitsthe road and they need to sell
(02:09):
it's often an event that leadsthem or their loved ones to
having to do it.
Belinda Massey (02:14):
In my experience it's usually been an event
that's usually not happy.
Yes, that's driven them tohaving to then sell all of their
items, which is always a littlebit sad, because people have
had things for 30-plus years.
They love their things and it'sthe job of the descendants or
the loved ones to then move themon, and they don't want to say
they don't want them, but that'sthe truth quite often.
(02:35):
Practicality is we don't oftenwant a lot of the things that
people have in their home.
Amy Bennett (02:39):
Absolutely.
So we're going to learn yourpersonal journey as well as to
how this all started.
I know that you were reallyinstrumental in your mum's
estate as well, but before weget there, I know you have a
very interesting story, with alot of travelling the globe and
your background.
So take us back to Belinda atschool if you don't mind.
(03:04):
And, yeah, how you've got towhere you are now.
Belinda Massey (03:08):
So, yeah, the first 25 years of my career have
all been in accounting and I'veloved accounting.
Like accounting has been, it'staken me around the world.
Yes, so I've spent the first 15or 20 years here in Australia
in accounting.
I worked for Mars Pet Care andI worked for Amcor Flexible, so
they were both great companies,big companies that gave me great
(03:29):
grounding in how to work withpart of teams, how to work
individually and autonomously,and I went to live for two years
in New Zealand and we opened anew plant and bought a, and so
that was just great experience.
Then we came back to Australia,my husband and I.
We had some kids, but then wedecided we wanted to travel a
bit more once the kids were abit bigger.
Amy Bennett (03:48):
And he's in a similar field.
He is.
He's an accountant as well.
Yes, oh, how is that?
Two accountants, it's goodreally.
You get each other, you geteach other.
Belinda Massey (03:57):
You get what some of the pressures are and
when some of the technicalities.
I understand which is nice it isnice to be able to talk shop,
as they say yes, but yeah.
So we were really grateful toget the opportunity, through my
husband's work, to travel to theUK for two years and then
straight after that we went tothe USA for three years and I
was able to change jobs.
I was a consultant inaccountancy for a while.
(04:19):
I did two stints as theaccountant for software
start-ups and that was really,really fascinating like having
an entrepreneur sitting rightthere that's invested millions
in his business and growing itand growing it and it's just the
energy of a start-up.
That's amazing.
It was amazing, after comingfrom a really solid, huge
(04:41):
corporation, that I would be inin Australia and I've also had
the pleasure of just goingpart-time.
So I've been a part-timeaccountant for the last well, I
guess my kid's 19,.
So the last 15 years or so I'vebeen part-time.
Amy Bennett (04:54):
And that was important to you, wasn't it?
To spend time with the boys.
Belinda Massey (04:57):
It was.
I mean, we were in a positionto be able to do so and we're
just amazing that I was able todo so.
Just amazing that I was able todo so.
And yeah, it's been great likebeing able to have my time to
myself and being autonomous Likeaccountancy.
Thank God it's not like peopleare dying in accountancy.
Yes, people can wait for areport, so yeah, I worked
certain days or certain hoursand I was flexible and they were
flexible and it was yeah, it'sa win-win.
(05:20):
I've enjoyed my especially evenlike in the 25 years that I've
been working the ability to workfrom home and the openness from
companies to let you do thatand have that flexibility.
Amy Bennett (05:31):
That's transitioned and changed or always been
there.
Belinda Massey (05:33):
Well, it's just slowly come, especially when I
went part-time.
Yes, as soon as you sort of dothat, it's very much a give and
take.
Sometimes they'll want forextra, sometimes you'll want a
day off, and it's just much moreflexible.
And computers have just changedin that time Zero online, zero
being able to log into things.
Accounting has changed in the25 years so that you can do it
(05:54):
from home.
Amy Bennett (05:54):
So where did you study accountancy?
Belinda Massey (05:56):
RMIT in Melbourne.
Amy Bennett (05:57):
Amazing.
So was that?
I'm just thinking.
25 years ago were you studyingon a computer, or?
Yeah, I had my own computer athome.
Belinda Massey (06:05):
Okay, yes, I bought my computer in year 12.
Yes, yeah, I used to work forKFC all throughout high school,
so I bought my own computer,which, I must you know, it was a
360 something or other backthen.
And you know big, huge, youknow huge computer on a big desk
?
Amy Bennett (06:19):
Yeah, probably not even fire up nowadays.
Would they even fire upnowadays, would they?
It would be somewhere inlandfill.
Belinda Massey (06:23):
Yeah, that computer has been, or maybe
hopefully being recycled, Idon't know, but yeah.
Amy Bennett (06:34):
And then because I actually went all the way to
grade 12 with accountancy andit's really interesting.
Whenever I think of it, I thinkof my teacher back then.
She would always say to meabout how loud I was on the
calculator.
But obviously we used to drawup our own profit and loss
statements and everything likethat, so I actually never
learned accountancy on computers.
I then had several roles thatsaw me doing things like Xero
and look, I'm a real nerd forfinance accountancy Isn't this
(06:59):
funny?
But one of my favourite thingsabout Xero was reconciling at
the start of every day.
Belinda Massey (07:04):
I loved it too, the bank reconciliation.
It's just satisfactory.
It's so satisfying to geteverything reconciled.
It's a very black and whitetype of thing Is it done or it's
not done?
Yes, and it gives you thatsatisfaction.
Amy Bennett (07:18):
Done, yeah, and even investigating the why it
hasn't reconciled.
For those that haven't hadexperience or know what we're
talking about, so essentially,in the morning you would have a,
you would log into Xero, youwould have a transaction log and
, intuitively, it would almostyou know know where the funds
were going.
Belinda Massey (07:34):
It will suggest, based on the name of the
supplier or things, or it hasrules now that just you can just
press OK, apply the rules.
Amy Bennett (07:41):
Yes, it's sort of like Homer Simpson with the
little duck.
Belinda Massey (07:46):
Yes, it's like yeah, when you set it up
properly and a lot of things,there's so many things recurring
.
It's very sad it's just theones that are non-recurring that
you then have to find outwhat's going on.
Yeah, it keeps you so in touchwith the business.
You're so in touch with what'sgoing on.
Amy Bennett (07:57):
So automation's important then, has that that
you've seen as a positive in theindustry?
Belinda Massey (08:02):
Oh, absolutely Great it's a great positive
Automation, in my opinion.
Essentially, it's taking thegrunt work out of accountancy,
yeah, and it's making it moreinteresting for everyone because
you don't have to be journalinghardly at all.
I think I did one journal amonth to accrue things for most
businesses and maybe one or twoothers.
But yeah, it's very automatedand so you spend your time
(08:23):
analysing where they're spendingthe money and what they're
doing and forecasting.
It makes it more interesting.
Amy Bennett (08:30):
It's really an advisor position, isn't it?
And I think that's you know.
It's a really interesting thingwe always talk about and that's
why I enjoy the podcast so muchis really drilling down and, I
guess, getting a little bit morethan surface level with
someone's journey.
So those skills obviously haveheld you in good stead and taken
you through.
So how do we go fromaccountancy to what you're doing
(08:52):
now at Move On Consciously?
Belinda Massey (08:54):
Oh, it is an interesting, a little bit of an
interesting journey actually,like when I moved to the
Sunshine Coast.
It's the first, probably, placeI've lived in, and we talked to
my husband about this when wefirst moved here, because a lot
of the buildings are quite new,like a lot of the buildings,
like living in Melbourne, forinstance, yes, and where I lived
in the US and the UK thebuildings had been there since I
don't know since, like the1920s a lot of the homes that
(09:15):
we've lived in, whereas havingnew buildings here and people
are knocking down, rebuildingI'm sort of getting used to
seeing skips a lot, so we, wewalk our dog, yes, and there's
so many, a lot of skips in ourarea where you sort of go okay,
well, the house has been knockeddown.
That's perfectly understandable, but then I'm a bit nosy.
I'm just naturally nosy yes.
So you'd see skips in front ofhouses.
I like inquisitive.
Amy Bennett (09:36):
I think that's good .
Belinda Massey (09:45):
Very inquisitive positive ladder.
So you know, I started seeingskips full of household items
and I noticed it a few times andI'd sort of look at it and go,
wow, like there's a ladder ontop of that skip, that's a, you
know, and it's like a perfectlygood ladder and there's just
things.
You sort of go.
Why is there so many householditems?
And then it occurred to me thatthere's so many retirees on the
coast and that's heavy inretirees and a lot of retirees
don't have family that live here.
They have families that live,you know move away from work?
(10:08):
Yeah, move away from work, orthe person's moved here to
retire so their family's neverbeen here.
And I started to realise, and Icame to an understanding of
that yeah, sometimes people comedown for the week and they just
have to empty the home.
They'll take what they need andthen they have to empty it.
And have to empty the home.
They'll take what they need andthen they have to empty it, and
the quickest and most efficientway for them to do that is to
hire a skip, yeah.
And then I sort of went, oh,that's what's going on and I
(10:31):
sort of thought, well, what elseis the alternative?
What is the alternative forthese people?
And I worked out there reallyisn't.
There's one or two people.
So I called a place.
There's a national place thatwill do it, okay, and there's a
national place that will takethings from the home and move
them all to Brisbane and sellthem centrally from there.
But there's no one.
Amy Bennett (10:49):
That was doing what I am now doing and were they
taking everything Belinda, orwere they kind of cherry?
Belinda Massey (10:55):
picking.
Amy Bennett (10:56):
Yeah, cherry picking.
I think this is probably.
That's probably whateverybody's perception is, or,
you know.
So often we'll hear oh, youknow, this charity will only
take X, y and Z.
So really you are well kind ofskip ahead to where you are, but
ultimately you're going toallow, you know, basically in
generally a four week processyou can basically return a empty
(11:19):
home to the family.
The real estate agent for thatnext chapter, that's right.
Belinda Massey (11:24):
So I don't move anything, I don't take it away,
I don't have a truck.
I stay at the home and I'mselling constantly from the home
.
So I go back every second dayat least, and I have Facebook
marketplace that I sell by.
I also donate a lot of thingsto charities as I go and I also
give things away to people whocome to get things from Facebook
(11:45):
Marketplace.
So, for instance, householditems such as even like stuff in
the pantry.
If someone comes to getsomething, I'll say, hey, would
you like some coffee?
We've got a bunch of coffee,amazing.
Amy Bennett (11:54):
You know how people buy things on specials.
There's always four ofsomething.
Yes, tea bags.
Belinda Massey (11:58):
Right, people get things on special and
they'll have like, so, like,would you like some tea?
And they're like, oh you sure.
And I'm like, yeah, no, no, no,I'll let them know.
No, this person doesn't needthem anymore.
So if you'd like some, tea bags, just please take them, and
they're like, oh, thank you.
And people are always, quiteoften they're happy to take a
little bit extra.
Amy Bennett (12:12):
It's like a bargain , it's like, oh, an added bonus
for them, because that's themost important thing for you,
isn't?
It?
Is that you know making surethat, if it can be repurposed,
you know, and tell me yourcatchphrase, and we've repeated
it a few times today already.
Belinda Massey (12:31):
Thank you, so yeah, so I sort of spent a
little bit of time when I wasstarting the business thinking
how am I going to sort of marketa little bit or how am I going
to be online and social media,and so I came up with the
hashtag not in a skip.
So one of the people I run withat Parkrun, her sister, came
down from Brisbane and they hadto hire a skip as well.
She said I wish I'd known aboutyou because it made me cry how
(12:52):
much went into the skip.
Amy Bennett (12:54):
Well, even you've just had some conversations with
our team, who you're literallylike an angel to them.
Now that ability to help, andthat's why it was really
important for me to share yourmessage.
Belinda Massey (13:05):
I think people intrinsically don't want to
throw away good things.
People don't Absolutely.
Nobody wants to take a goodchair or a good dining table and
just put it into a skip.
But people are forced intothose positions by just not
knowing an alternative.
Amy Bennett (13:17):
So that's here, and I think time as well, time
pressure or, like you say, notknowing where to turn.
So where does this, I guess,care for the environment and
passion for that as well,because that really is at your
core and that's really evident.
Belinda Massey (13:34):
Yeah, look, it's funny because you went to
school.
Well, you're younger than me,but when I went to school the
environment wasn't something welearnt about.
I just didn't learn about itLike it wasn't.
I don't even know that.
I'd heard the word in primaryschool and high school and then
even at university.
It really wasn't something thatI was educated in, accountancy.
But when I had children andthey started going to school, it
(13:55):
was taught to them in primary,like in grade prep, and I was
like, oh, and my sister got intoit a little bit, she's into
biology and plants and so forth,so she's sort of rubbish.
You know, trying to reducereuse.
Yes, the first time I heardabout those things I went, oh,
okay, isn't that amazing.
Amy Bennett (14:10):
I can't even fathom that.
That wouldn't have been taught.
But you were saying your soncame home and asked about solar.
Yes he came home and said Mum,do we?
