Tag Archive for: downsizing

The Seniors Guide To Downsizing

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Have you or a loved one recently made the decision to downsize your home? In addition to saving money on energy costs, downsizing can help you live clutter-free and simplify your lifestyle.

Downsizing can often be a stressful and tolling process, both emotionally and physically. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you have made the decision to downsize your home, there are probably a million questions going through your mind on what should stay and what should go. Here are some tips from MYMOVE to make downsizing easier.

Tips to make downsizing later in life easier

1. Start early.

Give yourself plenty of time for this process, because it will inevitably take longer than you expect. Take your time, and don’t try to sort through your entire house in one day or weekend. A couple of weeks to a month is a more realistic timeline. Take it one room at a time, and take breaks throughout.

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Right-Sizing Without the Fear of Losing Space

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Both millennials and baby boomers are starting to be drawn to a similar type of home, a smaller one. These smaller “right-sized” homes are attracting millennials to help keep the clutter out and less yard maintenance. Baby Boomers are also finding themselves moving into “right-sized” homes now that their children have grown and moved out. One problem that this second group is finding, however, is clearing the clutter that they have amassed over the years.

In a recent article from Realtor Magazine, they write that “idea of moving to a smaller space can scare people at first. Once they do, time and again, people used the word ‘liberated’ to describe their move to a smaller space, with homes requiring far less time and money to maintain.”

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How To Downsize Successfully

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Downsizing is one of the hardest things you will have to do. What should stay and what should go? Then when you finally narrow it down, you find you need to narrow it down even more. In addition to the larger items like furniture, there is all the memorbilia, clothes, heirlooms, dishes… The list goes on!

In a recent Wall Street Journal article they intereviewed, Deborah Miller Lakoff who was a top Hollywood talent agent for over 40 years. She represented big names like William Devane, Ned Beatty, Bob Uecker and Julio Iglesias. For proof, one could just look in her garage.

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5 Tips to Downsizing

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Downsizing. It’s inevitable. At some point in all of our lives we are going to need to clear out the clutter and downsize our homes. But what exactly do you keep and what do you toss? It is a very difficult undertaking to take on. Cleaning a home full of clutter, furniture, memories, and photos can be exhausting (and intimidating) but it doesn’t need to be.

In a recent article from Daily Caring we learn five handy tips to help you downsize.

1. Pace yourself
Going through a lifetime of important memories isn’t something you can get done in a weekend or even a week. Be realistic and take the time to make thoughtful decisions.

Pick one box or collection of items and go through piece by piece without rushing. After you finish with that box, then start on another.

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How to Downsize

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One of the hardest challenges many seniors face is downsizing. However, it can be something to look forward to. Some seniors enjoy the idea of moving to a smaller place with less maintenance and upkeep. If you are looking to downsize, or if it’s time to have a conversation with your loved one about downsizing, timing is everything.

The decision to downsize is only one part of the equation. Once you’ve made the decision or have had the talk with your loved one about moving to a smaller home, there are an abundance of decisions that need to be made. Here are a few steps to help guide you through this difficult process.

Step #1: Choosing a New Place to Call Home

SeniorLiving.org writes “For a number of reasons, the most important thing to address first when downsizing is to determine where the senior’s next home will be. Considerations must be addressed such as whether or not the senior has memory issues, mobility concerns, their level of caregiving needs, budget constraints, the location of their loved ones and the preference of the senior. Deciding where they will move allows them to figure out just how much downsizing will be necessary. Furthermore, it may help the senior begin to feel more comfortable about the move and be far less reluctant and remorseful about the situation.

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