Smart tips for helping parents downsize

By Kathy Schmidt, Broker/Owner, Schmidt Realty Group Inc.

If you or someone you know will soon be helping a parent downsize, this month’s blog is for you.  Our homes are where we gather with friends and family and also where we gather our possessions… often a lot of them over the years!  While everyone has good intentions to declutter the garage or go through all the family photos “one day”… that day never seems to happen. Next thing you know, decades have passed, possessions have accumulated, and sometimes other family members have brought their things to store for “later” as well.  This can easily add up to over-filled garages and storage rooms, and boxes and boxes of things to go through.

Whether your need to sort and shift items is time-sensitive, or if you’re thinking ahead to minimize the taks for a future move, here are some tips that I think you’ll find helpful.

1. Start now. It’s an obvious one, but can’t be overstated. Eliminating even a few boxes a month will add up.
2. Take small bites. Invest a couple of hours one weekend a month starting now, and you’ll thank yourself later. If you’re helping a family member move, they may have a hard time letting anything go, see if you can get them to commit to a couple of hours a month by making it a get-together date they look forward to.  Maybe bring lunch over and start going through those family photos. You’ll both enjoy it, and the job will slowly get done.
3. If furniture isn’t in use, find out if there’s a family member who might be happy to have it. Then give them a deadline to come and get it 😉. Alternatively, give it a quick clean and decide if it might have value to someone else. In that case you could sell it on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji, or donate it through FIND or any of the many organizations that support newcomers to the area. If you think any of the items might be valuable and they’re no longer being used, you might want to bring in an expert. Becks Antiques is one option. Beck Auctions – Beck Auctions
4. Ask for help! When the time comes to make a move, many find it helpful to hire a professional to assist. Here are a few suggestions!
   Sort & Simple: Professional Home Organizers, Edmonton, AB, Sort & Simple
   Elder Move: Senior Moving, Relocate Elders, Downsizing Assistance
   Move Coordinators: Trusted Senior Movers – Downsizing & Move Managers | Move Coordinators Inc.

5. Consider short-term storage solutions. Sometimes there’s not time to go through everything because a move has to happen quickly. In that case, one solution is to rent a heated storage unit. While it’s not ideal to save the job for later, if getting everything safely out of the house so it can be sold is a priority, this can work. Just make sure that you set a deadline for getting the storage unit before a year is up.
6. Be patient. With yourself, and your loved ones if you’re the helper. Assisting a parent to make a move is a big job. It’s not just a physical transition, it’s a very emotional one in most cases for the parent. And it might be emotional for you as well, as you say goodbye to the family home. Be gentle with yourself and everyone else involved. Take it one step at a time, and you’ll get through it.

When it comes to managing the real estate side of things, you’re best off to start early there as well. At Schmidt, we often meet with clients a year or more in advance. In addition to providing valuable resources, we can be watching the market to help determine the best timing to optimize the selling price and can often ease concerns about how everything will go simply by creating a plan together. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to chat about how to be the best help you can be while also saving your own sanity. We’re here for you!