Belinda Massey (14:20):
have solar panels and we didn't.
We didn't have solar panels andI sort of went no, we don't.
And he said well, we should getthem.
And I sort of went oh, was thisin prep, in like one or two.
Amy Bennett (14:30):
That's amazing, isn't it?
Belinda Massey (14:31):
And he just sort of put me on the spot.
Amy Bennett (14:32):
And I went.
Why?
Belinda Massey (14:33):
don't we have them, why haven't I made that
step?
And so you know, return, yeah,of course.
And my husband when I look backon it, it's not to say he was
short sighted, but he didn't seethe environmental extraneous.
Amy Bennett (14:49):
It was a financial benefit.
It was a financial.
Belinda Massey (14:50):
He said well, we're going to be here for a few
more years.
We already knew we were probablygoing to go travel.
He said so we won't get thebenefit.
Yeah, and it took a while.
For me, that will be a capitalasset.
It will be an asset that willlower their bills for the rest
of this house's life.
Yeah, so it doesn't matterabout just us getting the return
on whatever it is we spend.
It will be an environmentalbenefit and a monetary benefit
(15:13):
for the person who buys thehouse.
So, yeah, don't think shortterm Like the environment's a
long period of time.
Yeah, so we did get solar andthen we got it for the next two
houses.
Yeah, then he saw it becausepeople like the aerialist agents
said to him yeah, people arestarting to see those as a
benefit.
Amy Bennett (15:28):
Isn't that amazing just to think, even that teacher
educating, you know that mayhave been something that was a
passion for them.
Now I heard that you hadactually also made an impact.
So we got to meet each otherthrough another member of the
Caloundra Chamber of Commerceand she actually told me that
you had made a change in theircoffee catch-ups, which was to
(15:49):
BYO a coffee cup.
Belinda Massey (15:50):
I try.
Yeah, I'm still trying.
It's a work in progress.
Yeah, Look, I do find thecoffee catch-up cups like the
amount of, yeah, single-usecoffee cups here on the coast.
I feel like it's a problem.
I feel like it's going to bethe next eventually charge for.
And yeah, when you're going tohave a coffee at a coffee
(16:12):
catch-up.
I feel like I've tried to sortof say, you know, give photos or
prizes for the ones with themost fun Funky cup or something.
Keep cup, yeah.
So trying to encourage peopleto use their keep cup because
it's one of those next thingsyou know, next step of trying to
be more environmentally.
Amy Bennett (16:27):
Well, it's all the little things, isn't it?
That adds up.
So, isn't it that adds up?
So you'll laugh, because I mademy own coffee at home this
morning and it was in aninsulated cup and I love cold
coffee and I thought I'll keepthe lid off so that it doesn't
stay warm and I ended up wearingthat today.
So I am dressed in a cafe latte.
You cannot tell Thank you, butit was ironic because I thought,
(16:50):
gosh, I was trying to do theright thing, maybe
subconsciously because you werecoming, but you're right, and
it's all those little thingsthat make a difference.
So I think, ultimately, yourquest for the environmental
component is so admirable andcertainly my experience with
helping people to downsize,transitional selling is very
(17:11):
much my heart and soul.
You know, I certainly like tohelp people.
I did an appraisal yesterdayfor an older gentleman and he
said, look, I want to put thistable on marketplace and didn't
know how to navigate that.
So I think all of these thingsbeing able to help people
navigate that process andcertainly that's just one
component of a whole process ofleaving your home and moving to
(17:34):
a new property.
So you know, it's amazing thatyou can offer that service and I
know we've spoken about youknow your ideal scenario is you
know, give me a certain amountof time, so let's go back to
your family's experience,because that really was a
compelling story that I felt.
Belinda Massey (17:51):
Thank you, yeah, that was another thing at the
same time as I was sort ofwalking around in Sunshine Coast
going look at all these skipsso my mother had a fall.
She had a fall and she's now,very unfortunately, in a
wheelchair and she's had to godirectly into aged care.
She was in hospital for aperiod of time until they could
get her into aged care.
And when I said that mysister's in Melbourne so my
sisters and my mum are all inMelbourne so that happened about
(18:14):
June 2, 3 years ago, I can'tremember exactly and I was still
working here on the coast so Iwas busy with my own life.
But then I resigned from thatjob in November and I said to my
sisters, how's mum's housegoing?
Because at the time when ithappened I went with my sisters
and we took out the jewelleryout of the home and we emptied
the fridge and just did a fewlittle things like that, yeah,
(18:36):
and I just had the understandingthat they would slowly empty
the homes Gradually.
Amy Bennett (18:40):
Do that, yeah, yeah , especially once she went into
care.
Belinda Massey (18:42):
Once she got into care it was clear she
wasn't coming back to the homeand I guess for a few months
there it was all.
Everything was up in the air.
But once she was safely in thehome, I just assumed they would
do that.
And they said to me look,belinda, we both work full-time
jobs.
When do we have the time to dothat?
Like it's enough, just keepingthe garden of mum's house, fine,
and taking it along.
And they said, with the agedcare stuff you have to do with
(19:04):
money and so forth, they havetwo years to do it.
I said, yeah, but you're notgoing to leave a home for that
long, surely?
And leave a home for that long,surely?
And I said we'll get to it, wewill get to it.
And I said, look, how about Icome up and I'll do it.
So I'd already been selling myown personal stuff and my kids.
You know, every time the kidsgrow out of stuff I'd been
(19:26):
selling on Facebook Marketplacefor a few years.
So you know, I went up thereand I had a two-week holiday
around Christmas time.
I spent three days at the house.
At the end and the house wasempty.
Amy Bennett (19:34):
It's amazing, isn't it?
And I think you know you reallyencapsulated it where sometimes
, if you've got more time, orit's even overwhelming where to
start respecting the items.
But you know, certainly fromwhen we've met previously,
you've got a passion for whatyou do.
But I think also you've gotdetermination and you can really
do it as a process-drivenexercise and obviously with the
(19:57):
accounting background as well,you can obviously articulate,
you know, cost-benefit analysisof the situation.
Belinda Massey (20:04):
Yeah, it's interesting how that does play
into it, because my sisters likeone of them came for the day
and she said I'll help you.
And after about an hour shesort of sat down and she said
this is overwhelming, belinda, Ijust need to take a break.
Yes, and I was like we've gotto do, look at the photograph,
let's get through all of thisroom today.
Yeah, and she was just yeah,she was feeling overwhelmed and
(20:25):
I sort of went and I guess I candivorce.
I mean, I am a practical person.
I guess the accountancybreakdown just says well, this
is a piece of furniture, mum'sfine, mum doesn't need this
furniture anymore and we've justgot to.
You know, I don't want to leavethis as a problem for my
sisters that just sit here andsit here.
So, yeah, I'm able to just go.
Yeah, this is a piece offurniture.
It's not something that mumneeds anymore and none of us
(20:48):
need it, so let's just move it.
And one thing I do get reallyenjoyment out of is seeing the
people come and collect them.
Seeing those people like therewere bunk beds in mum's top.
Mum had a little townhouse.
She hadn't used those bunk bedsfor years.
She hadn't been in the toplevel of her house.
So she just had one roomdownstairs with a bathroom and
the kitchen and everything.
She had two rooms upstairs.
And then, like seeing thiscouple that got this bunk beds
(21:10):
for their kids and like this isgoing to be so great, and I was
like, yeah, that is, this isgoing to be a great thing.
You know your kids are going tolove this.
It's a really nice bunkers setof beds good quality solid wood,
and I'm just so happy and it'slike a lot of people who come to
get the items.
Amy Bennett (21:23):
So, yeah, I see that it's like treasure hunting,
isn't it?
And I know we spoke about that.
We both got a love of op shopsand I'd certainly grow up in a
family of collectors and I knowmy mum collects Dembeware and I
always think when she findssomething, you know whether it's
at a collector armour or an opshop or marketplace.
You know the joy it brings.
So, yeah, we have all of thesetreasures, don't we?
(21:45):
Hidden away in cupboards andthings that are never used.
Belinda Massey (21:49):
And, yeah, my mum even had stuff which really
actually made me sad because Ihadn't been.
I think I'd seen my mum out alot.
Yes, I'd seen her with mysisters, so I hadn't been to her
home for probably two years andshe had stuff that was in the
garage that she just moved tothe garage, yes, so like she
could barely get out of her car,there was dinner, there was,
you know, a sideboardno-transcript.
(22:15):
I should have spent more timeat her home and helped her to
downsize, because she wassurrounded by a lot of things
Stuff isn't it.
Yeah, stuff, stuff, that wasn'tprobably draining her as well.
Amy Bennett (22:28):
Such a good point because I think that there's
real magic in that, that it'sthat not yeah, not waiting until
that moment is actually lookingat.
You know, I'm a bit of acollector, but I'm also a
minimalist, so I kind of go.
You know, a bit like you, I'mvery analytical.
So does this serve me?
Would somebody else findenjoyment?
I certainly done that withclothes over the years as well.
You know, if somebody wouldfind joy from it, or you know
(22:51):
it's a size I'm never going toget back into or anything, you
know there'll be somebody thatloves that.
So I think there's definitelymagic in that.
Is that.
You know, that's what I'mhoping your.
You know, coming on the podcastjust inspires people to have a
look at what they've got aroundthem.
So if you weren't doing whatyou were doing, what else would
you do?
It's funny, I'd probably.
Belinda Massey (23:10):
I mean, what you were doing, what else would you
do?
It's funny.
I probably I mean realisticallyI'd probably still be in
accounting, yes, but if I wasn'tdoing this, I think I do like
volunteering, I do like helpingpeople.
So I did work in an op shop forsix months while I was sort of
between up and I quit my job andI came back to Sunshine Coast
before I really got into this,creating my own business, which
(23:31):
was a bit of a mind thing, forme because I'd never done that.
I'd always the security ofworking for someone else and
getting a paycheck, of course.
So, yeah, I worked for an opshop and I really there's a few
gaps in all sorts of places and,like op shops get so many
things that, like you said, yourmum collects den beer.
Yes, so when you know whatpeople collect, yes, and you
could, like, I know some opshops are quite with it and
(23:51):
they'll have someone who putsthings on Facebook marketplace
or puts things on eBay.
Amy Bennett (23:55):
Ah, there you go, but a lot of them don't have
that person who's got that.
Belinda Massey (23:59):
You know that essentially phone or computer
literacy, whatever you want tocall it that can really find
those items and whack them onand get a better price because
you apply rather than justwaiting for someone to walk
through.
Amy Bennett (24:09):
Of course, someone to walk through.
It'll move much faster if youput it on online.
Well, that's a really goodevolution of that as well.
I didn't realise that they didthat.
Belinda Massey (24:17):
Yeah, some of them do, some of them do, but I
mean, each one is different, ofcourse, of what they're, you
know, the head officers, eachone is a little bit different,
but I love the idea of gettingthat, you know, of encouraging
op shops and working with opshops to do more of that sort of
thing as a volunteer, even,because I mean, it's just
Absolutely.
Amy Bennett (24:34):
Gosh, it would have been interesting the treasures
that came in.
Though it is, it is alwaysinteresting.
Belinda Massey (24:39):
And some of them come in in like terrible
condition and sometimes theydon't have the time, like it
must be.
I only did a little bit of thesorting.
I was usually on the front likebringing clothes out, people
who are sorting.
I'm glad I didn't do that jobbecause it must be so hard.
They have to make decisions tothrow a lot of things.
That's right, yeah, and it justhas to be done in an op shop
(24:59):
because you get a lot of stuff.
Amy Bennett (25:01):
So I think it's hard.
Let's chat about the conditionof items, because I know that
was something interesting that Ifound, because there is a bit
of, I guess, an oversaturationor a perception that op shops
sort of say no to X, y and Z.
So what's your experience beenand, I guess, why have you
chosen Marketplace as a platformto sell?
Belinda Massey (25:26):
So my experience has been that, yes, op shops
are like I've in two houses thatI felt like things weren't
moving fast enough.
I've called and the ladies, alot of the people who are my
clients, are very happy.
They know that I do this, that Itry to get op shops to take
them if I can't move them andthey've said, look, you know,
we've got a truck every twoweeks that comes out here or
whatever, but we've got a fullwarehouse and they have to send
the photos.
Yes, and if there's anythingthat's really amiss and certain
(25:51):
bed types, certain bed types,they only want beds that are on
the bases.
Most of them will not take bedsthat are on slats for some
reason, and I'm not sure whatthat policy is for, but really
it has to be in great conditionfor them to take it, because it
has to.
They want to move through.
Of course that's their business.
Yeah, and most of the placesthat I've been to, particularly
if someone's been elderly- thecouch might have a stain.
The couch might have a stain,the couch might have a scratch,
(26:12):
it'll have pen marks orsomething.
It's a life well lived, right.
Yeah and they might have hadthat for 10 years plus.
And one of the couches Imanaged to sell.
I was amazed I actually managedto sell it for $100.
It actually had a hole in theit was quite a new one, but I
don't know if a rat or an animalhad eaten a hole in it.
