Yikes! Assisted Living!?!

As we grow older, the value of time becomes clearer. Lifes most precious moments are often spent connecting with loved ones, enjoying favorite hobbies, or simply savoring the peace of a quiet day. Yet, the clutter of everyday life, both physical and emotional, can rob us of these meaningful experiences. For seniors, simplifying life is about more than just organizing possessionsits about creating space for moments that truly matter.At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we understand that the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our loved ones is timetime to connect, time to relax, and time to create memories. Our goal is to help seniors declutter and simplify their lives so they can focus on what really matters. Heres how simplifying your life can lead to more meaningful moments and a happier, more peaceful existence.The Emotional Burden of Clutter and How to Overcome ItAs we age, we accumulate not only material possessions but also memories, emotions, and experiences attached to these items. For many seniors, the process of decluttering can feel overwhelming, as every object seems to carry a story or sentiment. But holding on to too much can become emotionally burdensome, making it difficult to move forward and enjoy lifes present moments.Why Decluttering Matters for Emotional Well-beingPhysical clutter often translates into mental clutter. A disorganized home can make it hard to focus, relax, or even find joy in the little things. For seniors, this clutter can also lead to safety concerns, such as tripping hazards or an inability to find important items. But beyond the physical risks, clutter also weighs heavily on emotional health.Letting Go of the Past: While it can be difficult to part with possessions that remind us of the past, its important to remember that memories arent tied to objects. Letting go of excess allows room for new experiences and connections. At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we guide seniors through the process of decluttering with compassion, helping them hold on to whats truly meaningful and release what no longer serves them.Creating a Peaceful Space: A clutter-free home is a peaceful home. When you clear out whats unnecessary, you create a sanctuarya place where you can relax, reflect, and focus on the things that bring you joy. Whether its spending time with family, enjoying a favorite hobby, or simply sitting in a quiet, organized room, the emotional benefits of decluttering are profound.The Joy of Simplicity: Simplifying your life doesnt mean losing what you love; it means finding clarity and freedom. By keeping only what brings you happiness or serves a purpose, you make space for meaningful momentstime spent with family, pursuing passions, or just enjoying a stress-free environment.Practical Tips for Simplifying Your Senior LifeSimplifying life doesnt have to be an overwhelming task. With the right approach, seniors can declutter their homes and create more time for the moments that truly matter. Here are some practical tips from A Call to Order Professional Organizers to help seniors simplify their lives:1. Start Small and Take It Step by StepDecluttering your entire home at once can feel overwhelming. Instead, start small by focusing on one area or room at a time. Whether its a closet, a kitchen drawer, or a spare bedroom, breaking the process into manageable steps makes it less daunting and more achievable.2. Keep Only What You Love or NeedOne of the most effective ways to simplify your life is to adopt the love it or need it rule. When deciding whether to keep or part with an item, ask yourself, Does this bring me joy? or Is this truly necessary in my life? By keeping only the items that enhance your well-being, you can create a space filled with positivity and purpose.3. Enlist the Help of Loved Ones or ProfessionalsDecluttering is often easier when done with the support of others. Whether its family members or professional organizers like A Call to Order, having someone to guide and encourage you can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. Not only does this provide emotional support, but it also helps create a shared experience with those you love.4. Digitize MemoriesFor many seniors, one of the hardest parts of decluttering is letting go of sentimental items such as photos, letters, or mementos. Consider digitizing these memories by scanning old photographs or letters and storing them in a digital format. This allows you to preserve the memories without holding on to physical clutter.5. Establish New Routines for Maintaining SimplicityOnce youve decluttered, its important to establish routines to keep your home organized and clutter-free. Set aside time each week to tidy up, donate items you no longer need, or reorganize spaces. This not only maintains the physical organization but also fosters a sense of control and peace in your home.Conclusion: A Life with More Time for What Truly MattersAt A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we believe that simplifying life is the key to finding more time for the things that matter mostwhether its spending quality moments with family, nurturing hobbies, or simply enjoying the beauty of a peaceful home. For seniors, this journey toward simplicity is about more than just letting go of clutter; its about embracing the gift of time.By decluttering your home, you can make room for the things that truly matter in your lifemore meaningful moments, greater peace of mind, and the joy of living simply. Let us help you on this journey, so you can enjoy every precious moment life has to offer.

