Guide to Downsizing - NEATSPACES
47
Take the stress out of downsizing with NeatSpaces. Guide to Downsizing
-
Upload
khangminh22 -
Category
Documents
-
view
1 -
download
0
Transcript of Guide to Downsizing - NEATSPACES
Take the stress out of downsizing with NeatSpaces.
Guide to Downsizing
THE EMOT IONS OFDOWNSIZ ING
T IPS & TR ICKS
DOWNSIZ ING THEK ITCHEN
HOBB IES
INTRODUCT ION TODOWNSIZ ING 01 02
04FAMILY &EXTENDED FAMILY
0611FURN ITURE &
DÉCOR 1417CLOTHES,
ACCESSORIES& L INEN
21
TABLE OF CONTENTShere's what's inside
26MEMORABIL IA &KEEPSAKES 29DOWNSIZ ING BY
ROOM
33GARAGE & TOOLS 34IMPORTANT &VALUABLEBELONGINGS
36WHY CHOOSENEATSPACES 38FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUEST IONS
41MOVINGCHECKL IST 45NOTES
page #1NEATSPACES
Don’t want to do it alone? NEATSPACES will
help you create a personalized downsizing plan
so your project will go smoothly, meet deadlines
and ensure that you and your loved ones will be
treated with compassion and empathy every
step of the the way.
Now is finally the time to embrace your next
chapter and downsize your home.
To other people, your belongings just look like a
lot of stuff. To you, they represent years worth
of living and the people, places and events that
mean most to you.
With the NEATSPACES Downsizing Guide, learn
how you can make downsizing efficient and
emotionally liberating with the right steps and
mindset.
Introduction toDownsizing
Your home reflects a lifetime of memories. As a compassionate
provider of professional downsizing services, we know that it’s
important to understand that downsizing can mean different things for
different people.
When downsizing a home, a person will often experience one of two
emotions: excitement, or dread. In some cases, individuals may
experience both.
Along with all the fond family memories, unresolved conflicts, differing
interpretations of what was said or not said, different expectations
and current disparate socio economic positions can surface at the
table when letting go of the family home.
It’s important to note that downsizing the family home can trigger a
range of emotions for adult children, grandchildren, step children and
extended family. A home’s contents and stories can mean different
things to different people, and the process of downsizing will look
different for everyone.
The Emotions ofDownsizing
page #2NEATSPACES [email protected]
Downsizing can be exciting and full of
promise.
You may have loved the last chapter of your
life spent in your home, but you’re ready to
shed that identity for what comes next.
You are ready to embrace the simplicity,
camaraderie and activities of the next
chapter, by shedding possessions, and
identifying space for those that are special in
your next life. Your possessions have served
you well and you are happy to have someone
else reap the utility and or pleasure that you
have enjoyed over the years.
Moving is usually stressful but you won’t have
the burden of your things to bring forward. A
fresh start in a new environment can be
invigorating.
NEATSPACES page #3 [email protected]
Excited—Let’s Do It!
This isReally Tough
Downsizing can be very emotional and trying.
You may have preferred to stay in the house
that you’ve called home for decades. That was
always your plan.
If circumstance has forced your hand, you
likely haven’t had time to embrace the
happiness you might find in your next chapter.
A simpler life, where the burden of daily chores
and household maintenance are no longer
yours.
It’s hard to let go of the past and the burden
may be overwhelming and weigh heavily. You
may be navigating these uncharted waters
alone, without the support of loved ones to
lean on.
Moving is often stressful. When you have to
make choices to part with the things that tell
your life’s story, it can be overwhelming.
The process of downsizing the family home at its essence is similar to the
dispersal of the non-titled assets in your estate. While you may be taking many
valuable and sentimental items with you to your downsized home, chances are,
you will have to disperse of many items that hold both financial and emotional
value.
Most people have not done a lot of inheritance planning, but this process will be
easier for you if you have already had some of those hard to approach
conversations with your adult children and extended family.
In spite of making every effort to be fair, equitable, and thoughtful in your
decision making, each individual will bring their own emotions to the table.
Consider the following in the context of your own family fabric.
page #4NEATSPACES
Family & Extended Family
NEATSPACES
Fair: What is fair?
NEATSPACES page #5
Are all of your children treated equally or should
preference be given to a first or last-born child? Is it
right to compensate the child who has stepped up to
care for you in recent years or make amends with the
child you love dearly but has been estranged for many
years?
You may also consider if one of your children needs your
support more than the others. But really, what’s fair?
