Seniors and Boomers downsizing takes time. It’s not an overnight process. Unless you don’t-and it is!
I’ve heard seniors say (bragging…) that ” They’re just going to leave it all for their kids to handle after they’re gone.” Why, I ask myself, would any parent dump a houseful of stuff, junk, belonging, personal property, things that their kids don’t want, on the people they say they love the most?!
Sifting and sorting stuff, packing, assembling, dis-assembling, giving it away, deciding what to keep-all in the perspective of a big and maybe next to final life transition.
Suggestions from me, a transitions pro with 20 years of experience working with people just like you:
Give yourself a deadline and work in reverse. Mark the tentative exit date from your property on a calendar and break down the project room by room, then start working.
Buy boxes and tape
Buy green painters tape and mark all of the big stuff you think you want to take with you. Leave the other stuff unmarked.
Write an inventory list of those items, go around again in a few days, and make adjustments twice, maybe three times.
Leave 70%, take 30%. Donations are in the Leave Pile. Those get disbursed later, not now.
Start packing. Closets, dressers, linens, kitchen, etc. Be tough.
If you are told by a real estate agent to downsize so they can list the house, do it this way:
Pack the stuff you are taking as you were doing and leave the rest for a second packing. Impose upon the realtor to come in and mark the things he or she wants you to leave in the home for showing, then pack the things not to be left out. Use BLUE painters tape. Stash those boxes in the garage separate from the ones you are taking. Better yet, if the timing works rent a transportable container for the move pile. Pod.com, etc.
If it’s all too much, hire a transitions manager to work with you, to get you started and set up a plan or work with you weekly providing common sense and labor. EstateMAX can help.
When the house is finally stripped of everything other than those items that accentuate the architecture and interior features and furniture rearranged with some accessorizing ( called Staging) your realtor will have it on the market and it will be sold before you know it. If you don’t have to jump through hoops to sell it, the downsizing will be done and it will be time for you to move and an estate sale company to come in and liquidate and donate what you have left behind. Again, EstateMAX can help.
In 10 days from start to finish EstateMAXOPS.com will set up, sell, and pay you your sale proceeds.
Call Laurie Zook today for a no cost phone consultation. 301-332-5585