Yes, hole in it, and she justused a cushion to cover it up.
Amy Bennett (26:30):
Yeah, there you go.
Belinda Massey (26:31):
So yeah, people don't want to necessarily
upgrade all the time there's abuyer for everything, but there
is a buyer for everything andhonestly, it looked totally fine
.
Amy Bennett (26:38):
I was very clear.
Belinda Massey (26:39):
This is it, but the rest of the couch is awesome
.
You know 100.
And someone came and grabbed itfor 100.
I was like thank goodness Idon't have to take that to the
tip.
I've only managed to get themto take one couch, and it's
interesting because this couchwas a two-seater, a three-seater
and two single-seaters, and Imanaged to sell the two singles,
I managed to sell thetwo-seater, but I couldn't move
the three-seater.
(26:59):
There's no one, and so, yeah,luckily the op shop did take
that one.
That's the only time I'vemanaged to get an op shop to say
yes To bigger furniture, To.
And it was a velvet green couch, it was retro and cool.
Amy Bennett (27:12):
There's a small market for that.
Right, there's a small marketfor that, and so I know I always
ask people what are somemisconceptions or myths you know
in their business.
So do you want to share?
You know one of yours.
Belinda Massey (27:26):
Absolutely so.
A lot of the people who ask meto do it sort of say they have
some experience on FacebookMarketplace but they find that
it's just overwhelming how manyscammers or how many people
waste their you know.
It can be a big waste.
It can be a waste of time.
People say is this available?
Yes, yes, it is, and thennothing.
And you know, at the end of theday, people are online.
They sometimes just don'trespond at all or they muck you
(27:49):
around.
Amy Bennett (27:50):
Can I interject there?
Belinda Massey (27:51):
and just add.
Amy Bennett (27:52):
So interesting that you say that, because I used to
always hit that is it availableand I'm happy to put my hand up
with this because I didn't knowthat you could save the item.
So I would hit the is itavailable, so that it sat in my
inbox not knowing that there wasa save function.
So it was only that I somebodysaid to me their frustration
with people saying is itavailable and I said, well,
(28:13):
that's how I save an item.
Oh, I did not know that.
There you go.
So I quite often, you know,like I would always hit that,
but just really wanting to comeback to it Anyway, I digress
Interesting to know.
Belinda Massey (28:26):
I did not know that.
Amy Bennett (28:28):
But scamming so interesting.
So pay ID, I know, is somethingthat you feel sometimes people
think is a scam.
Belinda Massey (28:35):
Yes, so I'm an accountant by background, really
.
So pay ID is offered by all ofthe banks and all it is is
linking your phone number oryour email.
I always encourage people to doa phone number to one of your
bank accounts and that means,once you've created that
one-to-one link, that someonecan pay through their normal
bank to mobile and it willactually say, once they type in
(28:56):
my mobile number, you're paying,be a Massey, you're paying.
So they get that confirmation.
It's instant, isn't it?
It's instant confirmationbefore they then check yep, I'll
pay that person.
Whereas a bank transfer somepeople are comfortable with bank
transfers and I say well, thatrequires you to type in normally
six.
Hopefully it's copy and paste,yes, but if you're typing it in
six numbers plus nine numbers,there's no confirmation.
(29:16):
You've gotten it right, correct?
So, anyway, pay ID, don't getme wrong.
Some people I mean scammers canuse things, yes, but pay ID
people say I don't have it.
Well, do you have a bankaccount?
Amy Bennett (29:26):
Yes, you have.
Belinda Massey (29:30):
It really is secure and you could definitely
use it, and I particularlyparticularly for bigger items of
furniture.
If someone says to me can youkeep that for me till Saturday?
Yes, and I've got four weeks toclear this house.
Yes, Well, today's Tuesday.
You want me to clear it toSaturday?
Why don't you pay me like $5 or$10?
They're just skinning the gameso that I know you'll definitely
come and collect it.
Yeah, great, ask them to do itthrough PayID.
(29:51):
And I've had to educate a lotof people.
They've said what's that?
Like, I'm not used to that andI'm like, please, I'm not a
scammer, bear with me, it's justthrough your normal bank and I
have to go and tour the pro.
But I reckon 80% of the timethey'll give it a go for $5.
That's great, and you'rechanging lives all the time and
I actually think financialcapability and I call it
(30:13):
financial capability becausethings are just changing all the
time and we're relying on ourphone more- and more, the more
we can have our financialcapability at a level that's
keeping up, then, as we age, wewon't be left behind.
Amy Bennett (30:27):
That's profound, that's really Financial
independence for womenparticularly, I'm so passionate.
My grandma's Danish and Iremember we would always go with
her passbook to the post officeto draw cash out and just with
the language barrier it wasalways really difficult and, yes
, her getting a bank card wasjust so overwhelming.
So I'm big on that as well.
(30:49):
But that's a good little mythto dispel, which is great.
All right, let's have a chat.
So we know what you love aboutyour role.
We know what you have done toget to where you are.
Where is the business now?
So chat through, I guess, whereyou are now and where you want
to grow the business to.
Belinda Massey (31:09):
It's interesting .
A lot of people say to me do Iwant to grow the business?
And at the moment I've donenine houses in about a year and
a half?
Amazing, I'd like to get to thepoint where I'm doing about ten
houses a year, although I couldprobably go up to 14 and still
be coming, because they do takeabout four weeks.
Yes, and you're just one homeat a time.
Well, no, I can do one for twoweeks and then start another one
(31:31):
I can have two on the go, butthey have to be close together
Like I want.
The Clounder Rise RetirementVillage is one that I've done
two villas at the same time.
Amy Bennett (31:39):
And I hear that you're highly recommended from
them.
One of our colleagues just gotyour details from them, which is
great.
Belinda Massey (31:46):
Yeah, it's so lovely to hear that I'm starting
to be recommended.
It's so humbling to say thatI'm being recommended because I
try to do a great job and I tryto be kind to the community that
I'm in and make sure thatthey're aware of what I'm doing.
And you know, just be friendly,of course.
Amy Bennett (32:00):
Well, it makes sense, doesn't it?
I mean, it's the same when Iwas just saying to you off air
that one of my clients istravelling and so they had a lot
of pot plants that weren'trequired by the buyer.
So I put them on a communityboard last night more so as a
giveaway and I think I said toyou I had 15 messages and my
clients were wrapped thatsomebody's going to love and
care for them and they'llcontinue to grow and flourish.
(32:22):
So it is a really lovelyability to be able to do that.
Belinda Massey (32:26):
It is Passing something on to someone who will
love it and someone who reallywants it enough to come pick it
up.
Yes, it's a great feeling.
It is a great feeling Like,come pick it up.
It's a great feeling.
It is a great feeling.
I've always found, withoutexception, that people are
pretty grateful and pretty niceand they tell you a bit of the
story about what they're goingto do with it or why they want
it, and it's just.
You know, people's stories arefascinating.
They always are.
Amy Bennett (32:44):
It's so lovely.
I have to ask what's the mostobscure thing that you've found,
or something that's taken youby surprise?
Belinda Massey (32:56):
Absolutely so.
In one of the homes that I wasclearing out, the gentleman who
owned the villa.
He had been the carer of hismother previously, so I knew the
story.
And when I was clearing out hiskitchen items I sometimes put
Tupperware on just to see if itwill move, but for whatever
reason it doesn't.
I usually end up taking it tothe op shop.
But at the back of the kitchenon one of the second or third
last days, I found a casseroledish and it was a Corningware
(33:18):
casserole dish and I remember mymother used to have them.
I recognised it.
I said, oh yeah, it's good.
But I didn't even really knowwhat it was worth.
And I looked at it and it wasin pretty much perfect condition
, like it looked, like it hadnever been used.
So I took a.
I do what I always do to andthis is a tip for all of the
listeners out there the Googlephoto frame.
So you take a photo.
(33:40):
You just get the item, take aphoto of it and search and it
will tell you, especially forwell-known items such as corny
wear, what it's worth.
Amy Bennett (33:44):
Amazing and you take lots of photos, right oh?
Belinda Massey (33:46):
my goodness, I take, of course to put them on
Facebook Marketplace.
People want to see left, rightand centre, every single angle
Measure centre, every singleangle, measurements,
measurements, yeah, all of thatstuff before you.
So I walk around with a bum bag.
Amy Bennett (33:56):
I love it.
I love the physicality of myjob.
Belinda Massey (33:58):
actually I'm constantly on my knees, going
from up, going from high.
Amy Bennett (34:02):
And what else do you need to put in an ad to
effectively sell the product?
Sorry, we've deviated.
Belinda Massey (34:07):
So yeah, to effectively sell a product
you've got to pull all yourmeasurements, you've got to put
any imperfections.
Ah, good point.
People will say is there anyimperfections?
Yes, and it's like no, I've gotto be careful, because it's
like if they're the first timeby or whatever, yes, I would
always put if there's animperfection, if I know this is
what it looks like and I'vetaken a photo of every angle and
(34:28):
some people don't even know toclick on it, they'll just
contact straight from the firstlittle.
What do you call it?
A thumbnail?
Thumbnail, yes, but I said youknow, scroll through the photos,
you'll see every angle.
I was like there's only 10.
Yes, there's only 10 angles.
You have to be careful.
I try not to include anythingelse in the home.
Amy Bennett (34:45):
Yeah, I loved that you said that you would really
kind of have a bit of a workingzone.
Belinda Massey (34:49):
Yeah, and I try to.
You know I move them so they'reon their own because you don't
want to look like it's crowded.
Yes, and if you can possiblyavoid it, do not photograph
things in the garage.
Always move them, even ifthey've been in the garage for a
few years.
Move them back into the house,dust them off and then
photograph them, because peopledon't like buying from a garage.
I love it.
Good tip.
And then I just put in thetitle I always check what it's
(35:13):
normally sold as Wonderful.
So for instance yeah, like forinstance, a desk.
You know you put desk and youput solid or wood.
Yes, like, just make it easyfor people to know exactly what
it is, yeah, and if it's got abrand or a model number,
definitely whack that into thedescription and then in
description.
People for whatever reason,don't trust when they see
(35:34):
there's usually a map.
But I always put pick up andthen I put the suburb Amazing.
Put the suburb exactly where itis.
Maybe people will still textand say where am I picking?
Amy Bennett (35:41):
up yes.
Belinda Massey (35:42):
Is this from Noorana?
Amy Bennett (35:43):
or whatever.
It's amazing, isn't it?
And I think, well, it's thepsychology of selling.
It's an interesting thing.
But that's some gold hints andtips.
Belinda Massey (35:51):
Yeah, I think people, the dimensions are very
important.
People always have a space theywant to put it in, so you've
got to give those dimensions.
Amy Bennett (35:59):
Look, I think it's an absolute non-negotiable.
We always have a measuring tapeat properties.
We'll laminate a sign that hasthe fridge dimensions.
You know all of those thingsare so important Always
measurements on a floor plan anda site plan.
So it's just really abouthelping people during the
process and obviously thatexpedites the sales process for
(36:23):
you and therefore for yourclients.
Speaking of, I guess, therevenue or the benefit for your
clients, I know one of thethings that my team asked you
was actually about whether youcharge a percentage of the sales
or how you're remunerated foryour service.
Absolutely.
Belinda Massey (36:33):
So I do not charge a percentage fee and the
reason being is that I oftengive things away and that's just
part of the process.
So I don't want to be lockedinto having to get the best
price, because what I sell is anempty home, so I don't always
get the price, and I made itvery clear to the clients look,
you may get.
If you had all the time in theworld, you could do this and
maybe get a better price,correct?
(36:57):
But you're giving me four weeks, so I'm going to try to make
your item both stand out fromthe photos and everything, but
also it's got to be a little bitcheaper than everything else,
because I want people to come toyour item, not the 10 others
that are out there on Facebook.
Great, so that excitement level.
Amy Bennett (37:08):
Yeah, and it's got to be a little bit cheaper.
Yeah, everyone win, don't they?
I mean we're, you know, we areintrinsically.
Belinda Massey (37:13):
That's how we're marketed to now isn't a sale or
a bargain price on face ofmarketplace is very important
and time as well.
Amy Bennett (37:19):
So you know, if you're warana, I want to go.
Okay.
Well, in my mind this is mynerdy brain it's like, okay,
well, that's going to be 10minutes there, 10 minutes back.
You know when is the convenienttime.
So you know that's important.
So fixed fee is great.
Belinda Massey (37:32):
So, yeah, so I charge a fixed fee based on
basically how big the house isand what level of items there
are.
Like some people, like you said, are minimalist and it's quite
easier to.
It's a bit easier to move thosesorts of homes because there's
just less there.
Others have a lot of stuffcovering lots of surfaces and it
will just take time to gothrough that.
So, yeah, I price based onroughly how long I think,
(37:53):
roughly how long it will take meand I also try to make sure
because I'm a growing businessand I'm a business that wants to
get referrals I always try tomake sure that the customer ends
off better off, amazing.