Is it fair to give things to stepchildren to whom you have
bonded over many years? Should your children’s
individual socioeconomic circumstances govern your
decision-making? There are a lot of factors at play when
making these important decisions.
Equitable: What is equitable?
What may hold huge sentimental value to you, may be
considered junk to someone else.
Some people cling to emotional and sentimental ties to
things not driven by the monetary value of items. Other
unresolved sibling conflicts and confrontation can also
resurface during the process.
It’s easy to divide by equitable value with the support of
appraisals, but how do you divide things in a
sentimentally equitable way? There is a great book called
Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate that illustrates this
dilemma.
Downsizing can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t
have to be. With the right resources, approach and
mindset, the process can be positive and seamless.
Consider the advice, tips and tricks that can help
make downsizing an uplifting experience.
DownsizingTips & Tricks
page #6NEATSPACES [email protected]
page #7 [email protected]
Before you begin the physical process,
consider the following ways to
categorize the items in your home.
Common categories include:
Keep, Give Away, Sell, Consign and
Auction, Donate, Recycle and Garbage.
Resist the urge to store things you don’t
use because, chances are you won’t dig
them out later to make those decisions.
If the answer to what you want to keep
is “everything”, you have a big hurdle to
overcome. Understandably, if you have
lived in your home for decades and had
the space to store things, you haven’t
had the need to do much mulling or
culling over the years.
Set realistic expectations for the value
of things in the current market. There
may be some high ticket pieces of art,
furniture, china or table top decor but
dining room suites, particularly china
cabinets and large buffets, have little or
no value in the secondary market.
NEATSPACES
Create DigitalBooks Categorize
A major challenge that comes with
downsizing is deciding what to do
with your meaningful and nostalgic
memorabilia. As much as these items
are meaningful, they also take up a
lot of room, and can get in the way of
the decluttering portion of your
downsizing efforts.
Consider making a physical scrapbook
or even a digital book with images
memorializing some of these
keepsakes. Trips, events, milestones,
and awards are examples of
memories you can commemorate
providing permanent legacies with
digital books
Digital books are a great way to give
a memory or story to each of your
loved ones or to yourself.
Once you have considered your new lifestyle,
available space in your new home and what
you love, it’s time to begin sorting things into
categories. We recommend using colour
coded stickers or labels to mark the
categories directly on each piece.
If you have the space and the manpower,
designating a room or area of your home for
each category works as well.
Garbage and recycling can be skimmed off
the top and disposed of. Things for donation,
sale or to be kept, including clothes, linen,
bedding and other soft goods, should go in
clear bags or well marked boxes not garbage
bags.This helps avoid disappointment if
someone inadvertently tosses it.
Families can be divided when emotions spike while downsizing, especially at times of
grief. Thoughtful participation by you at this point in time can ensure a smooth passing
of inherited legacies, rich in both monetary and sentimental value.
This is a good time to have those hard conversations with your kids about what they
want, why you want a particular child to have something and the story behind some of
your legacy keepsakes.
Don’t be disappointed by your children’s or loved one’s answers when you had always
imagined a particular piece of furniture or memorabilia being perfect for them, but
also be prepared for competing desires for sentimental things.
page #8
Sort, Edit & Purge
Have the Hard Conversations
NEATSPACES [email protected]
Transitional moves can be overwhelming
with the combination of timelines, difficult
decisions, high emotions, and the
magnitude of the job.
When observing the task at hand, it’s hard
to know where to start. Enlist family, friends
or the services of a company that
specializes in downsizing and senior move
management. Professionals like
NEATSPACES have downsizing project
management expertise and a reputable
group of third party services for supplies,
movers, packers, handymen, and cleaners
If downsizing involves selling a home, you
may have to approach the task in phases
including decluttering and organization to
prepare the home for sale, selecting and
packing what moves with you and packing
and disposal of what remains.
Things always flow more smoothly with
advanced planning. For one, consider the
footprint of your new space. If the
footprint you are moving to is smaller, the
length of a sofa, bookcase or dresser may
technically fit on a wall, but the scale of
the piece may overwhelm the room.
The best way to prepare for this is to
print out a floor plan. Take accurate
measurements, paying special attention
to the depth of things as the new room
sizes will likely be smaller. One trick is to
use green painters tape to trace out the
dimensions of furniture on the floor in the
new space.
