Last February, an 83-year-old geophysicist lost his wife when her decade-long battle with cancer came to an end. After his grievous loss, the man resolved to sell the five-bedroom Virginia house where the couple had raised their children. The only question: Where to move next?
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To assist with his search for the best available retirement community, the geophysicist engaged Anna Novak, the founder of Simply Downsized, a small enterprise focused on helping seniors make sound housing transitions. Recently, the man chose a nearby continuing care community that overlooks the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. The place offers a range of services from independent living to memory care.
“Some older people wait too long to leave a big house they can no longer handle. Still, those who do move are definitely happier if they find a community that’s a good fit. It’s much better to move before a health crisis hits,” Novak says.
There are now around 70 million in the baby boomer population cohort, born between 1946 and 1964. Though most are empty nesters, many in this age group still own large family homes. Moreover, many have substantial equity and could afford to sell and move to more accommodating housing. That would free up properties for younger generations now facing tight-inventory markets. But they’re stumped about how to proceed.
“For many seniors, downsizing means letting go of 80% of their belongings,” Novak says.
More entrepreneurs are entering the business of “senior move management.” One major organization in the field, the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (nasmm.org), has affiliates throughout the country.
The task of clearing through years of accumulations can seem overwhelming to seniors. But move managers can hasten the laborious process by helping clients cull through and dispose of their possessions. Move managers also assist with logistics for the actual move.
“When you’re going to a smaller home, you must decide which things have the most meaning for you,” says Beverly Coggins, the author of “Three Steps to Downsizing to a Smaller Residence.”
A professional organizer since 1995, she says she’s learned it’s best for those downsizing to break the work into chunks rather than attempt marathon sessions.
“Downsizing means making decision after decision after decision. People who try to do this full-time quickly get physically and emotionally exhausted,” Coggins says.
To avoid excessive fatigue, she encourages downsizers to focus their work on the times of day they have peak energy. Also, she recommends they spend no more than four or five hours on these tasks at any given session.
Here are a few pointers for those facing a senior move:
-- Clear out excess furniture early in the process.
For most people, one major step toward downsizing involves dispensing with large pieces of furniture. Beyond family heirlooms and precious antiques, many find this process relatively easy because they don’t have sentimental attachments to most furniture.
Sid Davis, a longtime real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home,” suggests one way to clear space and furniture quickly is to put it up for sale. He says many of his home selling clients find they can quite quickly sell superfluous items such as sofas, recliners and dining sets through the websites of local newspapers. However, you’ll likely want to sell antiques through a reputable dealer.
“There’s always a good market for furniture. And moving out all those extra pieces makes your house more saleable because your rooms look larger,” Davis says.
He says downsizers often make enough money selling oversized furniture to buy new, more appropriately sized pieces for their smaller home.
-- Try to avoid renting a storage unit.
Many downsizers succumb to the temptation to place their belongings in a storage unit before they move. But Coggins strongly advises against this course if you can avoid it.
“Storage units are expensive. And for most people, they’re just an excuse to postpone making decisions on stuff they need to eliminate,” she says.
When working with downsizers, Coggins encourages them to free themselves of many items, including clothing that no longer fits, especially if they haven’t worn such apparel for a year or longer. The same applies to numerous household items.
She says many people feel especially anxious about letting go of things given to them as gifts from relatives or close friends. But she says such feelings are needless.
“It doesn’t mean you love the person any less because you can’t keep everything they give you,” she says.
To be sure, you’ll not want to cast off items with unusual meaning to you, like family pictures and love letters. But unfortunately, you may not be able to take everything you value to your new, smaller place. In such cases, Coggins suggests you take photos of the treasured items that can be framed and hung up in your new domain.
-- Seek out a charity with pickup services.
Many downsizers find it easier to let go of extra belongings if they know they’ll be put to good use. That’s why Coggins and other professional organizers often advocate contacting nonprofit organizations interested in collecting serviceable items.
Very often, charity groups will pick up items from your home, a convenient way to eliminate excess belongings. Also, with a pickup appointment you’ll have a definite deadline for your work, which can serve as a motivating factor.
The Salvation Army, for example, offers pickup services in many areas. To learn more or schedule a pickup, contact your local branch.
-- Attempt to stay focused on the positives in your future.
Coggins notes a central benefit of downsizing. With fewer home upkeep demands, you’ll have more time to focus on the people most important to you.
“When they downsize, many people realize more fully that it’s relationships, not stuff, that bring happiness,” she says.
(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)