So what I find is I've gottenpretty good now at sort of
guessing what value I'll get forthe furniture and the items.
So I think, okay, well, if I'mgoing to get, let's say, I think
(38:14):
maybe $2,000 from selling allof those items, but I'll try to
charge $1,500 if it's a smallone bedroom or two bedroom but
if it's a bigger, because I haveto charge more, like $2,000 or
$2,500, but they will usuallyend up with $4,000 or $5,000.
So they always end up withmoney over the top because I try
to say look, you're not goingto charge, you won't have, I'll
(38:37):
save you time because it'll costyou no time at all.
Yes, you won't have to dumpanything, because that comes out
of usually what I.
Of course I just do that off.
Usually right at the end theremight be something that needs to
go, but I'll say I will arrangethat for you out of.
I really take care of that, andthe house is empty and you just
get the money over the top.
Amy Bennett (38:55):
Such a stress-free process.
It is.
Belinda Massey (38:57):
And all I have to do is sell is pay me the 50%
of my fee up front, and then Ijust collect and collect and
collect Ah perfect, yeah, andthen I pay myself essentially
that second half and then therest just goes to them and I
start remitting them the money,Usually after three weeks.
I've had one person who was alittle bit strapped for cash and
said can you just give me somenow?
I was like, of course you can,I'm still selling.
(39:20):
But yeah, I'll send you whatI've got over the top already.
And then I make a final paymentat the end of it and say all
done, your house is empty.
Every two or three days I sendthem the spreadsheet of how I'm
going with collections I love it.
Amy Bennett (39:30):
You're like, okay, well, I need to make that.
Yeah, that's wonderful.
And look, sometimes it doesn'thappen and sometimes that's not
somebody's motivation.
I mean, you know you can't puta price on the stress that
you're relieving with people inthis and and so often you know,
it's not necessarily just theresident but their family as
(39:51):
well, and you know, I know howprecious time is for people.
Belinda Massey (39:55):
It is.
It really is like the time togo because at the end of the day
, someone's got to have to gothrough the items.
Right, even if you throw themin a skip, you have to go
through them and you wantsomeone trusted to go through
them because they can find thoseitems of value, whether it be
the jewellery that's in the shoebox or the corningware that's
in the back of the kitchen.
You don't want someone justpicking that up and throwing
that out.
So by getting me to do it, youreally know that I'll generally
(40:17):
find the value.
I mean, I won't always findeverything, you know, there
might be something that I mightmiss and give it to the op shop,
but hopefully the clientsthemselves have an idea.
Amy Bennett (40:26):
What's in the home, yeah, but I mean it's, it's
funny you say about casseroledishes and I probably shouldn't
say this on a published podcast,but I know my mum has a little
secret stash of cash somewherein her home which she has told
me.
But I always think heaven helpher if something happened to me
as well, that somebody would getthe best surprise.
Did you say about you foundjewellery in a shoebox?
Belinda Massey (40:47):
Yeah, jewellery in a shoebox.
Yeah, it was just in a littleenvelope and I was like oh, look
at that.
Amy Bennett (40:51):
Yeah, look, we have all of these treasures.
Belinda Massey (40:55):
Yes, people have things like that.
I've never found anything undera mattress, yet that's not a
favourite anymore.
No, that's not a favourite.
Amy Bennett (41:03):
In a manhole is some of the things that I've had
.
People have forgotten to have alook in the attic, so no doubt
there'll be many stories.
I'm sure you'll have a podcastthat you'll be able to do with
the stories you could tell.
So what you do is absolutelyamazing, but let's get to know
you a little bit more.
So what is your dream holidaydestination?
(41:24):
Belinda.
Belinda Massey (41:24):
So my dream holiday is Copenhagen and Monaco
.
Those two places in just.
I've never been there.
And it's the royal benton, it'sthe history.
I love history.
Yes, and I'm not a huge fan ofthe English monarchy anymore.
I noticed you didn't includethem, but no, I have been to the
UK so that's probably why it'snot the dream job of one anymore
(41:45):
because I've been to all thosecastles, but I do love a good
castle.
Amy Bennett (41:48):
I love this and history.
It's interesting, isn't it?
Because we're such a newcountry.
So I mentioned to you off airthat I'm Danish and had the
privilege of going throughPrincess Mary's I guess castle
palace before she moved in, andthat was amazing back in, I
think, 2010.
And it was lovely to seetributes of Australia there.
(42:09):
So I'm very much a Danishroyalist.
My gran, my best amour, lovedour Queen Marguerite and she's
obviously passed on andabdicated for her son.
Belinda Massey (42:20):
Isn't that amazing that she did that.
It's such a show of confidencein her son and I wish the Queen,
like you know, charles and allthat, if she had done that and
shown that little confidence inher child, because I think Queen
Marguerite is a modern womanwho's like yeah.
Amy Bennett (42:32):
I'm done Absolutely .
So lots to be learned.
And Monaco, well interesting.
A lot of history there.
Obviously, grace Kelly.
Belinda Massey (42:39):
Yeah, grace Kelly is just when I was young,
I just thought she was just themost beautiful woman and just
you know the story.
It's a bit like the Queen Mary.
I mean she was a star sort ofalready.
Yes, it's, I was a huge fan.
I've read a few autobiographiesAmazing.
I know just biographies ofGrace Kelly, and she's a
beautiful lady.
Amy Bennett (42:56):
Well, you all go off to your palaces, which is
lovely.
Belinda, tell us what was thebest day of your life.
Belinda Massey (43:03):
I've got to be a traditionalist here and I've
got two kids.
Amy Bennett (43:05):
Yes, absolutely.
Belinda Massey (43:07):
Two best days.
Two best days yes, two bestdays.
Giving birth healthily andhappily, without too much
intervention, very healthily.
For me, it was just a huge,huge day.
I was super happy with my bodyand with what I was able to
achieve with my two healthychildren.
Amy Bennett (43:23):
What an accomplishment Is that something
that you did preparation for?
Is it something you weremindful of ahead of the birth?
Belinda Massey (43:29):
Yeah, I mean, I read the books.
What to Expect when You'reExpecting?
Amy Bennett (43:31):
I did the right stuff.
Belinda Massey (43:32):
I didn't eat cheese or salami or anything for
nine months.
I did all the right things.
It's just that sense ofresponsibility, you know, of
your husband carrying that child.
Yes, and yeah, I was definitely.
I wasn't rowdy.
I used to think, oh, things aregoing to go wrong.
So I think I was quite anxiousleading up to it.
So I was just super glad whenit all went well.
Amy Bennett (43:50):
And now the boys.
Belinda Massey (43:52):
Yeah, they're both healthy individuals.
One's out in Melbourne doingfirst year of uni, so that's
great.
He's now off being a citizen.
Amy Bennett (43:59):
Yes and second is a genius, I believe oh.
Belinda Massey (44:04):
I'm not going to bring my own.
He's a very bright boy and I'mvery proud of him.
Amy Bennett (44:08):
I'm saying that because he was a very, very
lovely feedback from my podcast.
I just thought I'd give him alittle shout out for that.
Belinda Massey (44:17):
He's a good kid.
Wonderful, he's a great kid.
Amy Bennett (44:19):
Belinda, what do you enjoy?
Your favourite meal and drinks?
Belinda Massey (44:23):
My favourite meal is definitely Indian.
I do love a good sauce and myfavourite restaurant is in.
It's funny, it's in Malula Bar.
I've been there several times.
Yeah, and a lot of people, Ithink, skip, I think, locals.
Several times.
Yeah, and a lot of people, Ithink, skip, I think locals, yes
, I think, sometimes skip MalulaBar because it's maybe touristy
or whatever, but the Shalimarwhich I think now I think
they've changed names actuallythat one in the corner right
near the surf club.
I knew you were going to saythat I've heard that's amazing,
(44:44):
it is really good and they'verecently like they're upgrading
their furniture and they're sortof spru at renovating a little
bit.
Just the look of the place, soit's getting more modern and,
yeah, they just got a great meal.
Amy Bennett (44:56):
Nice, authentic Indian.
Belinda Massey (44:58):
I haven't ever been to India to know.
But, I do really like that one.
I've got great sauces great.
What's your go-to curry?
My son always ordered butterchicken.
I like a different one everytime.
Honestly, I really like to.
I've been there about fourtimes and I just try to do a
different one every time.
Try to working my way through.
Amy Bennett (45:13):
I like it.
That's awesome.
I do.
I love it.
I've had nothing this bad.
So when I met my husband, I wasamazed because he only had the
same dish at Indian and the samedish at Thai.
So I think that's reallyawesome.
And mild, medium or spicy.
Belinda Massey (45:27):
Mild to medium.
Amy Bennett (45:28):
I like it, that's good.
Belinda Massey (45:30):
My son sometimes goes spicy and I try it, but
it's yeah, no maltame.
Amy Bennett (45:34):
I've graduated to medium now.
Yeah, medium I can cope withmost of the time.
Anything more than that'spretty intense Go-to drink.
Belinda Massey (45:43):
Probably lemon lime bitters.
Oh, that's a nice one.
Amy Bennett (45:46):
It's a traditional.
We need that here on theSunshine Coast, don't we
Refreshing?
Belinda Massey (45:49):
Refreshing exactly without having regrets
the next day, and Without havingregrets the next day and in a
keep cup, I try to always go toa place that just served me in a
glass.
Yes, I always look, I did get aglass of water today.
Amy Bennett (46:04):
I didn't get one of our bottles of water, so you've
influenced me.
Belinda Massey (46:07):
Look how beautiful that water is too.
It is Sometimes you can get.
I do get joy out of having myown container and the containers
that I think they get served.
Amy Bennett (46:13):
Yes, it's funny, I do get joy out of having my own
container and the containersthat I think they get served.
Yes, that's the difference.
It's funny.
I'm very much accessories withmy drinks, so it'll be like a
bit of grated ginger or mintleaves or ice or lime wedges
Nothing boring for me.
Belinda Massey (46:27):
I was saying the other day, I have yet to
purchase, I've never purchasedreal ginger.
Ah, I'm a pretty traditionalAustralian cook.
Yes, I love ginger.
Ah, I'm such a like, I'm not a.
I'm a pretty traditionalAustralian cook.
Yes, I love ginger.
I have ginger in a jar in myfridge?
Yeah, but I've never I'vereally got to expand my cooking
repertoire, I'm just not a veryexperimental cook.
Amy Bennett (46:45):
So I think your number one destination from here
is the ginger factory atYandina.
I have been there.
Belinda Massey (46:51):
I do like their candy, I like their cordial, but
yeah, I've never gotten a bitof ginger and grated it.
Oh, it's going to change yourlife.
Amy Bennett (46:58):
Yep stir fries.
Oh, I love grated ginger, butdefinitely in a refreshing drink
is really lovely.
So there you go.
That's your challenge.
And, belinda, to end our lovelyconversation, which has just
been obviously a blessing.
I'm so grateful for the servicethat you offer the community,
looking forward to us being ableto collaborate.
(47:20):
Especially with my passion fordownsizing, I know you're going
to be a gift that continues togive my clients and the world.
So, in that note, I'm going toleave you to end with your
favourite quote or saying Thankyou, Amy.
Belinda Massey (47:38):
My favourite quote is God helps those who
help themselves.
Beautiful, Absolutely.
Thank you so much for having meand for making me feel so
welcome.
It's been a pleasure.
Amy Bennett (47:44):
It really has my pleasure.
You didn't end, you didn't.
Belinda Massey (47:47):
No nerves, I did , I did I definitely did, but
you're just such a friendlywelcoming person.
Amy Bennett (47:54):
Oh, my pleasure.
Well, thank you for being withus here on Beyond the Signboard,
belinda Massey from Move OnConsciously, thank you.
Thank you for listening to thisepisode of Beyond the Signboard
.
We trust you enjoyed it as muchas we enjoyed making it for you
.
If there are any topics youwant covered in the future, make
sure you reach out and let usknow.
Also, feedback and suggestionsare appreciated almost as much
(48:17):
as likes, shares and downloads.
Welcome to Beyond the Signboard, where you get the
opportunity to learn all thereis to know about your real
estate journey fromprofessionals who are passionate
about property.
I'm Amy Bennett, your host, andI look forward to providing you
with education, inspiration anda behind-the-scenes look at the
world of real estate.
Hi everyone, it's Amy Bennetthere from the Beyond the
(00:31):
Signboard podcast, delighted towelcome my guest, belinda Massey
from Move On Consciously.
Thank you for having me, amy,my pleasure.
You, I just said off air,you're so brave.
Belinda Massey (00:45):
Just, we only had the pleasure of meeting last
week and I roped you instraight away.
Oh, it's the podcast.
Once I listened to it, it'sdefinitely one that I want to be
on.
It's lovely.
Thank you for having me.
Amy Bennett (00:51):
My pleasure.
Before we get stuck into it, Ihave just picked up this
beautiful note about yourbusiness, which I think is
absolutely sums up who you are.
So Move On Consciously is aheartfelt initiative inspired by
a personal journey ofcompassion and practicality.
