1 minute read.
 
With the last of the Baby Boomer generation set to retire in the near future, there is a lot of downsizing activity happening all over the real estate market.  This move is likely one of the most stressful moves of one’s life.  Not only is it a huge lifestyle adjustment as retirement brings a reduced income, but it is also the thought of having to go through all your belongings that can be paralyzing and a bit depressing.  From urging your grown kids to come and get their boxed-up college memories, going through boxes and boxes of photographs including old reels of home movies (yes, people still have these) to purging old Christmas decorations; it is no small endeavour.  Here are a few suggestions to help a downsize run as smoothly as possible:
 

1. Be Organized – make three piles; keep, donate, trash.   By doing this, be rest assured that everything is going SOMEWHERE!  You may also find that something in the keep pile might find its way to the donate pile the more you look at it.

2. Be Practical—scrutinize the keep pile thoroughly!  For example, you don’t need to keep the outdoor Christmas décor if you’re not going to put it up or if you will be down south in the winter.

3. Delegate – this is a big one!  You must get your family and even your Realtor in on your efforts!  Your family can help pack up boxes, drop off donated items and coordinate a dump run or work with junk removal companies.  Your Realtor can help in accessing how much furniture you will likely need in your new home!

4. Make a Plan – having a timeline and an end-goal is important.  Decluttering and prepare always completed before your home is listed for sale; so be sure to have a plan as you do not want to miss the optimal time to be on the market.  Reach out to your Realtor early to help you establish a realistic timeline and stick with it!  They can also provide you with professionals to coordinate repairs, cleaning and estate planning!

 
Have you been thinking about your future downsize but you don’t know where to start?  Let’s get the conversation started!  At Knowledge Broker, we support our clients every step of the way!

At Knowledge Broker, our goal is to create an open-source of information for all our clients. We want to ensure that, at the end of the day, they get exactly what they want and what they need. If you know someone who could use our help or services please put them in touch with us or send us their details using the contact information below. And before you go, click here to take the Knowledge Broker Quiz and see exactly what we can do for you!

JOSHUA CAMPBELL (@knowledgebrkr)
Real Estate Broker
Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Centre, Brokerage
joshua@knowledgebroker.ca
249 Avenue Road • Newmarket, ON L3Y 1N8
289.231.0001