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Complimentary 30-Minute Introductory Chat - Phone or Video Call

Structure and support

- from first conversation to follow-up visit

Learn more about Designing Moves

Download or share the Designing Moves brochure below

Planning makes the difference

Most people start with the boxes. Designing Moves starts with the destination — understanding your new space, what belongs in it, and what needs to happen to everything else before moving day arrives.

Whether you engage Designing Moves for one service or several, the approach is always the same: plan first, act with confidence, and make sure nothing important is overlooked.

Ready to Start

Start with a conversation

Your first step is a complimentary 30-minute phone or video call — a relaxed, no-obligation kōrero about your situation, your timeline, and what feels most overwhelming right now.

Particularly useful for family members who are helping parents plan a move from out of town — we can talk through options, timing, and how Designing Moves can support your family remotely or on the ground in Taupō.

Space Planning

Know before you go — space planning for your new home

Working with Mark Rantin Architecture, I create a measured floor plan for your new home — built around the possessions that are moving with you. Every room planned, every piece of furniture placed, before a single box is packed.

This is the foundation of a confident move. When you know what fits and where it goes, everything that follows — sorting, packing, moving day — becomes significantly more straightforward.

Charged at $100 per hour, in collaboration with Mark Rantin Architecture.

Move Planning

Your formal Move Planner

Once your space plan is in place, a formal Move Planner brings everything together — packing plans, staged activities, and contractor bookings coordinated on your behalf.

If items are leaving your home — through sale, donation, or gifting — Designing Moves can manage that process: photographing and listing items, contacting traders, removal contractors, and donation organisations, and recording every arrangement in your Move Planner.

The DIY mover would otherwise manage all of this themselves. Having it planned and coordinated professionally means nothing falls through the cracks.

Charged at $80 per hour.

The 4-Stream System

At the heart of every Designing Moves engagement is a simple, proven framework. Every possession is assessed once, sorted respectfully, and placed into one of four streams.

Designing Moves 4-Stream System Ⓒ 2026

Treasure & Keep

Moving to your new home 

These are the possessions that belong in your next chapter — assessed against your new floor plan so everything that moves has a place to go.

Value & Profit

Possessions with financial value are identified and realised — not lost in the chaos of moving. I co-ordinate selling arrangements on your behalf.

Gift & Good

Items that won't be moving but deserve a good home — gifted to family members or donated to local organisations, handled fairly and transparently.

Recycle & Remove

What remains is removed responsibly — nothing is discarded without thought, and sustainability is considered throughout.

What this means in practice

  • Nothing is rushed or discarded without thought

  • Items of value are identified and realised — not lost

  • Family members are involved fairly and transparently

  • Work happens in your own home, at your own pace

"Every possession gets assessed once, sorted into the right stream, then action is taken. Nothing falls through the cracks."  - Wendy Metcalfe, Designing Moves

The physical sorting happens on-site, working through your possessions together. Items are grouped and labelled using the 4-Stream colour system as we go — a visible, satisfying record of progress.

Sorting Support

Begin with a 2-hour introductory session to learn the 4-Stream framework before any sorting begins. Then book on-site sorting time as you need it — working at your pace, in your home.

Weekend full-day bookings are available at a discounted rate and can be split across two days by arrangement.

Introductory session $100 · On-site sorting $45 per hour · Full-day weekend booking $320

Ready to take the first step?

Every move starts with a conversation. Book your complimentary 30-minute call — phone or video — and we'll talk through your situation, your timeline, and where Designing Moves can help.

Available weekday afternoons from 2:30 pm, and weekends by appointment. Leave a message any time.