Downsizing even the word can create fear, anxiety, and insecurity to the home owner or their family members because it can be a major change to your life!  Going from a familiar, comfortable environment into the unknown.And yet, you may know you want or need to start considering a transition.  The house you now reside in is too large or does not work well for your current needs.  The demands that come with it are cleaning, repairs, maintenance, yard work, and other items youd prefer not to do or maybe cannot do any longer.  And the amount of stuff that has accumulated over the years needs to be dealt with.Like anything else, the more you discover about home downsizing, the better your result will be!Thats the goal of this article.  Through more than 25 years of working with seniors and their families that want or need to downsize a house and move to senior living, weve learned a great deal to help make the transition easier. Downsizing can be more difficult than it needs to be if you dont take the time to become familiar with the many facets involved in moving to a smaller living accommodation. This article contains specific items on the ins and outs, the do's and donts, what to avoid and what to embrace, so that after youve made the transition to senior living, youll be in a better place.Mistake #1: Failing To See the Big PictureMany who decide to downsize dont realize soon enough that it is a two-sided equation.  They have decided to sell their house, however they dont have a clear picture of what the selling process involves and secondly, where they will move to.Theres an old saying putting the cart before the horse, and for some people this definitely applies when downsizing their house.  Because of this, it is very important that you fully think out and decide where youre heading.Some options include:A smaller houseA condoAn apartmentMoving in with an adult childA senior community (independent living, assisted living, or other)There are choices, and as you consider downsizing your house, it helps to figure out your next step.  In addition, you will want to know, once you decide to make a move, theres actually availability where you want to be.  An example here is youve decided to relocate into an apartment community in a particular neighborhood, but you discover there are no vacancies at this time.  Its not uncommon for highly desired communities to have a waitlist.Do you have a plan B?  You may need one.  Other than the option of moving in with an adult child, there will always be the question of availability, so before you start packing, youll need to know.Knowing this information will provide some peace of mind as you start your home downsizing journey. Mistake #2: Not Assembling a Strong TeamTo win in sports, it takes a team effort from a group of dedicated people.  Even in individual sports, athletes must rely on a coach and a trainer, among others as part of their team.The same team concept holds true when selling your house and downsizing.  Earlier, we asked an important question to consider: where will you be going?  The answer serves as the end result to the downsizing process.  However, there are a multitude of other questions/scenarios to consider, which will cover in this article.  For now, let's focus on what you must do to place yourself in the best possible position to achieve your goals.First, who is going to be the leader of your team?  This should likely be a real estate professional who is highly experienced with home downsizing scenarios.  Some things to consider when selecting this professional:Does this person have a track record of accomplishment, specifically working with seniors and their families and the particular needs you have?Is this person familiar with the various home downsizing options so that they can provide outstanding guidance and direction to help decide the best options for you?Can they offer good advice of what you need to do to get your house ready for sale so its attractive to potential buyers?Will the real estate professional know the local market well enough, understanding realistic values and potential values of your house and the neighborhood?Will they be able to give you realistic expectations of what you may NET from the sale of your house in its as is as well as potential value?There are other factors involved in this process, but choosing the right real estate professional is a key decision in creating a good home downsizing team. Mistake #3: Getting OverwhelmedThe age old question goes like this:  How do you eat an elephant?  The answer: One bite at a time!The same applies with downsizing your house.  If you stop and think about all thats involved, youre likely to get overwhelmed.  Yes, theres a lot to do, but as with the item above, you just take it one step at a time. Again, this is where having a trusted, experienced real estate professional who is a specialist at downsizing can be a major asset.  They can guide you through this transition.  It's important to have a game-plan in place, a roadmap if you will, to follow.  This in itself, will give you some peace of mind and comfort during the process.  Some things to take note of:What repairs or deferred maintenance needs to be done to put your house in a good sellable condition?Whats the best way to market your house?Do you have accurate pricing and valuation information for your house?Are you going to live in the house until its sold, or find other living arrangements?All of the above are important items to consider.  Each will have a definite bearing on the process of selling your house.Along these lines, in particular, is the last bullet point, regarding whether you plan to stay in the house or move out.  If it is the former and you will be living in the house while selling, then be aware of a common mistake many sellers make.This will be covered next and is a key item in getting your house sold in a timely fashion.  