Critical thinking and good choices will
make moving day a greater success.
page #9NEATSPACES [email protected]
Get the SupportYou Need
Floorplan-Measure for Scale
Lorem consecte adipisingselsde se
elit, sedes lor lesesses ssdle desop
Lorem consecte adipisingselsde se
elit, sedes lor lesesses ssdle desop
Lorem consecte adipisingselsde se
elit, sedes lor lesesses ssdle desop
Lorem consecte adipisingselsde se
elit, sedes lor lesesses ssdle desop
category 2 here
Inheritance Planning is gaining traction in
the new age of more minimalism. Take the
time in your retirement years or anytime to
keep ahead of the accumulation of things
we all gather in a lifetime.
The reality is that things tucked away ten or
twenty years ago may not hold the same
sentiment now. Files can be shredded,
storage areas can be sorted and purged,
and out of date or clothing that no longer
fits can be donated.
If you’re in the early stages of research into
downsizing options and transition is not
imminent, embrace the opportunity to sort,
edit and purge your life legacy of memories,
collections, books, and décor items. When
the time does come by choice or chance in
the future, the task won’t be as
overwhelming and you can focus on the next
chapter with joy or, at least, without dread.
It’s a warm feeling to think that you can
pass treasured furniture, legacy décor and
memorabilia to your children. While this
would be lovely and make the process much
easier, prepare for a different reality.
Times have changed, spaces are smaller
and your adult children already have
established homes that speak to their own
taste and décor.They are a generation
removed from family folklore. Have the
conversation, be prepared for the answer
and don’t take it personally.
page #10
Set RealisticExpectations
NEATSPACES [email protected]
Your Kids May NotWant Your Things
There’s Never a“Bad Time”
Without a doubt, furniture is one of the
categories that is important to get right —
especially if you are doing the work yourself.
Furniture is often big and heavy, expensive to
transport and, if too large for the scale of a
room, makes it look smaller and presents a
safety hazard.
Furniture can often be a category with strong
memories attached to it which hinders the
decision of what should be moved to your new
home versus what is practical.
Furniture & Décor
page #11NEATSPACES [email protected]
As we age, we find it harder to sit down and
get up from being seated. You may
currently have several living areas in the
home you’re moving from, but you will likely
only have one main room and maybe a
smaller den in your new home.
Choose the sofa and chair that is most
comfortable and supportive or replace it
with something new if it’s too large for your
new space or you want to start fresh with
an updated look. It’s important to get this
right as much of the day will be spent in the
main living area.
Even if you are moving from a house to a condo, the dining room
may be considerably smaller than what you are used to. You will
likely pass the torch for large family gatherings to the next
generation if you haven't already.
Maybe your table will fit but without the leaves in it that you are
accustomed to or, if you are moving into a retirement residence,
you won’t have a separate eat-in kitchen and dining area. Scale
down your table and take something that works for day to day use
like reading the paper, doing a puzzle or having a light snack. Your
main meals will likely be served in the dining room at the residence.
Sofas & Chairs
page #12 [email protected]
Dining Tables & Chairs
f
brand name
Bookshelves and accent pieces are
great choices for family photos, books,
and decor items. Using vertical space
over horizontal surfaces is a trick to
display and store things. Bookshelves
with storage cupboards or repurposing
a china cabinet are great alternatives
for smaller space living. That said, you
don’t need to fill every wall however.
Less furniture will make the space feel
bigger, create safe pathways and
require less upkeep.
page #13
Table Top DecorBookshelves &Accent Pieces
NEATSPACES [email protected]
Table top decor can refer to a wide
variety of items ranging from figurines
to travel souvenirs, to vases,
candlesticks, mementos, and other
things we have lovingly decorated our
homes with.
Table top décor is a category you can
discuss with your children or extended
family. What out of the pieces you
cannot take with you, do they want?
Sadly, some of our collections like
Royal Doulton’s have little or no value
in the marketplace. Taste has changed
and there is a large group of boomers
downsizing creating increased supply.
This is a category that can be
photographed and enjoyed over the
long term in a picture book.
Downsizing the Kitchen
NEATSPACES page #14
Even if you have chosen a full dining plan in a retirement
community, it’s still nice to be able to have a light meal
or snack in your suite. Pack four (six if you are a couple)
luncheon size plates and bowls, two sizes of glasses,
wine glasses and knives, forks and spoons. If you have
family or friends for more than a snack, it will be served
in a private or main dining room at the retirement home.
If you’re downsizing to a condo, your kitchen will likely be
smaller. Be disciplined with how much you choose to take
with you.
Staples & Food
Many choose the full dining option provided by the
retirement community even when equipped with a small
kitchenette Your need for staples, canned goods, and a
large variety of spices will be reduced and not a good
use of space in a smaller kitchen.
