For an older adult who’s looking forward to retirement, downsizing should be a positive, empowering experience that heralds the beginning of an exciting new chapter in life. However, getting rid of old belongings that have been with you for decades is a key part of the downsizing process, and that can be an emotional blow for many seniors.
If you’re serious about simplifying and having more time to do what you enjoy, then decluttering your life is a necessary first step, no matter how much you may dread the experience. Here are a few tips to help you set the downsizing work in motion.

Do Your Research

Think through your needs before diving into the home buying market. Consider your needs, such as how much space you really need, what your accessibility requirements might be, and where you want to live (new town, new state, etc.). Spend plenty of time online looking at prospective homes and comparing prices to find the right property.
Remember, downsizing is about living more simply and less expensively, so carefully consider the cost of homes you’re considering. There’s little point in downsizing to a smaller home if it’s going to cost more to live there. And factor in the potential cost of upkeep — avoid houses that clearly require maintenance work and upgrades in the near future.

Accessibility

Accessibility is often a major point of consideration for older adults moving into a new home. For someone in a wheelchair or who uses a walker or cane, staircases and narrow doors and hallways won’t work for you. Bathroom accessibility is also very important. If your mobility is limited, getting in and out of the shower or bath could be a problem, so bear that in mind as you look for a new home. The cost of retrofitting a bathroom to suit an individual in a wheelchair is about $20,000, according to Angie’s List.

Decluttering

As soon as you know you plan to move, get started with the decluttering process. Don’t delay — the longer you wait, the harder it’ll be to make these decisions. Accept that it’s going to be a big job and an emotionally taxing undertaking. Go room by room, handle each item, and consider whether you’ve used or displayed it within the past year. Unless it has profound sentimental value, it’s time to let it go. Make separate piles for what you’re keeping, what you’re throwing away, and what you’ll donate — and don’t deviate from those categories. One of the biggest mistakes people make is to include a “maybe” pile. Before you know it, 70 percent of what you’ve gone through will be in that pile and you’ll have gotten nowhere.

Square Footage

Downsize based on square footage; if you’re going from a three to a two-bedroom house, there’s no sense in taking three bedrooms’ worth of stuff with you. Take measurements, photos, and video of your new home, and bear it in mind as you declutter so you can determine what furniture goes with you based on available wall space and square footage. This is important information because there’s no point moving a couch or big coffee table if there’s no place for it. Downsizing should produce more flow, more space to move around, and less stuff to clean, dust, and polish. The same goes with wall hangings, many of which may not fit.

The Right Movers

A bad moving experience can easily ruin what should be an exciting time of your life, so be diligent about your homework when selecting a moving company. Read customer reviews and make sure they’re licensed and fully insured. Your mover should have experience working with seniors — there are companies that specialize in moving older adults and working with senior move managers to ensure everything goes as planned.
Downsizing to a smaller, more livable home should be a time of optimism, the beginning of something new and exciting — and it can be if you don’t jump into it without forethought and careful planning. It’s well worth the time and effort to do it properly.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Written by Michael Longsdon. Have a question about downsizing and moving seniors into their next home?  Contact Michael at mike@elderfreedom.net for more information!

As a Realtor (R), I often get asked about professional staging services, particularly when a home is vacant. I get asked questions such as “How much does it cost? How much faster will my house sell? Can I get more money for my house if I stage it?” Below are some tips and things to think about if you are considering staging your home in Edmonton or Sherwood Park before you put it on the market!

Tip#1: Hire a professional Stager and request samples of their work – before and after. Professional Stagers receive extensive training on how to select and place furniture, artwork and accessories to make a room more visually appealing to buyers. A Stager can pick out the best assets of a home and use staging techniques to emphasize those features, while drawing the eye away from less desirable ones.

Tip #2: Start with a clean, well-maintained home. No house is perfect, but it is important to remember that a dirty house with numerous repairs needed that is staged is a bit like putting lipstick on a pig! You can dress up a room, but if problems are obvious, then it looks like the staging is attempting to hide something, which is NOT what you want!