Failing to adhere to this will potentially put you at a major disadvantage with potential home buyers!Mistake #4:  Not Seeing the Forest for the TreesIt's your house, which you know like the back of your hand.  Because of this, its easy to be lulled into a trap.  You walk through the various rooms and do so with the blinders that come with being the owner.  Here you arent always able to step back and see what is there.  In a word:CLUTTERPotential buyers want to image what the home will look like with their things in it.  Items such as furniture, pictures, and their personal keepsakes enter into a buyers visualization process.  Because of this, every place where you have something displayed makes it more difficult for the potential buyer to put their stuff into the picture.Unless you are planning on moving during the selling process, this is something you (and potential buyers) will have to deal with.  However, all is not lost!The answer is to remove as many things as possible, especially those items which can cause a negative imprint of the space.  Do what you can to not have overcrowded rooms or rooms with too much stuff.Your real estate professional can provide guidance in order to make sure your house looks its very best!  It may also be beneficial to consult with a professional home stager, someone that can help present your house to attract potential buyers.If nothing else, your real estate professional can serve as a fresh set of eyes to help get your house sold.  Its all about making your house as attractive as possible so that potential buyers see your house as where they want to live!Mistake #5: Unrealistic ExpectationsExpectations.  We all have them, no matter the circumstances.  It's human nature!  We think about the given situation and our mind forms an opinion, or expectation.Its the same with the process of selling a house and downsizing.  Expectations can become more clear once youve set a clear path for where you are heading.  Here, you will be able to see first-hand where you will be living.The second part of the scenario is more out of your control.  Thats because the potential buyer of your house will have a say-so in what you will actually NET from the sale.You can certainly ask whatever you want for the property.  It's your right as the owner.  That said, there is usually a asking price and the selling price.  Then there is the actual net amount you will receive from the transaction.Many sellers think with their heard and not their head when formulating the initial asking price.  Thats because they get emotional in regard to the property.  It's understandable.  Its the sellers home.  It's likely a family was raised in the house.  You may have owned the property for literally decades and created many memories.For many, all these thoughts influence the asking price.  Again, this is normal.  However, the bottom line is that this is a business transaction.  Indeed, you as the seller are trying to get every possible dollar from the sale.In the end though, the market will dictate the price for the property, and it is up to you to decide if that amount is acceptable. Mistake #6: Not Being Open to All PossibilitiesAs the home owner, you will be the final decision maker as to what you will or will not accept for the house.  Having a real estate professional can help in determining what that amount will be in order for you to accept the result and move on.The real estate professional can research what comparable houses have sold for in your neighborhood in the recent past.  They can also see whats currently on the market (your competition), and what was on the market but didnt sell.  They will also be able to show you the condition of these houses.  All of this is very good information to have! Part of the decision regarding an asking price may be based on how quickly you want or need to move.  It may be a result of a health-related matter, or that the apartment or senior community is available right now and may not be in the near future.  There are often factors that contribute to the timetable to sell and move.Did you know that there are other options available to sell your house, in its current as is condition, and at a fair price?  There are professional home buyers that provide benefits that may be of value to you and your unique needs and be just what you are looking for!Here again, a real estate professional that has experience working with home owners and their families wanting or needing to downsize can help to provide the benefits or negatives or the various selling options.It certainly doesnt hurt to explore the various options to sell your house, whether you are wanting to make a move in the next few days, weeks, or months.Your goal is a smooth transition, where when all is said and done, you are satisfied with the outcome, no matter who the buyer is!Mistake #7: Fear Of the UnknownOne things for sure the decision to sell your house and downsize means you are in for a visit into unchartered territory. If you are planning to move in with an adult child, this may not be as much as an unknown as the other options.Otherwise, youll be looking at a smaller house, condo, apartment, or some type of senior community. Rest assured that many people, just like you, have gone through the downsizing process and made it successfully to the other side.  They are living a life where they know they made the right decision for them.The unknowns can certainly be scary, but it can also be an exciting and rewarding experience. The right real estate professional can be an important and valuable resource to make this process go as smoothly and stress-free as possible.  If youd like to discuss your options, and how Home Downsizing Solutions can help with your specific situation, just let us know!  With our 25+ years of downsizing experience, we are confident that we can help!