HELPFUL HINT: If your move is to a condo or smaller
home, pitch food with expiry dates that have passed.
Consolidate things like spices and baking supplies. Shelf
organizers may help to make up for the room that you
lost.
Everyday China, Glassware & Flatware
Pots, Pans, Pyrex & Utensils
NEATSPACES page #15 [email protected]
As with food staples, the need for pots, pans, pyrex, utensils and serving dishes
will be greatly diminished. Light meals, simple cooking and easy clean up will
be the order of the day. If in good condition, this category is easy to donate.
Even if the next chapter has a full kitchen, think about your lifestyle. How many
will you be cooking for and what will you be cooking? Large family meals are
now only on special occasions.
Small AppliancesPack your coffee maker and an electric kettle! If you have a full kitchenette
and plan to make light meals, take a small food processor, toaster, and a
blender if you like smoothies or frozen drinks.
HELPFUL HINT: If your new kitchen has a smaller layout with reduced counter
space, you may consider smaller scale appliances. A two slice toaster, a
small food processor and single cup coffee maker may be wise choices.
page #16NEATSPACES [email protected]
China, Crystal &Flatware
Whether you are moving into a retirement residence or smaller home,
you may have already passed the torch for family gatherings to the
next generation. The need for formal china, crystal, and flatware for
twelve or more has passed. Offer these to family but prepare for their
preference being something more modern or of their own choice.
If you want to have your tea, wine and other light snacks in style, set
aside 4-6 side plates, teacups and wine glasses to bring with you.
There is a second hand market for many patterns of china and crystal,
however, breaking up the set will reduce its value. Consider using
everyday china or treat yourself by purchasing a small set that suits
your current needs.
Clothing and linen can either be one of
the easiest or most challenging things to
deal with when moving. Consider the ways
you can organize, pack and purge items in
this category for a more seamless moving
experience.
Clothes,Accessories &
Linen
page #17NEATSPACES [email protected]
Clothing in general has adapted more casual styles compared to previous times. It’s now
acceptable to go to dinner, the theatre or symphony in more casual attire.
Remember that you will likely have less closet space once you downsize. Your retirement
home may require you to “dress” for dinner, but that doesn’t mean anything more than smart
casual.
That said, by all means, keep an outfit or two appropriate for a wedding or fancy occasion.
Choose comfortable clothes, clothes that fit you well, clothes you can layer for different
temperatures, and clothes you can mix and match. The fewer that require dry cleaning, the
better.
Men, the same rules apply to you. You don’t need the 15 suits that you used to wear to the
office and business events. Select one or two, along with matching dress shirts and ties and
ditch the rest.
page #18NEATSPACES [email protected]
Clothes
You will likely only need one larger purse for times you might go out shopping, on a
trip or out with family. Remember purses can be heavy. Consider, what do you really
need to bring with you?
Select a few cross-shoulder or smaller options that can accommodate your keys, a
phone, medication if necessary, a small amount of make-up, a package of tissues
and a small wallet for your identification, credit cards and a little cash. Keep in mind
that you won’t need your wallet when going to meals if you are in a retirement
residence.
Men, you might decide that a small satchel will be handy in your new environment
for keys, tissue, medication etc.
Purses
page #19NEATSPACES [email protected]
It’s important to be comfortable. With the
exception of a wedding or special occasion,
your new lifestyle likely won’t demand many
dress shoes at this point.
If your shoes are uncomfortable, require a lot of
repair, have worn treads, don’t coordinate with
any of the clothes you have selected to take
with you or you haven’t worn them in years, now
is the time to let them go.
Men, the same principles apply to you.
page #20NEATSPACES [email protected]
Shoes
LinenAlways a category needing an edit. You
may need to purchase a smaller bed for
your new bedroom and will more than likely
only have the beds you sleep in, so for sure,
there will be bedding that needs to be
purged.
Some retirement homes supply towels but,
even if they don’t, two sets of towels is
more than enough. Your dining table will be
downsized so tablecloths, placemats,
napkins will be another category in need of
an edit.
Your condo may have a spare bedroom, so
a pullout sofa may be practical so the room
can double as a den.
page #21NEATSPACES [email protected]
Hobbies are good for your mind and soul. If you like to knit,
sew, do needlework, paint, draw or do photography, you
should bring the supplies needed with you.
Make sure you pare down supplies to a quantity you can
easily store. After all, you will be introduced to other
activities provided by the retirement communities— you may
learn a new craft or hobby and have fun doing it with your
peers.