You say here imagine yourparent moving into aged care
after a fall, or passing away,leaving their fully furnished
(01:13):
home vacant.
What you do is an absolute gift.
We're going to delve intowhat's led you to where you are,
the passion for what you do andobviously, hopefully some
education as well, so thatpeople really consider their own
move and also a little bit ofpre-planning, I think is going
to be probably something wediscuss.
Belinda Massey (01:33):
Yes, for sure.
It's always healthy to thinkabout, I guess, those next steps
and so your podcast so far,listening to Kim and moving and
so forth, and there's just somuch in it.
Yes, and I'm happy to be partof people's journeys in that way
.
It's nice to be able to help.
Amy Bennett (01:49):
Yeah, it's amazing because I think also too, you
know, certainly my experience inyou know, both pharmacy
background and then now helpingpeople to downsize is we don't
want to think about that yet, dowe we?
You know, so often, you knowyou'd be the same with clients.
Like you say, it's whensomeone's had a fall, or you
know, ultimately the rubber hitsthe road and they need to sell
(02:09):
it's often an event that leadsthem or their loved ones to
having to do it.
Belinda Massey (02:14):
In my experience it's usually been an event
that's usually not happy.
Yes, that's driven them tohaving to then sell all of their
items, which is always a littlebit sad, because people have
had things for 30-plus years.
They love their things and it'sthe job of the descendants or
the loved ones to then move themon, and they don't want to say
they don't want them, but that'sthe truth quite often.
(02:35):
Practicality is we don't oftenwant a lot of the things that
people have in their home.
Amy Bennett (02:39):
Absolutely.
So we're going to learn yourpersonal journey as well as to
how this all started.
I know that you were reallyinstrumental in your mum's
estate as well, but before weget there, I know you have a
very interesting story, with alot of travelling the globe and
your background.
So take us back to Belinda atschool if you don't mind.
(03:04):
And, yeah, how you've got towhere you are now.
Belinda Massey (03:08):
So, yeah, the first 25 years of my career have
all been in accounting and I'veloved accounting.
Like accounting has been, it'staken me around the world.
Yes, so I've spent the first 15or 20 years here in Australia
in accounting.
I worked for Mars Pet Care andI worked for Amcor Flexible, so
they were both great companies,big companies that gave me great
(03:29):
grounding in how to work withpart of teams, how to work
individually and autonomously,and I went to live for two years
in New Zealand and we opened anew plant and bought a, and so
that was just great experience.
Then we came back to Australia,my husband and I.
We had some kids, but then wedecided we wanted to travel a
bit more once the kids were abit bigger.
Amy Bennett (03:48):
And he's in a similar field.
He is.
He's an accountant as well.
Yes, oh, how is that?
Two accountants, it's goodreally.
You get each other, you geteach other.
Belinda Massey (03:57):
You get what some of the pressures are and
when some of the technicalities.
I understand which is nice it isnice to be able to talk shop,
as they say yes, but yeah.
So we were really grateful toget the opportunity, through my
husband's work, to travel to theUK for two years and then
straight after that we went tothe USA for three years and I
was able to change jobs.
I was a consultant inaccountancy for a while.
(04:19):
I did two stints as theaccountant for software
start-ups and that was really,really fascinating like having
an entrepreneur sitting rightthere that's invested millions
in his business and growing itand growing it and it's just the
energy of a start-up.
That's amazing.
It was amazing, after comingfrom a really solid, huge
(04:41):
corporation, that I would be inin Australia and I've also had
the pleasure of just goingpart-time.
So I've been a part-timeaccountant for the last well, I
guess my kid's 19,.
So the last 15 years or so I'vebeen part-time.
Amy Bennett (04:54):
And that was important to you, wasn't it?
To spend time with the boys.
Belinda Massey (04:57):
It was.
I mean, we were in a positionto be able to do so and we're
just amazing that I was able todo so.
Just amazing that I was able todo so.
And yeah, it's been great likebeing able to have my time to
myself and being autonomous Likeaccountancy.
Thank God it's not like peopleare dying in accountancy.
Yes, people can wait for areport, so yeah, I worked
certain days or certain hoursand I was flexible and they were
flexible and it was yeah, it'sa win-win.
(05:20):
I've enjoyed my especially evenlike in the 25 years that I've
been working the ability to workfrom home and the openness from
companies to let you do thatand have that flexibility.
Amy Bennett (05:31):
That's transitioned and changed or always been
there.
Belinda Massey (05:33):
Well, it's just slowly come, especially when I
went part-time.
Yes, as soon as you sort of dothat, it's very much a give and
take.
Sometimes they'll want forextra, sometimes you'll want a
day off, and it's just much moreflexible.
And computers have just changedin that time Zero online, zero
being able to log into things.
Accounting has changed in the25 years so that you can do it
(05:54):
from home.
Amy Bennett (05:54):
So where did you study accountancy?
Belinda Massey (05:56):
RMIT in Melbourne.
Amy Bennett (05:57):
Amazing.
So was that?
I'm just thinking.
25 years ago were you studyingon a computer, or?
Yeah, I had my own computer athome.
Belinda Massey (06:05):
Okay, yes, I bought my computer in year 12.
Yes, yeah, I used to work forKFC all throughout high school,
so I bought my own computer,which, I must you know, it was a
360 something or other backthen.
And you know big, huge, youknow huge computer on a big desk
?
Amy Bennett (06:19):
Yeah, probably not even fire up nowadays.
Would they even fire upnowadays, would they?
It would be somewhere inlandfill.
Belinda Massey (06:23):
Yeah, that computer has been, or maybe
hopefully being recycled, Idon't know, but yeah.
Amy Bennett (06:34):
And then because I actually went all the way to
grade 12 with accountancy andit's really interesting.
Whenever I think of it, I thinkof my teacher back then.
She would always say to meabout how loud I was on the
calculator.
But obviously we used to drawup our own profit and loss
statements and everything likethat, so I actually never
learned accountancy on computers.
I then had several roles thatsaw me doing things like Xero
and look, I'm a real nerd forfinance accountancy Isn't this
(06:59):
funny?
But one of my favourite thingsabout Xero was reconciling at
the start of every day.
Belinda Massey (07:04):
I loved it too, the bank reconciliation.
It's just satisfactory.
It's so satisfying to geteverything reconciled.
It's a very black and whitetype of thing Is it done or it's
not done?
Yes, and it gives you thatsatisfaction.
Amy Bennett (07:18):
Done, yeah, and even investigating the why it
hasn't reconciled.
For those that haven't hadexperience or know what we're
talking about, so essentially,in the morning you would have a,
you would log into Xero, youwould have a transaction log and
, intuitively, it would almostyou know know where the funds
were going.
Belinda Massey (07:34):
It will suggest, based on the name of the
supplier or things, or it hasrules now that just you can just
press OK, apply the rules.
Amy Bennett (07:41):
Yes, it's sort of like Homer Simpson with the
little duck.
Belinda Massey (07:46):
Yes, it's like yeah, when you set it up
properly and a lot of things,there's so many things recurring
.
It's very sad it's just theones that are non-recurring that
you then have to find outwhat's going on.
Yeah, it keeps you so in touchwith the business.
You're so in touch with what'sgoing on.
Amy Bennett (07:57):
So automation's important then, has that that
you've seen as a positive in theindustry?
Belinda Massey (08:02):
Oh, absolutely Great it's a great positive
Automation, in my opinion.
Essentially, it's taking thegrunt work out of accountancy,
yeah, and it's making it moreinteresting for everyone because
you don't have to be journalinghardly at all.
I think I did one journal amonth to accrue things for most
businesses and maybe one or twoothers.
But yeah, it's very automatedand so you spend your time
(08:23):
analysing where they're spendingthe money and what they're
doing and forecasting.
It makes it more interesting.
Amy Bennett (08:30):
It's really an advisor position, isn't it?
And I think that's you know.
It's a really interesting thingwe always talk about and that's
why I enjoy the podcast so muchis really drilling down and, I
guess, getting a little bit morethan surface level with
someone's journey.
So those skills obviously haveheld you in good stead and taken
you through.
So how do we go fromaccountancy to what you're doing
(08:52):
now at Move On Consciously?
Belinda Massey (08:54):
Oh, it is an interesting, a little bit of an
interesting journey actually,like when I moved to the
Sunshine Coast.
It's the first, probably, placeI've lived in, and we talked to
my husband about this when wefirst moved here, because a lot
of the buildings are quite new,like a lot of the buildings,
like living in Melbourne, forinstance, yes, and where I lived
in the US and the UK thebuildings had been there since I
don't know since, like the1920s a lot of the homes that
(09:15):
we've lived in, whereas havingnew buildings here and people
are knocking down, rebuildingI'm sort of getting used to
seeing skips a lot, so we, wewalk our dog, yes, and there's
so many, a lot of skips in ourarea where you sort of go okay,
well, the house has been knockeddown.
That's perfectly understandable, but then I'm a bit nosy.
I'm just naturally nosy yes.
So you'd see skips in front ofhouses.
I like inquisitive.
Amy Bennett (09:36):
I think that's good .
Belinda Massey (09:45):
Very inquisitive positive ladder.
So you know, I started seeingskips full of household items
and I noticed it a few times andI'd sort of look at it and go,
wow, like there's a ladder ontop of that skip, that's a, you
know, and it's like a perfectlygood ladder and there's just
things.
You sort of go.
Why is there so many householditems?
And then it occurred to me thatthere's so many retirees on the
coast and that's heavy inretirees and a lot of retirees
don't have family that live here.
They have families that live,you know move away from work?
(10:08):
Yeah, move away from work, orthe person's moved here to
retire so their family's neverbeen here.
And I started to realise, and Icame to an understanding of
that yeah, sometimes people comedown for the week and they just
have to empty the home.
They'll take what they need andthen they have to empty it.
And have to empty the home.
They'll take what they need andthen they have to empty it, and
the quickest and most efficientway for them to do that is to
hire a skip, yeah.
And then I sort of went, oh,that's what's going on and I
(10:31):
sort of thought, well, what elseis the alternative?
What is the alternative forthese people?
And I worked out there reallyisn't.
There's one or two people.
So I called a place.
There's a national place thatwill do it, okay, and there's a
national place that will takethings from the home and move
them all to Brisbane and sellthem centrally from there.
But there's no one.
Amy Bennett (10:49):
That was doing what I am now doing and were they
taking everything Belinda, orwere they kind of cherry?
Belinda Massey (10:55):
picking.
Amy Bennett (10:56):
Yeah, cherry picking.
I think this is probably.
That's probably whateverybody's perception is, or,
you know.
So often we'll hear oh, youknow, this charity will only
take X, y and Z.
So really you are well kind ofskip ahead to where you are, but
ultimately you're going toallow, you know, basically in
generally a four week processyou can basically return a empty
(11:19):
home to the family.
The real estate agent for thatnext chapter, that's right.
Belinda Massey (11:24):
So I don't move anything, I don't take it away,
I don't have a truck.
I stay at the home and I'mselling constantly from the home
.
So I go back every second dayat least, and I have Facebook
marketplace that I sell by.
I also donate a lot of thingsto charities as I go and I also
give things away to people whocome to get things from Facebook
(11:45):
Marketplace.
So, for instance, householditems such as even like stuff in
the pantry.
If someone comes to getsomething, I'll say, hey, would
you like some coffee?
We've got a bunch of coffee,amazing.
Amy Bennett (11:54):
You know how people buy things on specials.
There's always four ofsomething.
Yes, tea bags.
Belinda Massey (11:58):
Right, people get things on special and
they'll have like, so, like,would you like some tea?
And they're like, oh you sure.
And I'm like, yeah, no, no, no,I'll let them know.
No, this person doesn't needthem anymore.
So if you'd like some, tea bags, just please take them, and
they're like, oh, thank you.
And people are always, quiteoften they're happy to take a
little bit extra.
Amy Bennett (12:12):
It's like a bargain , it's like, oh, an added bonus
for them, because that's themost important thing for you,
isn't?
It?
Is that you know making surethat, if it can be repurposed,
you know, and tell me yourcatchphrase, and we've repeated
it a few times today already.
Belinda Massey (12:31):
Thank you, so yeah, so I sort of spent a
little bit of time when I wasstarting the business thinking
how am I going to sort of marketa little bit or how am I going
to be online and social media,and so I came up with the
hashtag not in a skip.
So one of the people I run withat Parkrun, her sister, came
down from Brisbane and they hadto hire a skip as well.
She said I wish I'd known aboutyou because it made me cry how
(12:52):
much went into the skip.
Amy Bennett (12:54):
Well, even you've just had some conversations with
our team, who you're literallylike an angel to them.
Now that ability to help, andthat's why it was really
important for me to share yourmessage.
Belinda Massey (13:05):
I think people intrinsically don't want to
throw away good things.
People don't Absolutely.
Nobody wants to take a goodchair or a good dining table and
just put it into a skip.
But people are forced intothose positions by just not
knowing an alternative.
