Benefits of Senior Downsizing Support

Based on our experience, we’ve identified the top 5 benefits of senior downsizing support for help when moving to a smaller home or living situation. The daunting task of downsizing comes with financial, emotional and physical challenges. So, why should you hire a senior move specialist?

1. Planning & Coordinating
2. Organize belongings
3. Manage details and timing
4. Minimize stress
5. Maximizing cost savings

Now that you’ve decided to downsize, what’s next? We’ve broken out these 5 major areas of consideration so let’s take a more detailed view at each one to ensure you have all your bases covered and learn how to make the most of a senior move coordinator support.

Step 1 – Planning & Coordinating Your Move

When planning a move comes checklists. and many, available online, are woefully inadequate for the unique circumstances seniors face. We create a custom checklist just for you.

To get started, use a notepad, calendar or your computer to write the things you can think of that will need to be handled for your move. This is important because every situation varies from person to person there is no one single scenario that applies to all.

Once you have your list created you can add details such as:

• How long each task will take
• The date you should start
• And an estimated task completion date

Keep in mind that mobility is a real consideration for seniors and should be taken into account early in the planning stages. Giving yourself adequate time and support to complete each step provides many benefits.

Read more on planning your move

Step 2 – Organizing Belongings

Organization is critical. Taking inventory of what to keep or let go is a big part of the organization process.

Since not everything will fit into your smaller home decisions must be made, such as;

• What are you keeping
• What do you want to sell
• Do you want to donate items
• What to dispose of

HINT: Color coded sticky dots are useful for identifying the things you want to sell, donate or dispose of.

It may be helpful to consider the best ways to deal with your items:

• Do you sell online like ebay or craigslist?
• Have a yard sale, an estate sale or advertise items on facebook marketplace?
• Donate items at a local church, second hand store or have picked up by Goodwill?

Fortunately, you do not need to go through this emotionally and physically draining experience alone because there are senior downsizing support professionals like us that can help.

Read more on organizing your belongings

Step 3 – Tracking progress to your timeline

As you can tell, each step has distinct steps which require a certain amount of time and effort to accomplish. Therefore, utilizing your list or calendar to visually track progress and steps can be a great reassurance that you’re not missing anything.

Obviously how you far in advance you begin your planning processes will determine how crowded your calendar looks. For instance, if you take 4 months to plan ahead your calendar will likely look less crowded than a 2 month plan.

Read more on Tracking your Progress

Step 4 – Minimize Stress

Moving is stressful. Downsizing is even more stressful, considering all the extra steps, decisions, activities and services needed to accomplish such a daunting task.

The good news is that you don’t need to go through it all by yourself.

From planning to organizing your belongings, selling and coordinating donations and disposal of waste a senior move professional can take care of the details, such as:

• Preparing your property for the sale process
• Cleaners and Painters
• Hiring movers
• Marketing your property
• Completing forms for change address
• Notifying your phone carrier
• Utility service cancellation and activation at your new home and much more

The key is finding a compassionate and understanding professional who can handle the details while calming your nerves with patient support.

Read more on Minimizing Move Related Stress

Step 5 – Maximize Savings

One of the biggest benefits you may get from a senior move coordinator is their in depth experience and cost effective resources. They have researched the costs, vetted the service providers and bring them in to do their part while working to your budget.

Going at it alone could open you up to being overcharged or under served because you just don’t have time to research your options or verify their reputation.

You will be doing yourself a favor by employing senior downsizing support to be there for you throughout the process and dedicated to your successful transition.

Read more on Maximizing Costs Savings

Conclusion:

Moving or downsizing can be emotionally, physically and financially hard on seniors. Fortunately, we are here to help with all the details. Hiring a senior relocation specialist may end up being the best decision you can make on your path to rightsizing your living situation.

Do you have a story about moving? We’d love to hear what has worked for you and if you wished had been done differently, so leave a comment below.