In a condo or smaller home you might have more flexibility to
dedicate space for your hobby.
Hobbies
Exercise EquipmentBeing fit is critical to overall good
health. If your condominium or
retirement residence has a gym or
offers classes, you may not need to
bring your own equipment.
Using the fitness facilities in your
new home will also offer social
connection with fellow residents.
Bring a few small pieces like hand
weights and bands for personal use
but let the rest go.
page #22NEATSPACES [email protected]
Activities
Sports EquipmentMany basements or storage closets
are full of outdated sports
equipment formerly used by your
children or you. Be realistic about
what you are going to use going
forward as storage will be limited
in your new home.
Remember that many items in this
category cannot be donated due
to health and safety standards.
If you’re a book lover, this category can be difficult. When books are an important
category, you should try to fit a bookshelf into your floor plan.
Even if you have room for a shelf, you will likely still need to edit and purge your
book collection. Remember that most retirement communities and many condos will
have a library to borrow books from — you might even donate some of yours to it!
If you can adapt to reading e-books for at least some of your reading, you can save
space and make use of the added convenience.
Books
page #23NEATSPACES [email protected]
Subscriptions CookbooksIf you love leafing through newspapers
and magazine subscriptions and
archiving them in decorative containers
in your home, you may rethink this.
The reality is that, if you are downsizing
into a retirement residence, they may
very well subscribe to magazines and
several copies of the daily newspaper.
If they don’t subscribe to the ones you
like, then by all means remain
subscribed — just be disciplined in
passing it along when you are finished
with it.
Cookbooks are a beloved category in
many kitchens. Recipes on pages stained
with tomato sauce, oil and coffee are
the foundation for the meals that
gathered us together at the table for
years..
It’s important to note when downsizing,
however, that many great chef’s recipes
are now available online.
What a nice gift it would be if you took
pictures of family favourites and created
recipe books for family and friends.
Include pictures of the great times you’ve
gathered around a table together. And
you have a great keepsake that takes up
less space.
page #24NEATSPACES [email protected]
page #25NEATSPACES
Address macro categories like old textbooks
—they are now outdated and will likely never
be opened. If these are newer textbooks,
consider re-selling them through university
student groups on Facebook.
Encyclopedias fall into this category as well.
Remember most of this information is now
available online. Novels-with the exception
of a few epic ones, you are likely never
going to read them again. Be very
disciplined when sorting and editing this
category.
Textbooks,Encyclopedias& PaperbackNovels
You have wonderful souvenirs and
memories from traveling the world, but
you won’t have the space to display
them all. People collect different things
as they travel like art, spoons, decor
items, Christmas ornaments, mugs and
more.
While you enjoy the nostalgic trip down
memory lane, others won’t. This is a
great category to let go of or create a
digital memory book for each trip or
one highlighting many trips.
Do each of your children have bins of
childhood trinkets, high school and
university memorabilia in their
childhood bedrooms or in your
basement?
Time to pass this along. If they don’t
want it, create a photo book marking a
sample of their school work from each
stage, certificates of accomplishments,
trophies, ribbons, art, class photos and
give it to them as a birthday or
Christmas gift.
Memorabilia & Keepsakes One of the most emotional responsibilities that comes with downsizing is sifting
through an accumulation of memorabilia and keepsakes that are meaningful, but can
contribute to cluttering a smaller space if not pared down.
Memorabilia and keepsakes tell the story of a life well lived, across many of the
important people and events in our lives. Usually, their value is derived from
emotional and not monetary value.
Travel Childhood
page #26NEATSPACES [email protected]
Every family has family legacy
items to pass from one generation
to the next. The downsizing
process is the perfect time to pass
the torch so to speak. The
decision about who holds this
legacy may be difficult but it has
to be made. Be sure to document
the history of the event,
celebration, honour, letter,
furniture, art or décor item. The
item together with the story is
more meaningful in perpetuating
family legacy.
This should be one of the last categories to
edit in the downsizing process. When
something has sentimental value, it’s very
individual. It might be a collection of letters
from a young lover, a secret that you have
not shared, it might be research you have
done or documentation about a difficult
time in your life.
If the documentation needs to be kept
because the information would be valuable
to the next generation(any information
about a family illness, adoption etc.), make
that decision. Keep a secret file if you wish
and label it “Do Not Open Until I Die”. This is
not as uncommon as you might think.
Photo Books are a great way to enjoy
pictures of your grandchildren,
wonderful notes and cards from them,
art and small gifts that you cherish.