Amy Bennett (13:17):
So that's here, and I think time as well, time
pressure or, like you say, notknowing where to turn.
So where does this, I guess,care for the environment and
passion for that as well,because that really is at your
core and that's really evident.
Belinda Massey (13:34):
Yeah, look, it's funny because you went to
school.
Well, you're younger than me,but when I went to school the
environment wasn't something welearnt about.
I just didn't learn about itLike it wasn't.
I don't even know that.
I'd heard the word in primaryschool and high school and then
even at university.
It really wasn't something thatI was educated in, accountancy.
But when I had children andthey started going to school, it
(13:55):
was taught to them in primary,like in grade prep, and I was
like, oh, and my sister got intoit a little bit, she's into
biology and plants and so forth,so she's sort of rubbish.
You know, trying to reducereuse.
Yes, the first time I heardabout those things I went, oh,
okay, isn't that amazing.
Amy Bennett (14:10):
I can't even fathom that.
That wouldn't have been taught.
But you were saying your soncame home and asked about solar.
Yes he came home and said Mum,do we?
Belinda Massey (14:20):
have solar panels and we didn't.
We didn't have solar panels andI sort of went no, we don't.
And he said well, we should getthem.
And I sort of went oh, was thisin prep, in like one or two.
Amy Bennett (14:30):
That's amazing, isn't it?
Belinda Massey (14:31):
And he just sort of put me on the spot.
Amy Bennett (14:32):
And I went.
Why?
Belinda Massey (14:33):
don't we have them, why haven't I made that
step?
And so you know, return, yeah,of course.
And my husband when I look backon it, it's not to say he was
short sighted, but he didn't seethe environmental extraneous.
Amy Bennett (14:49):
It was a financial benefit.
It was a financial.
Belinda Massey (14:50):
He said well, we're going to be here for a few
more years.
We already knew we were probablygoing to go travel.
He said so we won't get thebenefit.
Yeah, and it took a while.
For me, that will be a capitalasset.
It will be an asset that willlower their bills for the rest
of this house's life.
Yeah, so it doesn't matterabout just us getting the return
on whatever it is we spend.
It will be an environmentalbenefit and a monetary benefit
(15:13):
for the person who buys thehouse.
So, yeah, don't think shortterm Like the environment's a
long period of time.
Yeah, so we did get solar andthen we got it for the next two
houses.
Yeah, then he saw it becausepeople like the aerialist agents
said to him yeah, people arestarting to see those as a
benefit.
Amy Bennett (15:28):
Isn't that amazing just to think, even that teacher
educating, you know that mayhave been something that was a
passion for them.
Now I heard that you hadactually also made an impact.
So we got to meet each otherthrough another member of the
Caloundra Chamber of Commerceand she actually told me that
you had made a change in theircoffee catch-ups, which was to
(15:49):
BYO a coffee cup.
Belinda Massey (15:50):
I try.
Yeah, I'm still trying.
It's a work in progress.
Yeah, Look, I do find thecoffee catch-up cups like the
amount of, yeah, single-usecoffee cups here on the coast.
I feel like it's a problem.
I feel like it's going to bethe next eventually charge for.
And yeah, when you're going tohave a coffee at a coffee
(16:12):
catch-up.
I feel like I've tried to sortof say, you know, give photos or
prizes for the ones with themost fun Funky cup or something.
Keep cup, yeah.
So trying to encourage peopleto use their keep cup because
it's one of those next thingsyou know, next step of trying to
be more environmentally.
Amy Bennett (16:27):
Well, it's all the little things, isn't it?
That adds up.
So, isn't it that adds up?
So you'll laugh, because I mademy own coffee at home this
morning and it was in aninsulated cup and I love cold
coffee and I thought I'll keepthe lid off so that it doesn't
stay warm and I ended up wearingthat today.
So I am dressed in a cafe latte.
You cannot tell Thank you, butit was ironic because I thought,
(16:50):
gosh, I was trying to do theright thing, maybe
subconsciously because you werecoming, but you're right, and
it's all those little thingsthat make a difference.
So I think, ultimately, yourquest for the environmental
component is so admirable andcertainly my experience with
helping people to downsize,transitional selling is very
(17:11):
much my heart and soul.
You know, I certainly like tohelp people.
I did an appraisal yesterdayfor an older gentleman and he
said, look, I want to put thistable on marketplace and didn't
know how to navigate that.
So I think all of these thingsbeing able to help people
navigate that process andcertainly that's just one
component of a whole process ofleaving your home and moving to
(17:34):
a new property.
So you know, it's amazing thatyou can offer that service and I
know we've spoken about youknow your ideal scenario is you
know, give me a certain amountof time, so let's go back to
your family's experience,because that really was a
compelling story that I felt.
Belinda Massey (17:51):
Thank you, yeah, that was another thing at the
same time as I was sort ofwalking around in Sunshine Coast
going look at all these skipsso my mother had a fall.
She had a fall and she's now,very unfortunately, in a
wheelchair and she's had to godirectly into aged care.
She was in hospital for aperiod of time until they could
get her into aged care.
And when I said that mysister's in Melbourne so my
sisters and my mum are all inMelbourne so that happened about
(18:14):
June 2, 3 years ago, I can'tremember exactly and I was still
working here on the coast so Iwas busy with my own life.
But then I resigned from thatjob in November and I said to my
sisters, how's mum's housegoing?
Because at the time when ithappened I went with my sisters
and we took out the jewelleryout of the home and we emptied
the fridge and just did a fewlittle things like that, yeah,
(18:36):
and I just had the understandingthat they would slowly empty
the homes Gradually.
Amy Bennett (18:40):
Do that, yeah, yeah , especially once she went into
care.
Belinda Massey (18:42):
Once she got into care it was clear she
wasn't coming back to the homeand I guess for a few months
there it was all.
Everything was up in the air.
But once she was safely in thehome, I just assumed they would
do that.
And they said to me look,belinda, we both work full-time
jobs.
When do we have the time to dothat?
Like it's enough, just keepingthe garden of mum's house, fine,
and taking it along.
And they said, with the agedcare stuff you have to do with
(19:04):
money and so forth, they havetwo years to do it.
I said, yeah, but you're notgoing to leave a home for that
long, surely?
And leave a home for that long,surely?
And I said we'll get to it, wewill get to it.
And I said, look, how about Icome up and I'll do it.
So I'd already been selling myown personal stuff and my kids.
You know, every time the kidsgrow out of stuff I'd been
(19:26):
selling on Facebook Marketplacefor a few years.
So you know, I went up thereand I had a two-week holiday
around Christmas time.
I spent three days at the house.
At the end and the house wasempty.
Amy Bennett (19:34):
It's amazing, isn't it?
And I think you know you reallyencapsulated it where sometimes
, if you've got more time, orit's even overwhelming where to
start respecting the items.
But you know, certainly fromwhen we've met previously,
you've got a passion for whatyou do.
But I think also you've gotdetermination and you can really
do it as a process-drivenexercise and obviously with the
(19:57):
accounting background as well,you can obviously articulate,
you know, cost-benefit analysisof the situation.
Belinda Massey (20:04):
Yeah, it's interesting how that does play
into it, because my sisters likeone of them came for the day
and she said I'll help you.
And after about an hour shesort of sat down and she said
this is overwhelming, belinda, Ijust need to take a break.
Yes, and I was like we've gotto do, look at the photograph,
let's get through all of thisroom today.
Yeah, and she was just yeah,she was feeling overwhelmed and
(20:25):
I sort of went and I guess I candivorce.
I mean, I am a practical person.
I guess the accountancybreakdown just says well, this
is a piece of furniture, mum'sfine, mum doesn't need this
furniture anymore and we've justgot to.
You know, I don't want to leavethis as a problem for my
sisters that just sit here andsit here.
So, yeah, I'm able to just go.
Yeah, this is a piece offurniture.
It's not something that mumneeds anymore and none of us
(20:48):
need it, so let's just move it.
And one thing I do get reallyenjoyment out of is seeing the
people come and collect them.
Seeing those people like therewere bunk beds in mum's top.
Mum had a little townhouse.
She hadn't used those bunk bedsfor years.
She hadn't been in the toplevel of her house.
So she just had one roomdownstairs with a bathroom and
the kitchen and everything.
She had two rooms upstairs.
And then, like seeing thiscouple that got this bunk beds
(21:10):
for their kids and like this isgoing to be so great, and I was
like, yeah, that is, this isgoing to be a great thing.
You know your kids are going tolove this.
It's a really nice bunkers setof beds good quality solid wood,
and I'm just so happy and it'slike a lot of people who come to
get the items.
Amy Bennett (21:23):
So, yeah, I see that it's like treasure hunting,
isn't it?
And I know we spoke about that.
We both got a love of op shopsand I'd certainly grow up in a
family of collectors and I knowmy mum collects Dembeware and I
always think when she findssomething, you know whether it's
at a collector armour or an opshop or marketplace.
You know the joy it brings.
So, yeah, we have all of thesetreasures, don't we?
(21:45):
Hidden away in cupboards andthings that are never used.
Belinda Massey (21:49):
And, yeah, my mum even had stuff which really
actually made me sad because Ihadn't been.
I think I'd seen my mum out alot.
Yes, I'd seen her with mysisters, so I hadn't been to her
home for probably two years andshe had stuff that was in the
garage that she just moved tothe garage, yes, so like she
could barely get out of her car,there was dinner, there was,
you know, a sideboardno-transcript.
(22:15):
I should have spent more timeat her home and helped her to
downsize, because she wassurrounded by a lot of things
Stuff isn't it.
Yeah, stuff, stuff, that wasn'tprobably draining her as well.
Amy Bennett (22:28):
Such a good point because I think that there's
real magic in that, that it'sthat not yeah, not waiting until
that moment is actually lookingat.
You know, I'm a bit of acollector, but I'm also a
minimalist, so I kind of go.
You know, a bit like you, I'mvery analytical.
So does this serve me?
Would somebody else findenjoyment?
I certainly done that withclothes over the years as well.
You know, if somebody wouldfind joy from it, or you know
(22:51):
it's a size I'm never going toget back into or anything, you
know there'll be somebody thatloves that.
So I think there's definitelymagic in that.
Is that.
You know, that's what I'mhoping your.
You know, coming on the podcastjust inspires people to have a
look at what they've got aroundthem.
So if you weren't doing whatyou were doing, what else would
you do?
It's funny, I'd probably.
Belinda Massey (23:10):
I mean, what you were doing, what else would you
do?
It's funny.
I probably I mean realisticallyI'd probably still be in
accounting, yes, but if I wasn'tdoing this, I think I do like
volunteering, I do like helpingpeople.
So I did work in an op shop forsix months while I was sort of
between up and I quit my job andI came back to Sunshine Coast
before I really got into this,creating my own business, which
(23:31):
was a bit of a mind thing, forme because I'd never done that.
I'd always the security ofworking for someone else and
getting a paycheck, of course.
So, yeah, I worked for an opshop and I really there's a few
gaps in all sorts of places and,like op shops get so many
things that, like you said, yourmum collects den beer.
Yes, so when you know whatpeople collect, yes, and you
could, like, I know some opshops are quite with it and
(23:51):
they'll have someone who putsthings on Facebook marketplace
or puts things on eBay.
Amy Bennett (23:55):
Ah, there you go, but a lot of them don't have
that person who's got that.
Belinda Massey (23:59):
You know that essentially phone or computer
literacy, whatever you want tocall it that can really find
those items and whack them onand get a better price because
you apply rather than justwaiting for someone to walk
through.
Amy Bennett (24:09):
Of course, someone to walk through.
It'll move much faster if youput it on online.
Well, that's a really goodevolution of that as well.
I didn't realise that they didthat.
Belinda Massey (24:17):
Yeah, some of them do, some of them do, but I
mean, each one is different, ofcourse, of what they're, you
know, the head officers, eachone is a little bit different,
but I love the idea of gettingthat, you know, of encouraging
op shops and working with opshops to do more of that sort of
thing as a volunteer, even,because I mean, it's just
Absolutely.
Amy Bennett (24:34):
Gosh, it would have been interesting the treasures
that came in.
Though it is, it is alwaysinteresting.
Belinda Massey (24:39):
And some of them come in in like terrible
condition and sometimes theydon't have the time, like it
must be.
I only did a little bit of thesorting.
I was usually on the front likebringing clothes out, people
who are sorting.
I'm glad I didn't do that jobbecause it must be so hard.
They have to make decisions tothrow a lot of things.
That's right, yeah, and it justhas to be done in an op shop
(24:59):
because you get a lot of stuff.
Amy Bennett (25:01):
So I think it's hard.
Let's chat about the conditionof items, because I know that
was something interesting that Ifound, because there is a bit
of, I guess, an oversaturationor a perception that op shops
sort of say no to X, y and Z.
So what's your experience beenand, I guess, why have you
chosen Marketplace as a platformto sell?
Belinda Massey (25:26):
So my experience has been that, yes, op shops
are like I've in two houses thatI felt like things weren't
moving fast enough.
