It can be challenging for retirees who’ve lived in the same residence for decades to transition into senior living in Vicksburg, MS, but these six downsizing tips for will definitely make your move a lot easier.
Get Started Early
The sooner you begin, the easier the process will be. This is because it will minimize the stress that comes with moving from one place to another. Ideally you’ll want to start weeks or months in advance, because this will give you enough time for sorting through your loved one’s belongings and handling things like address changes and mail delivery.
Begin Small and Slow Then Gradually Expand
You don’t want to overwhelm your loved one, yet this is exactly what will happen if you expose them to too much at once. For example, you’ll want to begin by decluttering smaller areas that they have little emotional attachment to, like the laundry room before moving to bigger rooms. Rooms which contain lots of old decorations clutter or hobbies such as the attic, basement or garage should be left for last.
Use Backwards Organizing
One downsizing approach that has proven effective for many people is organizing backward. To do this, you’ll want to start out by selecting the mementos your loved one wants to keep rather than focusing on the stuff they don’t.
Control Your Costs
Relocation can be expensive, especially for someone that has lived at the same residence for many years. Therefore, you’ll need to keep things simple and control your costs, which can be done by setting two piles, one which says “yes” and another which says “no.”
The yes pile includes items that your loved ones can take with them to their new home, while the no pile consists of things they cannot. You’ll also need to decide how you’re going to move all the stuff. If you plan to place it into storage you’ll need to consider the monthly fees plus the cost for the moving company.
Eliminate Unnecessary Expenses
Downsizing involves more than just throwing out clutter or putting items into storage. You’ll also need to figure out how you’re going to cover the cost of the retirement community, since most of these associations charge a monthly fee.
One way of doing it is to get rid of monthly expenses that your loved one will no longer need. Examples of this include cable television, internet service and related things. Once they move into their new home all these things will be provided on their behalf.
Decide What to Do With the House
When downsizing, one of the most serious discussions you must have with your loved one is the question of what will be done with their house. The answer will depend partly on your loved ones wish as well as practicality. For instance, if the children already have a property of their own, it may be better to sell the house for a large sum that can be used to fund their retirement, or it may also be rented out for a set monthly fee.