Transfer them to a picture book so
you can leaf through them daily as
they sit on your coffee table in your
new home.
page #27NEATSPACES [email protected]
Grandkids
Legacy
Sentimental & Personal
A category filled with sentimental value, often
monetary value and family legacy. Choose a
few pieces of practical jewelry that you will
wear on a day to day basis in your new
lifestyle.
Choose a few special pieces to use on a
dressy occasion like a wedding or other
celebration, but consider keeping these
pieces in a safety deposit box or small safe
that you can keep in your suite.
You may also want to consider gifting other
jewelry to your adult children or
grandchildren. Enjoy seeing them wear them
and tell them the story behind each piece so
they carry that legacy with them.
Consider having things reset or repurposed so
they are a more modern style and will actually
be used. Cufflinks can be made into earrings
and vice versa. Old wedding and engagement
rings can be made into wonderful pendants or
clustered in a ring or earring.
page #28NEATSPACES [email protected]
Jewelry
One of the wonderful benefits of downsizing to a retirement residence, is that your
meals will be prepared for you and typically served in the dining room. Generally only
bring enough to prepare a light meal or snack. Even if you have the option of doing
some cooking in your suite, meal preparation will be simpler than in previous years.
You may have room for a small dining table and chairs. Consider if your kitchen
dining table better suits your lifestyle now.
If your downsizing plan is to a smaller home or condo, you will likely have less
storage, counterspace and need for as many gadgets, serving platters and small
appliances. Be careful not to pack more than you will practically need. Consider
replacing some counter top appliances with smaller scale versions. You may have to
replace your kitchen dining table with one that has better scale for your new kitchen.
page #29NEATSPACES [email protected]
Downsizing ByRoom
Kitchen
BedroomsWhether you are moving to a retirement home, condominium or
smaller home, plan the furniture layout in your bedroom carefully.
Your new bedroom may very well have smaller square footage.
Your bed may have to be scaled down from a king to queen or
smaller.
Even if you don’t have to change your bed size, it’s a good time to
consider swapping out your mattress for a new one. Make sure
there is enough clear floor space around the bed, dressers, night
tables, and chairs to ensure safe pathways and ones that are
large enough for a walker or wheelchair to pass through if that is
a consideration. Make sure area carpets and cords do not present
tripping hazards.
page #30NEATSPACES [email protected]
Whether or not you will be able to take the dining room table that represents years of
good times and conversation will depend on both its size and scale and décor choice.
You may very well be able to set the table up without leaves and have four to six chairs
placed around it comfortably. Alternatively, you may be choosing a more relaxed and
comfortable décor in this chapter so a glass topped less formal choice may be
appropriate especially if it’s the only table and chairs in your suite, and you will be
having light meals on it, writing on it, doing a puzzle and more.
Buffets and china cabinets may be too large to move with you and specifically placed in
the dining area. One option is placing the china cabinet in the living room or den where
it can double as a display for some of your décor items and storage. One thing to
remember is that traditional china cabinets and large scale buffets have little value in
the resale market.
Dining Room
page #31NEATSPACES [email protected]
Living & FamilyRoomIf you are moving into a one bedroom and
den or a two bedroom suite, and only plan
on using one of the bedrooms as a bedroom,
you will have space for some living room and
family room furniture.
With all downsizing decisions around
furniture, pay attention to the scale of each
piece you would like to bring. Be mindful of
chairs and sofas being the right height and
stiffness if getting in and out of a seated
position has become challenging. Select the
appropriate number of side tables, coffee
tables and accent pieces. Bookcases or
display cabinets can make good use of
vertical space to display items without
cluttering a lot of other surfaces.
page #32NEATSPACES [email protected]
Chances are you won’t need to tackle any large
handyman projects in the next chapter. It’s wise
to pack up a small toolbox if you are moving into
a condo or smaller home, but retirement homes
have maintenance people on staff who often
assist with hanging pictures and small repairs. A
professional move manager will also often assist
with hanging pictures.
Noting the Emotional Value
Gifting
Garage & ToolsThe garage category, whether you are transitioning from a home to condo or
retirement community, is one that can largely be let go. There might be some
items of value in lawn mowers or snow blowers, so gift it or sell these to family,
friends or neighbours. Toxins must be disposed of responsibly (paint, insect
repellent, oil, gas/gas cans, lawn care), but the rest can easily be donated.
page #33NEATSPACES [email protected]
Tips For ToolsPack Up a Small Toolbox
While this category can be easily donated,
it’s often a category that has sentimental
value for families when someone’s passion
was woodwork, home repair, building things
and other hands-on projects.
