Tag: downsizing

Stuff Management: Moving, Estate Sales, Yard Sales, Downsizing & Organizing

Posted on by Kat Gilpatrick

Moving? Preparing to list your home? Making your space more livable? Just making space?

Whatever it is, it requires a handful of different tasks carried out — or services rendered —  and making sense of it all can be challenging, especially if you’re under the wire to get a job done; if it’s a difficult moment in time or if there are many decision makers involved, etc.

I’ve put together a handy guide for how to manage these projects, who can help, and how to get there.

Why would I be an expert on this? Because, as a Real Estate Agent I help all kinds of people prepare to move, to de-clutter or downsize; to organize for a more streamlined living space or to prepare to put their homes on the market.

I help with move management, coordinating customized services like estate sales, auctions, clear-outs, and of course the moves themselves. In situations where an estate requires a combination of jobs done, (off-site online estate sale item distribution, inventory and donation coordination, movers and clear-out, deep cleaning and storage space decisions) And of course personally, as a consumer of these services and someone who’s been knee-deep in the work myself, I have partnered with some of the best resources in the country to achieve custom outcomes.

When there’s individual or bulk item selling, you’ve got the classic tried and true yard/garage sales; Craigslist listings and Facebook Marketplace to name a few, as well as antique and resale selling for furniture, appliances, home decor, etc.

In any part of the country, there are options and preferred vendors, and it can be dizzying who to choose, how to get started: scoping the size of your jobs and specific needs, etc. One thing remains the same however, one common cry of those in this stage of the game: “I have too much stuff!”

 

What Services Do You Need?

Here are some of the folks who can make your life much easier, and what you need, of course depends entirely on you.

  • Organizing and Decluttering Professionals – There are all shapes and sizes for these kinds of services. One of my favorites in the Bay Area is Rita Rey. Read on for a bit more about what Rita offers below.
  • Preparing for Marketing Your Home Professionals:
    • Declutter and streamline your home
    • Assist with decision-making about what items to keep
    • Arrange for a donation, sale, or disposal of unwanted items and supervise removal
    • Stage home with existing furnishings
    • Arrange for furniture and heavy items to be moved within your home (if needed)
    • Pack and arrange for the removal of items not needed for staging
  • Downsizing – much of the above tasks apply, with an emphasis on removal or rehoming of items rather than staging and listing preparation. This can be DIY of course, or you can enlist some support!
  • Storage Rental or Pods – Knowing what you need and what serves your specific purpose and then aligning with the right contract and combination.
  • Estate Sale or Auction and full service coordination for larger jobs and important transitions – These are incredibly valuable services for those assisting after a loved one’s passing, or extreme downsizing, estate sales being especially useful if you’re able to conduct onsite. If unable to do this, an auction may be the way to go. Folks like Caring Transitions’ Jessi and Ryan, in Phoenix AZ are the gold standard, and the bar by which I measure all the rest. Check out what their services include here, and check out below the reasons why they love what they do, and people love them so much.

  • Yard Sale or Online Selling – Doesn’t need much explanation – but there are certainly pro tips and best times of year depending on your location.
  • Move Management or Movers – I am often surprised that people are unaware that these fully managed suites of services are available, and increasingly popular as a large part of our population is aging into a category who’s best served by folks like The Move Makers, here in the Portland Area.
  • Cleaners – There are regular house cleaners, and there are move-out specialists, and of course other specific services like carpet cleaning, window and gutters, etc. Some companies specialize in whole-house readiness, and this is a phenomenal choice for a one-and-done kind of approach, or for those heftier scenarios. I’ve recently had the good fortune to work with Shawna at Maid to Organize and am loving their work ethic and availability. These fine Portland area folks specialize in Estates, Hoarding, & Generally overwhelming spaces & situations, or as they put it: Professional Organizing, Cleaning & Estate Clearing as a wholistic package offering.

 

When I asked Rita, of Rita Rey organizing in the SF Bay Area, to tell me a bit about what makes her services so special, it really resonated with her passion, and spoke to her compassion:

“I just love to be part of the process of helping my clients achieve a sense of peace and surround themselves with things that make them happy. Letting go can be scary, but less scary than facing the chaos daily. I have not heard one client say that it was not worth it despite being scared to start the letting-go process.”
When I asked Jessi of Caring Transitions, in AZ, to talk about what was meaningful to them in terms of serving their transitioning clientele, she told me:
“Our job is simple: to make sure your lifelong treasures and family heirlooms are cared for in their new home.”
And they do this by featuring a really seamless online auction service, which sets them apart from other packing/moving/estate sale services.
No matter what your project is, it’s yours, and it’s important, and having someone by your side to help or advise you is worth it’s weight in gold. I hope this has been a little assistance!

Downsizing Dreams: How to Transition to a Smaller Home

Posted on by Sharon Bloudek

You’ve been thinking about downsizing. But it seems like such a big step. How do you know when you’re ready? How do you know when the time is right? And what do you need to do to get ready to downsize?

When to downsize is a personal decision—one that you don’t have to rush into (unless you want to, that is!). The timing has to be right. And first things first: make sure the market is optimal. Research what’s happening in real estate in your community. Is it a seller’s market? You might want to take advantage! If the market is down, however, you might be better advised to bide your time.

