RSVP (REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program)

REALTOR® Volunteers Assist Seniors

Sponsored by Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS

2008 RSVP Brochure

RSVP Program Offers Help with Household Tasks

2008 RSVP Volunteer Application

2008 RSVP District Leadership Contacts

For homeowners or renters who are advanced in years or disabled, tasks like replacing smoke detector batteries, flipping a mattress or washing the windows can pose a major challenge. To those who live on the Peninsula or in the South Bay (Atherton, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, Woodside, Portola Valley, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, or Los Gatos), the RSVP program offers cost-free assistance by local Realtors in cooperation with various community organizations and senior centers. The community outreach program, called REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program (RSVP), provides senior citizens with a friendly visit and free assistance with household tasks during a designated week each year.

The annual hands-on effort, usually scheduled for a week in May, is organized by the members and affiliates of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors® (SILVAR), the San Mateo County Association of Realtors® (SAMCAR), and the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors®  (SCCAOR) the local trade associations of the real estate industry on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. During RSVP Week, teams of Realtor volunteers and affiliates (professionals who provide industry-related services) - are be at residences performing various cleaning and maintenance tasks.

The Realtors' community outreach program was launched in 2001. Last year alone, 450 Realtors and professionals offering real-estate related services provided free help around the house for 274 homeowners.

"As Realtors, we sell the benefits and aspirations of our communities," observed David Barca, SILVAR Community Outreach Chair and General Manager, Keller Williams Realty. "We are also neighbors and know about local needs. And as neighbors, we share the desire for our communities to be great places to live and are committed to give back to those who have built our communities. This program enables us to help seniors and the homebound enjoy their homes in the community for a longer time."

Seniors can request to have light bulbs replaced, house numbers installed, furnace filters changed, windows cleaned, mattresses turned or new smoke detector batteries installed. The volunteers also handle minor plumbing tasks, plant spring flowers or help with recycling. Homeowners or renters who are advanced in years, disabled or otherwise challenged and live in SILVAR-covered cities and towns can inquire about the upcoming program by calling (408) 200-0100 or clicking on the links below.