If someone loves woodworking, home repairs and renovations in the family, and this
is a sentimental category (or you want a practical solution), consider purchasing
toolboxes for each of your children or grandchildren depending on their ages. Fill
them up with ageless tools and gift them for a birthday, Christmas or just because.
Important & Valuable Belongings
page #34NEATSPACES [email protected]
Paperwork & DocumentsPaperwork and document management and storage will likely be a challenge in a
smaller environment. Check with your tax professional to confirm how many years of
statements, receipts and other tax information you need to keep.
A lot of statements are now available in digital format which eliminates the need for
paper bills from utility companies for example. Small amounts of archival paper can
be stored, but consider digital storage for the rest.
Make sure important legal documents are stored safely in a filing cabinet, accordion
file or safe ensuring someone knows the combination. Your Last Will and Testament,
Financial Powers of Attorney, Medical Powers of Attorney, Letters of Direction and
funeral wishes should be available and a trusted family member or your executor
should know how to access them.
Electronics ArtConsider the use of slim, wall mounted
TV’s allowing for the use of surfaces for
other things. IPads and laptop
computers are wonderful alternatives
to older desktops needing a permanent
desk to sit on.
page #35NEATSPACES [email protected]
Pick out the pieces of art you love. Let
the others go by gifting them to family or
selling them through a gallery,
consignment or auction. Remember, art
appreciation is incredibly individual.
If you wish to sell any art, gather up any
documentation you have including
invoices, appraisals, and artist
biographies.
Consider a collage arrangement for your
art in the main room and bedroom. This is
a creative solution to use more pieces
than hanging individual pieces over a
sofa for example.
Framed FamilyPicturesFramed family pictures are treasures
that signify the passage of time. They
mark celebrations of the wonderful
milestones of marriage, birth, life’s
milestones, successes, travel, and good
times.
You will have to pare this category
down, but you don’t have to lose the
memories. Create a photobook that is
easily accessible so you can leaf
through it on occasion.
The downsizing process can be daunting! The piles, hard to access storage spaces,
the sheer volume of things in the closets, the basement and garage can be
overwhelming. It might be the reality of a tight timeline that is causing the stress, or
not knowing how to schedule all of the needed services to get you from here to
there, but we can help.
The compassionate team at NEATSPACES offers senior downsizing services to help
make the process easier. We can assist you from the very beginning by helping you
prepare your home to sell, plan what you can take with you and advise you on the
disposition of everything else.
We understand that your home reflects a life well lived, and we will help you
downsize and prepare for the changes ahead. We’re here to help with a
personalized plan of action, and compassionate, trustworthy hands-on support.
After we simplify your sorting, organization and disposal to make moving easier, we
help set up your new home in a way that continues to reflect your personal journey
so it feels like home.
How do you decide what to keep, sell, donate or get rid of? What should you pass
on to your kids or family? Will they want it? What has monetary value? We help you
find the answers you are looking by helping you evaluate your new lifestyle and the
reality of what has value in today's marketplace.
page #36brand name
Why Choose Neatspaces
Meet tight timelines
Deal with family members
Supervise and oversee professional packing
Arrange for shipments to loved ones no matter
where they live
Interview, schedule and oversee movers
Prepare your home for sale to get the best price
through decluttering, editing and styling
Create a detailed floor plan
Reserve elevators
Unpack and set up your new home by the end of
the move day
At NEATSPACES, we provide patient and
compassionate boomer and senior downsizing services
to help make the transition seamless. From
decluttering to packing to move management, we do it
all to help you downsize your home with minimal stress.
The next chapter will allow you to do what you enjoy
without feeling bogged down by the accumulation
that’s piled up over the years.
We take the stress out of this life changing event and
help you make it through faster, easier and with
empathy.
What We Do
If you realize you’d rather have help downsizing and
make the process as easy and stress-free as possible
then call us today in Toronto (416) 262-1199 or
Burlington (905) 483-7678 to book an appointment or
email us at [email protected].
" Thank you so very verymuch for this fineservice, it wasexpeditious,uncomplicated to arrangeand very professional.You provided exactly theservice that youpromised, mostimpressive!"
ABOUT
page #37NEATSPACES
Edie Michel, Owner
KC
“I Don’t WantPeople GoingThrough My
Things"
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When you enlist our help for your move, we respect your
things and your story. We act with confidentiality and
empathy respecting the journey in life you have taken.
This is a no judgement zone. Additionally, all of your
possessions will be handled with the utmost care and
you are the ultimate decision maker about what stays
and what goes.
page #38NEATSPACES
“Can’t I Do ItMyself”
"Is it Expensive?”
