How You Become Our Client
The First Step℠ Partnership
One agreement. Every service. No upfront cost.
Whether you’re a senior ready to make your next move, an adult child helping a parent through a transition, or a caregiver coordinating care — the First Step℠ Partnership is how we formalize our commitment to you.
It covers your home, your belongings, and your next living situation — all under one agreement, presented and reviewed in person before you sign anything.
Ready to take the first step?
The first conversation is always free. No forms, no commitment. Just a real conversation about where you are and what comes next.
Learn more about the partnership below
What the Agreement Covers
Your services. Your choice.
The First Step℠ Partnership Agreement covers up to three service areas. You select only what applies to your situation — and the agreement is reviewed and signed in person, so every question is answered before you commit.
Sale of the Property
Whether through a direct offer or an open market listing, the agreement covers the sale of your home. We work with you to determine which approach fits your timeline, your goals, and your situation. Belongings left behind are handled as part of the process.
Seniors 60+ & Adult Children
Read the Downsizing Guide →Senior Community Placement
If desired
If you or your loved one is considering a move to independent living, assisted living, or memory care, the agreement can include guidance and referral assistance to help identify and evaluate the right community in Will County. The final decision is always yours.
Seniors, Families & Caregivers
Read the Senior Community Guide →Estate Liquidation
If desired
For families managing a lifetime of belongings, the agreement can include coordination of estate sale or auction, donation arrangements, and disposal of remaining contents. Every item is handled with care and respect.
Seniors, Families & Executors
Read the Estate Liquidation Guide →The Partnership Agreement is not available online. It is presented and reviewed in person before you sign.
The Path Forward
What happens after you reach out
A free phone conversation
No forms, no pressure. You tell us what you're facing — we listen, answer your questions, and help you understand your options. This call costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Whether you're a senior making this decision yourself, an adult child helping a parent, or a caregiver coordinating a transition — this is where it starts.
An in-person visit and home assessment
If a home sale will be part of your transition, we schedule an in-person visit at the property. We walk through the home together, assess the situation, and talk through what the process would look like — at your pace, with no obligation.
You choose your services
Based on your situation, you decide which services apply — a home sale, senior community placement, estate liquidation, or any combination. You are never required to use services you don't need.
The Partnership Agreement is presented in person
The First Step℠ Partnership Agreement is not available online. It is reviewed and signed in person, so every question can be answered before you commit to anything. Once signed, you officially become our client — and we get to work.
We handle the rest
From that point forward, our team coordinates every detail — the property, the belongings, the community search — so you and your family can focus on what matters most: the transition itself, and the next chapter ahead.
A Word From Daniel
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“The First StepSM Partnership is a commitment we make to you. We’re in this together — and we won’t stop until you’re settled and at peace with where you’ve landed.”
Daniel Marquardt
Founder, Fresh Start Group — Lockport, IL
Hear From Our Clients
What the partnership looks like in real life
Marcy, 79, came to Fresh Start Group when she was ready for a simpler life. Hear how the process felt from her perspective — and what it meant to have a trusted team handling everything.
Marcy, 79 — on what it felt like to have a trusted team walk alongside her through every step of her transition.