Downsizing can be an arduous task at any age and even more difficult as we get older. For those who have been in their home for 30-plus years, the task can be overwhelming and the reason many seniors delay the process of moving. If you have been called upon to help your parents make the transition to a new and usually much smaller home, then this is the blog for you.
The Emotional Toll
Many seniors will feel like they are letting go of a lifetime of memories. It’s vital to bear in mind that their belongings are not “just stuff” and it’s important to respect that feeling of loss they may have during the downsizing process.
Set Up Zones
Designate several areas or zones around the home for items to donate, sell, give away, and discard. In addition, setup a “maybe” zone for those undecided items. This is probably the most important zone in the process. Having a maybe pile will keep the project from coming to a screeching halt because your parent is stuck in the decision-making. When you create a maybe pile you are giving your parent the opportunity and space to keep the job moving. It also helps to prevent disagreements about what to keep or let go. Ninety percent of the time, the items in the maybe pile will end up in the donate pile. When creating your zones, small cardboard boxes are better than tubs or bins because they don’t get too heavy and you can simply put them out for donation or give them to family or friends. Be sure to mark the boxes clearly so the items don’t get mixed up in the process.
Where to Start?
The easiest way to get the process moving is to begin with the items that are least valuable to your parent or items they kept out of obligation. Maybe start with all the plastic containers in the kitchen or the linen closets. This is a great way to ease into the work and reduce the anxiety related to such a large undertaking. Also, consider keeping the work sessions to 3-hours or less per day in the beginning. Downsizing is exhausting, both physically and mentally, so keeping the work sessions shorter will ensure you both have the energy to keep the project moving.
The Stuff
The expensive furniture that your parents purchased 30-plus years ago, and took immaculate care of throughout the years is worth a fraction of what they paid for it. The market is flooded with common household items and furniture, which in turn lowers the value of those items. This is often a hard pill for seniors to swallow. After all, they purchased good furniture thinking it would never lose its value or their children would want to keep it. Family members often don’t want or need their parent’s furniture and that can be another eye opener for seniors.
Selling
There are many online outlets available to sell furniture, however, it can be time consuming and maybe not worth the effort for the money you will make. There are many auction houses, but most are looking for high-end antiques or unusual items that bring in higher bids.
Donating
Donating household items and furniture is always an option and some organizations will pick-up. The key is to do your research and get organized. Sort and categorize your items to donate, because not all organizations take the same items. Some take only clothing. Others will take household items but not books. Others will take furniture. You don’t want to schedule a donation pick-up only to have them leave half of what you wanted them to take.
Discarding
If you have a full house with 30-plus years of items, then you might want to consider renting a dumpster or reaching out to your local junk haulers. Some local waste disposal companies will pick-up a larger load of trash for a fee and some won’t. We recommend calling your waste disposal company to determine the fees before you start putting out multiple bags of trash or large items.
Gifting to Family & Friends
If your home is already full and you have no interest in relocating your parents’ stuff to your home, then you’ll want to be very clear from the start with your parents about what you are willing to bring into your space. We often suggest that our senior clients pick 1 to 3 items that they really cherish and gift those to each family member. Sharing the story of why they love those items makes the gift extra special and more likely that those items will find a place of honor in their home for years to come.
When to Start
The sooner, the better! It took your parents 30 years to fill their home and they are not going to downsize it overnight. It’s better to do a little each week and throughout the year, then to try and knock it out in a month or a couple of weeks. If you do need to get it done in a very short period of time, then it might be best to bring in the professionals. Senior Move Managers can create a customized downsizing plan, manage the removal of unwanted items, provide packing services, coordinate subcontractors and vendors, partner with the family, home heath aids or senior community staff, arrange for shipping and storage and unpack and settle seniors in their new home.