Many think moving services are too expensive, but our services come
with high value.
We can help organize and prepare your house for sale on a tight
timeline by decluttering, editing, organizing and staging your home.
With our efficient timeline, you can accept an offer that has a quick
closing because our expertise will get you packed up and out of the
house faster than doing it yourself. We know what supplies to order and
movers to book to make your move seamless and save you money.
We can make your move more cost effective and efficient with our
connections and processes. E.G. We have relationships with great
movers, junk removal services, cleaners, consignment stores and more.
The reality is that trying to tackle all the responsibilities of downsizing a
home is overwhelming. NEATSPACES has a team of dedicated
specialists and relationships with third party service providers from
consignment stores to cleaners who are used to working with a senior
clientele.
Allow us to access the right resources to make your move go more
smoothly so you can focus on enjoying the next chapter.
"Are YouInsured?"
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, NEATSPACES is insured.
page #39NEATSPACES
"Where Willthe BelongingsI Don’t Have
Room for Go?"
"I have a lot ofCollectibles and
AntiqueFurniture. Is
there any valuein selling it?"
While the demand for antiques and collectibles has changed, we do
work with several auction houses, consignment companies and other
vendors to monetize what we can for our clients. We can advise you on
the best approach following our consultation.
We will advise you on how best to dispose of items/belongings that
won’t fit into your new space. Options include auction, consignment,
donation and disposal.
"Do YouArrange for
Other Tradesand Servicesthat may beRequired?"
Yes, we can arrange for cleaners, gardeners, junk removal,
donation removal, movers, boxes, paper and tape and almost
anything else.
"AdultChildren andFamily Are
Not Availableto Help. Is that
Okay?"
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSThat's perfectly fine! We work one on one with most of our
downsizing clients.
With all of the technology available today, we can include
family by communicating through text, facetime, email etc.
quite efficiently. This can be a daily update or we can send
pictures of things so they can be included in the decision
making process of what to keep and what to let go.
page #40NEATSPACES
What Happens ifyou Come AcrossMoney, Jewelry,
LegalDocuments,
Family Photos orMemorabilia?"
Will you arrangefor movers?
Yes, we work with several fully insured professional moving companies.
We ship locally, across Canada, the US and to international
destinations with our moving partners. One of our referral partners
specializes in moving museum quality art locally and internationally.
The NEATSPACES team of organizers are trained to create a “safe
zone” on the job site where all valuables, personal correspondence,
photos, legal documents etc. will be gathered for family review. In fact
one month we located a lost gold wedding band and 500 Euros on
different job sites. Our clients were thrilled.
Do you providefree
consultations?
Yes, we require a telephone conversation with each client to determine
the scope of the job, their goals and timeline. We may request pictures.
Most downsizing projects are followed up with an onsite consultation.
Moving Checklist
page #41NEATSPACES
Moving Checklist
Your Personal ListBook movers.
Reserve elevators at your
current and new home if
necessary.
Order boxes, packing
paper, tape, tape gun,
markers.
Measure existing furniture
and carpets and make a
floorplan for your new
home.
Label furniture for your
new home, or family,
friends, consignment and
donation.
Sort, edit and purge as
you make decisions about
what you want to take to
your new home.
Packing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
a. Pack things being given
away or for donation.
b. Pack things for your
new home.
Moving Checklist
page # 42NEATSPACES
Moving Checklist
Your Personal List8. Arrange for pick-up of
scrap metal, garbage,
recycling, toxins.
9. Contact your insurance
company to arrange for
adequate insurance on your
new home. Cancel your
existing policy if you have one
on the advise of your
insurance broker.
10. Cancel or transfer utility
accounts to the new owner or
tenant. It's best practice to
stop the service the day after
your closing date.
11. Set up appointments for
your cable TV, internet and
phone provider at your new
home.
12. Cancel other home
maintenance contracts.
(Gardner, pool, A/C, snow
removal)
Moving Checklist
page #43NEATSPACES
Moving Checklist
Your Personal List
Bank & Credit Cards
Insurance
Subscriptions
Alma Matters
Doctors & Dentist Offices
Driver’s License
Health Card
Pharmacy
13. Complete address changes
for the following:
14. Complete a Canada Post
Change of Address Card
(NOTE: Takes 3 business days
to come into effect and if you
have mail addressed
to a business coming to your
home address, you must
complete a second Canada
Post Change of Address
Card.)
15. Notify friends and family.
