Another article for the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News. This piece was featured in a special section forcussing on senior's in our community.
Part of my interest in helping seniors with their real estate needs stems from time spent at our kiosk. It is always lovely to chat with the many seniors that visit the malls and I noticed that each conversation was strikingly similar. "I need to downsize, but i just have so much stuff. What will I do with it all?" The fear of having to sort through 60-70, even 80 years of belongings and collections can be debilitating. The good news is that you are not alone and that you can get through it.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Reflecting upon my grandparent's move to assisted living, we as a family spent days helping to pack things that were going with them, things that us granddaughters and my parents were taking to our own homes, and things that were being sold or donated. We cleaned their townhouse for the new owners and moved them into their new residence. It was a BIG job and there were lots of us working. I am glad that we were there to help and that they let us help.
Obviously not everybody has family at arm's reach, however there are quite a few new businesses in our area that specialize in assisting seniors in the process of downsizing. The depth of their services range depending on the business, but in essence they are there to help you decide what could be sold and how, what could be donated and where the best place would be, and what could be given to family. They can also help with arranging to recycle items or with disposal pick-up services. Some of these businesses take the level of assistance one step further and offer staging services, using your remaining furniture to stage your home and showcase its features. Others can even assist with the process of touring some of the local assisted living options and helping to decide which one suits your needs best.
From step one through to the day you pack your things and move, there are people who are more than willing to help. Taking the step to ask for help is the key.
If you would like contact information to local businesses such as those mentioned above, please do not hesitate to contact us!
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