I've called and the ladies, alot of the people who are my
clients, are very happy.
They know that I do this, that Itry to get op shops to take
them if I can't move them andthey've said, look, you know,
we've got a truck every twoweeks that comes out here or
whatever, but we've got a fullwarehouse and they have to send
the photos.
Yes, and if there's anythingthat's really amiss and certain
(25:51):
bed types, certain bed types,they only want beds that are on
the bases.
Most of them will not take bedsthat are on slats for some
reason, and I'm not sure whatthat policy is for, but really
it has to be in great conditionfor them to take it, because it
has to.
They want to move through.
Of course that's their business.
Yeah, and most of the placesthat I've been to, particularly
if someone's been elderly- thecouch might have a stain.
The couch might have a stain,the couch might have a scratch,
(26:12):
it'll have pen marks orsomething.
It's a life well lived, right.
Yeah and they might have hadthat for 10 years plus.
And one of the couches Imanaged to sell.
I was amazed I actually managedto sell it for $100.
It actually had a hole in theit was quite a new one, but I
don't know if a rat or an animalhad eaten a hole in it.
Yes, hole in it, and she justused a cushion to cover it up.
Amy Bennett (26:30):
Yeah, there you go.
Belinda Massey (26:31):
So yeah, people don't want to necessarily
upgrade all the time there's abuyer for everything, but there
is a buyer for everything andhonestly, it looked totally fine
.
Amy Bennett (26:38):
I was very clear.
Belinda Massey (26:39):
This is it, but the rest of the couch is awesome
.
You know 100.
And someone came and grabbed itfor 100.
I was like thank goodness Idon't have to take that to the
tip.
I've only managed to get themto take one couch, and it's
interesting because this couchwas a two-seater, a three-seater
and two single-seaters, and Imanaged to sell the two singles,
I managed to sell thetwo-seater, but I couldn't move
the three-seater.
(26:59):
There's no one, and so, yeah,luckily the op shop did take
that one.
That's the only time I'vemanaged to get an op shop to say
yes To bigger furniture, To.
And it was a velvet green couch, it was retro and cool.
Amy Bennett (27:12):
There's a small market for that.
Right, there's a small marketfor that, and so I know I always
ask people what are somemisconceptions or myths you know
in their business.
So do you want to share?
You know one of yours.
Belinda Massey (27:26):
Absolutely so.
A lot of the people who ask meto do it sort of say they have
some experience on FacebookMarketplace but they find that
it's just overwhelming how manyscammers or how many people
waste their you know.
It can be a big waste.
It can be a waste of time.
People say is this available?
Yes, yes, it is, and thennothing.
And you know, at the end of theday, people are online.
They sometimes just don'trespond at all or they muck you
(27:49):
around.
Amy Bennett (27:50):
Can I interject there?
Belinda Massey (27:51):
and just add.
Amy Bennett (27:52):
So interesting that you say that, because I used to
always hit that is it availableand I'm happy to put my hand up
with this because I didn't knowthat you could save the item.
So I would hit the is itavailable, so that it sat in my
inbox not knowing that there wasa save function.
So it was only that I somebodysaid to me their frustration
with people saying is itavailable and I said, well,
(28:13):
that's how I save an item.
Oh, I did not know that.
There you go.
So I quite often, you know,like I would always hit that,
but just really wanting to comeback to it Anyway, I digress
Interesting to know.
Belinda Massey (28:26):
I did not know that.
Amy Bennett (28:28):
But scamming so interesting.
So pay ID, I know, is somethingthat you feel sometimes people
think is a scam.
Belinda Massey (28:35):
Yes, so I'm an accountant by background, really
.
So pay ID is offered by all ofthe banks and all it is is
linking your phone number oryour email.
I always encourage people to doa phone number to one of your
bank accounts and that means,once you've created that
one-to-one link, that someonecan pay through their normal
bank to mobile and it willactually say, once they type in
(28:56):
my mobile number, you're paying,be a Massey, you're paying.
So they get that confirmation.
It's instant, isn't it?
It's instant confirmationbefore they then check yep, I'll
pay that person.
Whereas a bank transfer somepeople are comfortable with bank
transfers and I say well, thatrequires you to type in normally
six.
Hopefully it's copy and paste,yes, but if you're typing it in
six numbers plus nine numbers,there's no confirmation.
(29:16):
You've gotten it right, correct?
So, anyway, pay ID, don't getme wrong.
Some people I mean scammers canuse things, yes, but pay ID
people say I don't have it.
Well, do you have a bankaccount?
Amy Bennett (29:26):
Yes, you have.
Belinda Massey (29:30):
It really is secure and you could definitely
use it, and I particularlyparticularly for bigger items of
furniture.
If someone says to me can youkeep that for me till Saturday?
Yes, and I've got four weeks toclear this house.
Yes, Well, today's Tuesday.
You want me to clear it toSaturday?
Why don't you pay me like $5 or$10?
They're just skinning the gameso that I know you'll definitely
come and collect it.
Yeah, great, ask them to do itthrough PayID.
(29:51):
And I've had to educate a lotof people.
They've said what's that?
Like, I'm not used to that andI'm like, please, I'm not a
scammer, bear with me, it's justthrough your normal bank and I
have to go and tour the pro.
But I reckon 80% of the timethey'll give it a go for $5.
That's great, and you'rechanging lives all the time and
I actually think financialcapability and I call it
(30:13):
financial capability becausethings are just changing all the
time and we're relying on ourphone more- and more, the more
we can have our financialcapability at a level that's
keeping up, then, as we age, wewon't be left behind.
Amy Bennett (30:27):
That's profound, that's really Financial
independence for womenparticularly, I'm so passionate.
My grandma's Danish and Iremember we would always go with
her passbook to the post officeto draw cash out and just with
the language barrier it wasalways really difficult and, yes
, her getting a bank card wasjust so overwhelming.
So I'm big on that as well.
(30:49):
But that's a good little mythto dispel, which is great.
All right, let's have a chat.
So we know what you love aboutyour role.
We know what you have done toget to where you are.
Where is the business now?
So chat through, I guess, whereyou are now and where you want
to grow the business to.
Belinda Massey (31:09):
It's interesting .
A lot of people say to me do Iwant to grow the business?
And at the moment I've donenine houses in about a year and
a half?
Amazing, I'd like to get to thepoint where I'm doing about ten
houses a year, although I couldprobably go up to 14 and still
be coming, because they do takeabout four weeks.
Yes, and you're just one homeat a time.
Well, no, I can do one for twoweeks and then start another one
(31:31):
I can have two on the go, butthey have to be close together
Like I want.
The Clounder Rise RetirementVillage is one that I've done
two villas at the same time.
Amy Bennett (31:39):
And I hear that you're highly recommended from
them.
One of our colleagues just gotyour details from them, which is
great.
Belinda Massey (31:46):
Yeah, it's so lovely to hear that I'm starting
to be recommended.
It's so humbling to say thatI'm being recommended because I
try to do a great job and I tryto be kind to the community that
I'm in and make sure thatthey're aware of what I'm doing.
And you know, just be friendly,of course.
Amy Bennett (32:00):
Well, it makes sense, doesn't it?
I mean, it's the same when Iwas just saying to you off air
that one of my clients istravelling and so they had a lot
of pot plants that weren'trequired by the buyer.
So I put them on a communityboard last night more so as a
giveaway and I think I said toyou I had 15 messages and my
clients were wrapped thatsomebody's going to love and
care for them and they'llcontinue to grow and flourish.
(32:22):
So it is a really lovelyability to be able to do that.
Belinda Massey (32:26):
It is Passing something on to someone who will
love it and someone who reallywants it enough to come pick it
up.
Yes, it's a great feeling.
It is a great feeling Like,come pick it up.
It's a great feeling.
It is a great feeling.
I've always found, withoutexception, that people are
pretty grateful and pretty niceand they tell you a bit of the
story about what they're goingto do with it or why they want
it, and it's just.
You know, people's stories arefascinating.
They always are.
Amy Bennett (32:44):
It's so lovely.
I have to ask what's the mostobscure thing that you've found,
or something that's taken youby surprise?
Belinda Massey (32:56):
Absolutely so.
In one of the homes that I wasclearing out, the gentleman who
owned the villa.
He had been the carer of hismother previously, so I knew the
story.
And when I was clearing out hiskitchen items I sometimes put
Tupperware on just to see if itwill move, but for whatever
reason it doesn't.
I usually end up taking it tothe op shop.
But at the back of the kitchenon one of the second or third
last days, I found a casseroledish and it was a Corningware
(33:18):
casserole dish and I remember mymother used to have them.
I recognised it.
I said, oh yeah, it's good.
But I didn't even really knowwhat it was worth.
And I looked at it and it wasin pretty much perfect condition
, like it looked, like it hadnever been used.
So I took a.
I do what I always do to andthis is a tip for all of the
listeners out there the Googlephoto frame.
So you take a photo.
(33:40):
You just get the item, take aphoto of it and search and it
will tell you, especially forwell-known items such as corny
wear, what it's worth.
Amy Bennett (33:44):
Amazing and you take lots of photos, right oh?
Belinda Massey (33:46):
my goodness, I take, of course to put them on
Facebook Marketplace.
People want to see left, rightand centre, every single angle
Measure centre, every singleangle, measurements,
measurements, yeah, all of thatstuff before you.
So I walk around with a bum bag.
Amy Bennett (33:56):
I love it.
I love the physicality of myjob.
Belinda Massey (33:58):
actually I'm constantly on my knees, going
from up, going from high.
Amy Bennett (34:02):
And what else do you need to put in an ad to
effectively sell the product?
Sorry, we've deviated.
Belinda Massey (34:07):
So yeah, to effectively sell a product
you've got to pull all yourmeasurements, you've got to put
any imperfections.
Ah, good point.
People will say is there anyimperfections?
Yes, and it's like no, I've gotto be careful, because it's
like if they're the first timeby or whatever, yes, I would
always put if there's animperfection, if I know this is
what it looks like and I'vetaken a photo of every angle and
(34:28):
some people don't even know toclick on it, they'll just
contact straight from the firstlittle.
What do you call it?
A thumbnail?
Thumbnail, yes, but I said youknow, scroll through the photos,
you'll see every angle.
I was like there's only 10.
Yes, there's only 10 angles.
You have to be careful.
I try not to include anythingelse in the home.
Amy Bennett (34:45):
Yeah, I loved that you said that you would really
kind of have a bit of a workingzone.
Belinda Massey (34:49):
Yeah, and I try to.
You know I move them so they'reon their own because you don't
want to look like it's crowded.
Yes, and if you can possiblyavoid it, do not photograph
things in the garage.
Always move them, even ifthey've been in the garage for a
few years.
Move them back into the house,dust them off and then
photograph them, because peopledon't like buying from a garage.
I love it.
Good tip.
And then I just put in thetitle I always check what it's
(35:13):
normally sold as Wonderful.
So for instance yeah, like forinstance, a desk.
You know you put desk and youput solid or wood.
Yes, like, just make it easyfor people to know exactly what
it is, yeah, and if it's got abrand or a model number,
definitely whack that into thedescription and then in
description.
People for whatever reason,don't trust when they see
(35:34):
there's usually a map.
But I always put pick up andthen I put the suburb Amazing.
Put the suburb exactly where itis.
Maybe people will still textand say where am I picking?
Amy Bennett (35:41):
up yes.
Belinda Massey (35:42):
Is this from Noorana?
Amy Bennett (35:43):
or whatever.
It's amazing, isn't it?
And I think, well, it's thepsychology of selling.
It's an interesting thing.
But that's some gold hints andtips.
Belinda Massey (35:51):
Yeah, I think people, the dimensions are very
important.
People always have a space theywant to put it in, so you've
got to give those dimensions.
Amy Bennett (35:59):
Look, I think it's an absolute non-negotiable.
We always have a measuring tapeat properties.
We'll laminate a sign that hasthe fridge dimensions.
You know all of those thingsare so important Always
measurements on a floor plan anda site plan.
So it's just really abouthelping people during the
process and obviously thatexpedites the sales process for
(36:23):
you and therefore for yourclients.
Speaking of, I guess, therevenue or the benefit for your
clients, I know one of thethings that my team asked you
was actually about whether youcharge a percentage of the sales
or how you're remunerated foryour service.
Absolutely.
Belinda Massey (36:33):
So I do not charge a percentage fee and the
reason being is that I oftengive things away and that's just
part of the process.
So I don't want to be lockedinto having to get the best
price, because what I sell is anempty home, so I don't always
get the price, and I made itvery clear to the clients look,
you may get.
If you had all the time in theworld, you could do this and
maybe get a better price,correct?
(36:57):
But you're giving me four weeks, so I'm going to try to make
your item both stand out fromthe photos and everything, but
also it's got to be a little bitcheaper than everything else,
because I want people to come toyour item, not the 10 others
that are out there on Facebook.
Great, so that excitement level.
Amy Bennett (37:08):
Yeah, and it's got to be a little bit cheaper.
Yeah, everyone win, don't they?