As we grow older, the desire and sometimes need for a different and safer living arrangement increases.  That new living arrangement may be a smaller home, moving in with a family member, apartment community, or other senior living arrangement.  It may also include staying in the house were already living in, with some modifications to provide a better living environment.If the decision is to sell your house and move, this article will cover the 5 critical steps needed to sell your house and downsize.Assess Your Current Living SituationBefore looking for a new living arrangement, it's important to assess your current situation, needs, and future needs if possible.  Take a realistic look at your health, mobility, and any medical conditions that may require special care and attention.  Do you need help with activities like bathing, dressing, or making meals?  Do you need medication management or help with medical equipment?Make a list of your needs and desires to help you determine what level of care you need now or may likely need in the future.  This will help determine what type of living arrangement will be best for you.Research Living Arrangement OptionsOnce youve determined your needs and preferences, youll be better prepared to research your living arrangement options.  Is a smaller home or apartment community a good option?  Or is a senior community, such as independent living, assisted living, memory care, or continuing care community (a community that have different levels of care that can adapt to your needs) a better option?Look for a living arrangement or community that best fits your needs and preferences, that are hopefully located in areas that you want to be in and are close to services that you want or will need.  Often times, a knowledgeable senior placement agent can play an important role in helping locate a community that will fit your needs.Preparing Your House for SaleTypically, the next step is to get your house ready for sale.  This can include decluttering (getting rid of the sometimes decades of stuff that has accumulated in the house), getting a whole house inspection to discover known and unknown issues with the house that potential buyers will discover, making any necessary repairs and updates the house may need, and making the house inviting to potential buyers.What do I do with the stuff is usually the most common statement I hear.  But taking care of the stuff and depersonalizing the house, so that the house is inviting to potential buyers are important steps when selling a house in a traditional manner.If your house hasnt been updated in the last several years, you may need to decide if you will need to find contractors to update the house to what most home buyers expect in the current market, or price the house accordingly if the repairs and updates are not done.Locating The Right Real Estate ProfessionalI would recommend interviewing a few different real estate professionals to see what type of service is best for your specific situation.  Note- a friend or relative that happens to have a real estate license may not be your best choice.If your house is in great condition or you want and are able to get the house into a nice retail condition, and dont mind showings with strangers in your house or the other potential challenges that can go along with Listing a house, a great real estate agent may be your best solution.If you prefer to not do any repairs or updates, dont want to handle or deal with the stuff thats not important to you, dont want to get and keep the house in show ready condition, dont want strangers in your house, and want more control over the closing date and how long you can stay in the house, a trusted and experienced home buying company like Home Downsizing Solutions home buyers may be a great solution.The Move to Your New HomeOnce you have the sale of your house taken care of, it's time to make the move!You can start by creating a moving plan and schedule.  This can include going through your house, room by room, and identifying the items you want to take with you and ensuring they will fit in your new accommodations.  A senior moving/organizing company can help with sorting your stuff if needed.If you have enough good stuff that you dont want to take with you, you may want to contact a local estate sale company to monetize and get the most value from those items.When it comes time to pack and move, you and your family will need to determine if you have the abilities and resources for these tasks, or if its best to contact a local move manager and moving company that are specialists when it comes to downsizing and moving to senior living.And dont forget to notify utility companies, the post office, and others about the change in service and your new address.Downsizing and moving to new accommodations may be challenging, but with the right guidance and resources, can be rewarding and result in a better and more enjoyable life and lifestyle.For additional information on how to sell your house and downsize, just go to www.HomeDownsizingSolutions.com