Advice for Home Owners Looking to Downsize

Deciding to downsize from a family home into a retirement community home is a big decision. People who choose to move while they’re still fairly young and healthy will find the transition much easier, says Lynn Falwell, co-owner of a move management company, It’s Your Move.

Falwell offers this checklist for retirees contemplating a move to a retirement community or to a smaller home anywhere.

She urges them to get help from an organization such as hers or from friends and family members who are willing to work hard because moves like these are both physically and mentally taxing.

If the house will be sold, she suggests first using a staging company to help ensure that the home sells for as much as possible.

Then, here are key steps to leaving the old home behind:
Systematically sort through the home, getting rid of clutter and making decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of.
Give yourself plenty of time because the job can be exhausting.
Figure out which furniture and belongings will work best in the new living space and move them to the new location or temporary storage.
Organize and catalog collections.
Distribute items to friends and family members.
Get an appraisal of items that will be donated to charity then arrange for the donation.
Arrange for an estate sale of remaining items.
Schedule trash removal for what remains in the attic, basement, garage and other storage areas.
Schedule a housecleaning service.

Source: It’s Your Move Inc. (01/23/08)