Beyond the state of the market, consider whether your home is meeting your needs. Do you use the space in your home, or do you have rooms that you rarely enter? Do you feel overwhelmed by maintaining your house—or do you simply prefer to spend your time doing other things? Does the expense involved with your home make you feel like you’re missing out on other things—the opportunity to travel, for example?

Once you’ve decided that you want to downsize, know that the process can take some time. As you begin, think about your next home. What will be important to you? As people enter retirement, they often look to one-level living, accessibility, and security. In short, they want a home that they can stay in as they age. Deciding what you’re looking for in your next home will inform how you prepare to downsize.

Big items in your home will certainly need your attention. After all, if you’re moving from a 4-bedroom home with a formal living room, formal dining room, den, and home office to a 2-bedroom condo with an eat-in kitchen, you’re going to have to pare back your furniture considerably. Do you have family members or friends who you might give pieces of furniture to? Or, can you donate furniture to a nonprofit organization?

Paperwork accumulates over the course of a lifetime. Don’t move boxes or filing cabinets full of documents. Instead, go through every last file folder, box, and drawer. Shred documents that you no longer need. And digitize those you do need to keep.

The same goes for photographs. Of course, you should keep treasured family photos. But do you need to keep, well, all of them? You can give some photos to family members. You can digitize others. (There are even services that will do this for you.) And you can still keep your most precious photos in an album (or two).

When it comes time to move, commit to moving your remaining possessions—ALL of your possessions—into your new place. In other words, don’t move furniture and personal items into long-term storage. No matter how important these things might be to you, in most cases, these things will be out of sight, out of mind.

Whether you’re thinking of selling your current home, buying a new, smaller home, or both, I’d love to walk with you through this process!

How about a downsize and a relocation all in one? SOLD to one fabulous woman.

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Yet again, real estate is pulling on my heart strings. My client moved from everything and everyone she knew in Nashville to make a change for herself. Her adult children are off living their lives, her giant house in the woods was a lot of work, and she was ready for a fresh scene.

Art, food, and lifestyle are just some of the things that led her to Portland for her downsize. Did I mention we take our pastries very seriously? Oh, and she is an incredible oil painter, shopper, and chef. All things that Portland can surely support.

I promised Jacqueline I would protect her as if she were my own mother, and you bet I did it. It took a while but we left no stone unturned. I drove her around, got to know her, and felt like I did my duty. She got an awesome home with the light she needs to paint, the space she needs for visitors, and within walking distance to her transit, plus a grocery store.

We checked off the list and I got to know a really wonderful woman who will absolutely remain in my life in return. We closed last Friday and last night I had the pleasure of helping her move some personal things, followed by some flights of bubbles and all of the cheese– hope she knows its not over. More bubbles to come. More laughs to be had. So many lessons I will never forget and as she often said, “we know who we are.” Counting my blessings again and again.

Five Simple Tips for Downsizing

Posted on by Sharon Bloudek

Five Simple Tips for Downsizing

Recently a client downsized for my most favorite reason ever…for LOVE!

As we made her ready for her next great chapter, I realized that it may help others to share some tips about the process, to help smooth your way. Please feel free to call me at 503-701-1000 for more info, I also know Professional Organizers if you need extra help.

A good rule of thumb is using the square footage as your guide. If you are moving from 3,000 sq foot house to a 1,000 sq foot condo consider getting rid of 7 of every 10 items. (Not including furniture.) Marie Kondo has a great tip if you are finding it hard to let go of things- thank it and let it go, and if you still can’t let it go, take a photo and then let it go. Only keep those items that have a valuable practical use or that really spark joy!

  1. Begin with common sense- An easy start is to get rid of those items you never use; also get rid of duplicates! It makes sense to take time now to file and shred all your paper and digital documents. Downsizing means emptying that storage locker too, and in case you forget- make sure you edit seasonal decorations!
  1. Don’t do it alone- Get as much help as you can and make it easy for yourself. (If your children are involved, they can take items they wish to keep.) Set up categorized bags and boxes (labeled Keep, Donate, and Discard) in each room and begin! If you haven’t seen or used something in a year, immediately consider not bringing it with you. No matter how valuable. Or pledge mindfully to give it the attention it deserves in your new place.
  1. Sell your stuff- Make money by selling your old stuff for new items for your new space or designate a charity that will benefit from your sales or celebrate with a trip. Your stuff being treasured by someone else can really help with any feelings of loss you may have. Always remember, it will be a huge relief to free up your existing space and will help sell it. It’s also great not to bring clutter with you to your new life in your new space.
  1. Measure, measure, measure- Measure all your existing furniture and be very sure it will fit into your new space before you bring it there. A good tip is not to buy any furniture until you move and really get a sense of your new home, but personally I think it’s really nice to start a new life with a new bed!
  1. Declutter your future- Thinking of your new home, put the random items you have decided to keep into the storage bins/containers/furniture you’ve always wanted and that make it easier to access them and keep them tidy. Start your new life how you’ve always wanted to live. Downsize with a clean slate, beginning with a lighter load you will love.

 

 

Photo Credit:  Pixabay