I mean we're, you know, we areintrinsically.
Belinda Massey (37:13):
That's how we're marketed to now isn't a sale or
a bargain price on face ofmarketplace is very important
and time as well.
Amy Bennett (37:19):
So you know, if you're warana, I want to go.
Okay.
Well, in my mind this is mynerdy brain it's like, okay,
well, that's going to be 10minutes there, 10 minutes back.
You know when is the convenienttime.
So you know that's important.
So fixed fee is great.
Belinda Massey (37:32):
So, yeah, so I charge a fixed fee based on
basically how big the house isand what level of items there
are.
Like some people, like you said, are minimalist and it's quite
easier to.
It's a bit easier to move thosesorts of homes because there's
just less there.
Others have a lot of stuffcovering lots of surfaces and it
will just take time to gothrough that.
So, yeah, I price based onroughly how long I think,
(37:53):
roughly how long it will take meand I also try to make sure
because I'm a growing businessand I'm a business that wants to
get referrals I always try tomake sure that the customer ends
off better off, amazing.
So what I find is I've gottenpretty good now at sort of
guessing what value I'll get forthe furniture and the items.
So I think, okay, well, if I'mgoing to get, let's say, I think
(38:14):
maybe $2,000 from selling allof those items, but I'll try to
charge $1,500 if it's a smallone bedroom or two bedroom but
if it's a bigger, because I haveto charge more, like $2,000 or
$2,500, but they will usuallyend up with $4,000 or $5,000.
So they always end up withmoney over the top because I try
to say look, you're not goingto charge, you won't have, I'll
(38:37):
save you time because it'll costyou no time at all.
Yes, you won't have to dumpanything, because that comes out
of usually what I.
Of course I just do that off.
Usually right at the end theremight be something that needs to
go, but I'll say I will arrangethat for you out of.
I really take care of that, andthe house is empty and you just
get the money over the top.
Amy Bennett (38:55):
Such a stress-free process.
It is.
Belinda Massey (38:57):
And all I have to do is sell is pay me the 50%
of my fee up front, and then Ijust collect and collect and
collect Ah perfect, yeah, andthen I pay myself essentially
that second half and then therest just goes to them and I
start remitting them the money,Usually after three weeks.
I've had one person who was alittle bit strapped for cash and
said can you just give me somenow?
I was like, of course you can,I'm still selling.
(39:20):
But yeah, I'll send you whatI've got over the top already.
And then I make a final paymentat the end of it and say all
done, your house is empty.
Every two or three days I sendthem the spreadsheet of how I'm
going with collections I love it.
Amy Bennett (39:30):
You're like, okay, well, I need to make that.
Yeah, that's wonderful.
And look, sometimes it doesn'thappen and sometimes that's not
somebody's motivation.
I mean, you know you can't puta price on the stress that
you're relieving with people inthis and and so often you know,
it's not necessarily just theresident but their family as
(39:51):
well, and you know, I know howprecious time is for people.
Belinda Massey (39:55):
It is.
It really is like the time togo because at the end of the day
, someone's got to have to gothrough the items.
Right, even if you throw themin a skip, you have to go
through them and you wantsomeone trusted to go through
them because they can find thoseitems of value, whether it be
the jewellery that's in the shoebox or the corningware that's
in the back of the kitchen.
You don't want someone justpicking that up and throwing
that out.
So by getting me to do it, youreally know that I'll generally
(40:17):
find the value.
I mean, I won't always findeverything, you know, there
might be something that I mightmiss and give it to the op shop,
but hopefully the clientsthemselves have an idea.
Amy Bennett (40:26):
What's in the home, yeah, but I mean it's, it's
funny you say about casseroledishes and I probably shouldn't
say this on a published podcast,but I know my mum has a little
secret stash of cash somewherein her home which she has told
me.
But I always think heaven helpher if something happened to me
as well, that somebody would getthe best surprise.
Did you say about you foundjewellery in a shoebox?
Belinda Massey (40:47):
Yeah, jewellery in a shoebox.
Yeah, it was just in a littleenvelope and I was like oh, look
at that.
Amy Bennett (40:51):
Yeah, look, we have all of these treasures.
Belinda Massey (40:55):
Yes, people have things like that.
I've never found anything undera mattress, yet that's not a
favourite anymore.
No, that's not a favourite.
Amy Bennett (41:03):
In a manhole is some of the things that I've had
.
People have forgotten to have alook in the attic, so no doubt
there'll be many stories.
I'm sure you'll have a podcastthat you'll be able to do with
the stories you could tell.
So what you do is absolutelyamazing, but let's get to know
you a little bit more.
So what is your dream holidaydestination?
(41:24):
Belinda.
Belinda Massey (41:24):
So my dream holiday is Copenhagen and Monaco
.
Those two places in just.
I've never been there.
And it's the royal benton, it'sthe history.
I love history.
Yes, and I'm not a huge fan ofthe English monarchy anymore.
I noticed you didn't includethem, but no, I have been to the
UK so that's probably why it'snot the dream job of one anymore
(41:45):
because I've been to all thosecastles, but I do love a good
castle.
Amy Bennett (41:48):
I love this and history.
It's interesting, isn't it?
Because we're such a newcountry.
So I mentioned to you off airthat I'm Danish and had the
privilege of going throughPrincess Mary's I guess castle
palace before she moved in, andthat was amazing back in, I
think, 2010.
And it was lovely to seetributes of Australia there.
(42:09):
So I'm very much a Danishroyalist.
My gran, my best amour, lovedour Queen Marguerite and she's
obviously passed on andabdicated for her son.
Belinda Massey (42:20):
Isn't that amazing that she did that.
It's such a show of confidencein her son and I wish the Queen,
like you know, charles and allthat, if she had done that and
shown that little confidence inher child, because I think Queen
Marguerite is a modern womanwho's like yeah.
Amy Bennett (42:32):
I'm done Absolutely .
So lots to be learned.
And Monaco, well interesting.
A lot of history there.
Obviously, grace Kelly.
Belinda Massey (42:39):
Yeah, grace Kelly is just when I was young,
I just thought she was just themost beautiful woman and just
you know the story.
It's a bit like the Queen Mary.
I mean she was a star sort ofalready.
Yes, it's, I was a huge fan.
I've read a few autobiographiesAmazing.
I know just biographies ofGrace Kelly, and she's a
beautiful lady.
Amy Bennett (42:56):
Well, you all go off to your palaces, which is
lovely.
Belinda, tell us what was thebest day of your life.
Belinda Massey (43:03):
I've got to be a traditionalist here and I've
got two kids.
Amy Bennett (43:05):
Yes, absolutely.
Belinda Massey (43:07):
Two best days.
Two best days yes, two bestdays.
Giving birth healthily andhappily, without too much
intervention, very healthily.
For me, it was just a huge,huge day.
I was super happy with my bodyand with what I was able to
achieve with my two healthychildren.
Amy Bennett (43:23):
What an accomplishment Is that something
that you did preparation for?
Is it something you weremindful of ahead of the birth?
Belinda Massey (43:29):
Yeah, I mean, I read the books.
What to Expect when You'reExpecting?
Amy Bennett (43:31):
I did the right stuff.
Belinda Massey (43:32):
I didn't eat cheese or salami or anything for
nine months.
I did all the right things.
It's just that sense ofresponsibility, you know, of
your husband carrying that child.
Yes, and yeah, I was definitely.
I wasn't rowdy.
I used to think, oh, things aregoing to go wrong.
So I think I was quite anxiousleading up to it.
So I was just super glad whenit all went well.
Amy Bennett (43:50):
And now the boys.
Belinda Massey (43:52):
Yeah, they're both healthy individuals.
One's out in Melbourne doingfirst year of uni, so that's
great.
He's now off being a citizen.
Amy Bennett (43:59):
Yes and second is a genius, I believe oh.
Belinda Massey (44:04):
I'm not going to bring my own.
He's a very bright boy and I'mvery proud of him.
Amy Bennett (44:08):
I'm saying that because he was a very, very
lovely feedback from my podcast.
I just thought I'd give him alittle shout out for that.
Belinda Massey (44:17):
He's a good kid.
Wonderful, he's a great kid.
Amy Bennett (44:19):
Belinda, what do you enjoy?
Your favourite meal and drinks?
Belinda Massey (44:23):
My favourite meal is definitely Indian.
I do love a good sauce and myfavourite restaurant is in.
It's funny, it's in Malula Bar.
I've been there several times.
Yeah, and a lot of people, Ithink, skip, I think, locals.
Several times.
Yeah, and a lot of people, Ithink, skip, I think locals, yes
, I think, sometimes skip MalulaBar because it's maybe touristy
or whatever, but the Shalimarwhich I think now I think
they've changed names actuallythat one in the corner right
near the surf club.
I knew you were going to saythat I've heard that's amazing,
(44:44):
it is really good and they'verecently like they're upgrading
their furniture and they're sortof spru at renovating a little
bit.
Just the look of the place, soit's getting more modern and,
yeah, they just got a great meal.
Amy Bennett (44:56):
Nice, authentic Indian.
Belinda Massey (44:58):
I haven't ever been to India to know.
But, I do really like that one.
I've got great sauces great.
What's your go-to curry?
My son always ordered butterchicken.
I like a different one everytime.
Honestly, I really like to.
I've been there about fourtimes and I just try to do a
different one every time.
Try to working my way through.
Amy Bennett (45:13):
I like it.
That's awesome.
I do.
I love it.
I've had nothing this bad.
So when I met my husband, I wasamazed because he only had the
same dish at Indian and the samedish at Thai.
So I think that's reallyawesome.
And mild, medium or spicy.
Belinda Massey (45:27):
Mild to medium.
Amy Bennett (45:28):
I like it, that's good.
Belinda Massey (45:30):
My son sometimes goes spicy and I try it, but
it's yeah, no maltame.
Amy Bennett (45:34):
I've graduated to medium now.
Yeah, medium I can cope withmost of the time.
Anything more than that'spretty intense Go-to drink.
Belinda Massey (45:43):
Probably lemon lime bitters.
Oh, that's a nice one.
Amy Bennett (45:46):
It's a traditional.
We need that here on theSunshine Coast, don't we
Refreshing?
Belinda Massey (45:49):
Refreshing exactly without having regrets
the next day, and Without havingregrets the next day and in a
keep cup, I try to always go toa place that just served me in a
glass.
Yes, I always look, I did get aglass of water today.
Amy Bennett (46:04):
I didn't get one of our bottles of water, so you've
influenced me.
Belinda Massey (46:07):
Look how beautiful that water is too.
It is Sometimes you can get.
I do get joy out of having myown container and the containers
that I think they get served.
Amy Bennett (46:13):
Yes, it's funny, I do get joy out of having my own
container and the containersthat I think they get served.
Yes, that's the difference.
It's funny.
I'm very much accessories withmy drinks, so it'll be like a
bit of grated ginger or mintleaves or ice or lime wedges
Nothing boring for me.
Belinda Massey (46:27):
I was saying the other day, I have yet to
purchase, I've never purchasedreal ginger.
Ah, I'm a pretty traditionalAustralian cook.
Yes, I love ginger.
Ah, I'm such a like, I'm not a.
I'm a pretty traditionalAustralian cook.
Yes, I love ginger.
I have ginger in a jar in myfridge?
Yeah, but I've never I'vereally got to expand my cooking
repertoire, I'm just not a veryexperimental cook.
Amy Bennett (46:45):
So I think your number one destination from here
is the ginger factory atYandina.
I have been there.
Belinda Massey (46:51):
I do like their candy, I like their cordial, but
yeah, I've never gotten a bitof ginger and grated it.
Oh, it's going to change yourlife.
Amy Bennett (46:58):
Yep stir fries.
Oh, I love grated ginger, butdefinitely in a refreshing drink
is really lovely.
So there you go.
That's your challenge.
And, belinda, to end our lovelyconversation, which has just
been obviously a blessing.
I'm so grateful for the servicethat you offer the community,
looking forward to us being ableto collaborate.
(47:20):
Especially with my passion fordownsizing, I know you're going
to be a gift that continues togive my clients and the world.
So, in that note, I'm going toleave you to end with your
favourite quote or saying Thankyou, Amy.
Belinda Massey (47:38):
My favourite quote is God helps those who
help themselves.
Beautiful, Absolutely.
Thank you so much for having meand for making me feel so
welcome.
It's been a pleasure.
Amy Bennett (47:44):
It really has my pleasure.
You didn't end, you didn't.
Belinda Massey (47:47):
No nerves, I did , I did I definitely did, but
you're just such a friendlywelcoming person.
Amy Bennett (47:54):
Oh, my pleasure.
Well, thank you for being withus here on Beyond the Signboard,
belinda Massey from Move OnConsciously, thank you.
Thank you for listening to thisepisode of Beyond the Signboard
.
We trust you enjoyed it as muchas we enjoyed making it for you
.
If there are any topics youwant covered in the future, make
sure you reach out and let usknow.
Also, feedback and suggestionsare appreciated almost as much
(48:17):
as likes, shares and downloads.
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