Tip#3: Think of staging is an investment, not an expense. Staging IS expensive – for an average home with a few rooms chosen, expect to pay anywhere from $2000 – $2500. However, in the vast majority of cases, it will help a property sell faster and statistically will sell for 5 – 10% more money! That is a pretty good return on your investment, and also a lot cheaper than a $10,000 price reduction if the house does not sell.

Tip#4: Stage for one month and get quality photos. The bulk of the cost of staging lies in the monthly rental fee for furniture and accessories, which is why most builders purchase furnishings for their show homes instead of rent. In most cases, the house will likely sell before the one month is up. In my opinion, you will only need to stage for one month, and you have the photos and/or Virtual Tour already on the MLS. Just make sure the photos are great quality with good lighting. There is no point in spending the money on Staging when the photos are less than professional!

Tip #5: Hire a Stager who promotes your property once it is listed. Many Stagers have their own Website and use Social Media to promote the work they do. Make sure your home is promoted – a win-win for all!

Do you have further questions about staging your Edmonton or Sherwood Park home, and want to know who the good ones are? Contact me, and I will be happy to help out!

The old adage, “You can’t judge a book by its cover” does NOT ring true in Real Estate! I have had, on occasion, pulled up to a property to show to prospective Buyer clients only to hear, “Sorry, let’s skip this one – I don’t like how it looks on the outside”. While this happens infrequently, it illustrates the fact that a house’s curb appeal CAN have a major impact on a buyer’s decision to go inside, which could make or break a sale.

What DO Buyers look for when sizing up a home from the outside? Here are some tips on some important areas to address:

1.) Condition of Landscaping   Make sure the lawn is free of weeds, is neatly trimmed, and that shrubs and trees are properly pruned and manicured. Make sure that trees and shrubs do not obscure the front of the house. While this may provide privacy to the home owner, too much shrubbery may make the house look small and insignificant by comparison.

2.) Condition of roof and eaves  While there is always work to be done on an older home, make sure the roof and shingles are in good condition. If the shingles are curling and show excessive wear, many buyers will walk away, knowing that it could cost $4000-$8000 (or more) to replace the shingles, assuming there is no damage underneath. If you live in an area with mature trees, make sure the eaves are clear of debris and that trees are not too close to the house, as this could damage the roof.

3.) Check the maintenance of trim and entry/exit points  Is the trim on the doors and windows painted or capped? Very few buyers like to do this job, as it can be quite tedious. Freshen the paint on any wood trim and  check to make sure that vents, and entry / exit points are properly sealed or covered. This prevents moisture from penetrating as well as insects or small rodents entering the home, which can be a deal-breaker for many buyers.

4.) Check the front door  Think about it – the front door is the buyer’s first and last impression. Make sure it is in good condition, is clean and that the hardware works properly. Nowadays, with many people entering their home via an attached garage, this is very important, and often overlooked! Make sure those impressions are good ones!

5.) Accent with the right decorating  In summer, accent with some planters and hanging baskets. And PLEASE, take down the Christmas lights after Christmas is over. Decorating should enhance but not distract from the appearance of a home. And when in doubt, ask a neighbour.  It is the simple little things that can make a difference.

Want more tips on preparing your Sherwood Park or Edmonton home for sale? Contact me and I can help you get ready to SELL!

This year, my husband and I decided to put our Sherwood Park house on the market. Now, you would think this would be a piece of cake for me, After all, I have been trading in Real Estate as a Realtor (R) for almost 10 years now, so you would think I would have this down pat. Well, the truth is, I now have a new found appreciation for Sellers after seeing the selling process from a Seller’s perspective. Here are some insights I gained along the way – enjoy!

1.) Your house can never be “too clean”.
This is something I obsessed about constantly to the point where my teenaged daughter called my “Psychotic” because I was constantly cleaning the house. Does it have to be perfect? No, but it is sure something to aspire to minutes before the buyers arrive!

