Hello, I'm Constance Botelho and I'm glad you're here! I believe our homes are an expression of ourselves - including our internal mental and physical states.
For nearly two decades, I have focused on helping people find or improve their homes - first as a real estate agent and most recently as a construction project manager. After some of my clients found or remodeled a new space, I noticed their clutter gradually crept back in. This made me wonder why we accumulate so much stuff. Is all of our stuff the reason why the chaos we were trying to leave behind with a remodel or new home follows us?
Why Hire The Avenue?
“If you want something done right, do it yourself.”
We've all heard or said this phrase, but what I've discovered through my own experiences is that sometimes we aren't the best person to get the job done. This is especially true when it comes to decluttering our spaces.
In 2013, my family and I moved from Boise to Bend and rented for a year while looking for a house to buy - this meant packing up and unpacking a whole house two times in a year with a toddler. I wondered how I had accumulated so much stuff. Where was the 24-year old who moved from Boston to San Francisco with a suitcase? And how had she accumulated enough stuff (with two other people and two poodles) to fill up a 26-foot moving truck?
I was surprised to find that I appeared to have fallen into the “more is better” trap that our society holds so dear - contrary to my long-held belief that less is usually more.
This marked the start of my own decluttering journey. I was looking for a greater sense of calm, more mental clarity, better health and more time and energy to enjoy experiences with the people I love. However, I did not have the benefit of a process based on tens of thousands of success stories to guide me through all the questions: Where to begin? What comes next? What to keep? What to do with all the stuff I don’t want? So many decisions! I discovered clearing out years of items on my own without a plan or an accountability partner was the wrong way to approach this important step towards finding peace in my most cherished space.
I want to make this difficult process easier for you, so I enrolled in Joshua Becker’s very first Professional Declutterer™ certification course. The Becker Method™ is a tried-and-true process for owning less that is based on known principles of human behavior and designed to keep you from feeling overwhelmed. I’m excited to introduce you to a new way of living - one where your clutter is no longer in the way of the life you want. And, perhaps most importantly, I've learned how to make this often mentally and emotionally exhausting task fun and rewarding. If you're looking for a little more space, I'm here to help you find it.
Give me a call, we can start today.
Why Does It Matter?
Our homes - where we spend more than half of our time - serve as the backdrop to our lives. Imagine your home as the launching pad for bold ideas and new adventures, a place to strengthen connections and restore your peace of mind and health. How do you feel when you imagine your house as a refuge from stress, anxiety and external pressures?
What matters most to you? Is your home providing the optimal backdrop for the life you want? Don't worry, my goal is not to turn your home into a minimalist swoon-worthy instagram post. My goal is to help you live with less so you can have so much more of what matters to you. Finding your motivation is the first and most important step.
Whether you’re looking for a lifestyle change, household refresh or a wholesale change in your relationship to consumerism, I believe in you and I'm confident that my non-judgmental and empathetic approach will help you achieve your goals.