2.) It’s a real hassle when you have a pet.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my dog. She is part of the family. But driving around in the car while your dog is anxiously wondering where you are taking her (only to return home!) is fine for about 10-15 minutes. Not an hour.

3.) You really start to notice how much cr*p you have.
All that junk you have stored in your basement? Yes, it was taking up precious square footage of your home all this time. Some of it may still be in sealed boxes from the last move! But…. it is sooooo therapeutic to purge it out of your house for good. Just DO IT!

4.) You can NEVER have too many boxes!
It’s amaziing how many boxes you need to move just one room of a house. So, get as many boxes as you can get a hold of, and contact people who have recently moved and offer to pick up their boxes as they unpack. It can save you hundreds of dollars and make the whole process of packing easier. I did purchase a “China set” moving kit this year, and it was worth every penny. Saving time also saves money.

5.) Even though you are looking forward to good times in the new house, you will feel sad about leaving old friends and neighbors behind. Bricks and mortar may make a home, but it is the memories from the people you interact with that matter the most. I watched my girls grow from young girls to teenagers in this house. I remember when they rode on their bikes in the cul-de-sac and played tag in the front yards with their friends, and made s’mores over the fire in the back yard.  Those days are long gone now, but the memories remain.

Is it all worth it? Yes, it is! Let me help you with your next move, whether you are moving to a different community, upgrading or downsizing, I would love to help you sell your home and find a new one! Contact me, and let’s get started!

Sellers consider Christmas to be the LEAST desirable time to list and sell a property. There is so much going on, from holiday preparations, special engagements and cold weather, that it is easy to dismiss that time of year to sell. However, the season DOES have some advantages: fewer sellers to compete with, and a select group of serious Buyers, who often have to buy either within time restrictions, or are preparing for a new start to the New Year. Once you’ve decided to take the plunge and put your home on the market, here are some useful tips to consider:

1.). Too Much of a Good Thing is NOT a Good Thing!

Decorating over the holidays can add a touch of excitement and glamour to a home. Just make sure you don’t overdo it, or it becomes overly distracting. Avoid overly religious themes as well, as these can polarize potential buyers.

2.) Make it Bright!
Christmas time means dark, early nights. Make sure your home is lit up (i.e. not Griswold style, where you need your own generator!), especially the entrance of the house, where it is often difficult to see where the key fits in the door. You can purchase timers to light up the house at specific times while you are away, and if you are able to time your lighting through your alarm system, consider doing that as well. A well -lit home is warm and welcoming!

3.) Turn up the Heat!
Speaking of warmth, make sure your thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature, especially if the property is vacant. If you have a gas or electric fireplace, turn it on. Don’t use lit candles for safety reasons – use flameless products instead to create a warm ambiance. Buying is an emotional response to a house, so make sure the emotion you are creating is warm and evokes a feeling of comfort.

4.) Clear the Walks, Driveways and Steps of Ice and Snow.
I cannot emphasize this one enough. Show buyers (and their realtors!) that you care about their safety. Watch for water dripping from the eaves to the walk below, as this can get severely slippery.

5.) Add Some Festive Scent.
By this, I mean real scent, not artificial. Fresh baked cookies, hot apple cider, fresh pine boughs can evoke positive thoughts of the holiday season. Like decorating, make sure the scent is not overpowering, otherwise it too becomes distractive.

6.) Price it to Sell.
No matter what you do to prep your home over the holiday season, price is the number one determniner in attracting an offer. The best properties at the best prices sell the quickest. This is true of any time of the year, but is particularly important to remember over the holidays when there are fewer buyers.

Hope you find these tips useful in attracting that Buyer! For more ideas, please contact me – I’m happy to help!

1.) Never Underestimate the Value of a Good Paint Job.
Did you know that fresh paint can bring the highest Return on Investment (ROI) provided the colors are neutral? Neutral tones appeal to the largest number of buyers. The opposite is true of strong colors, which can polarize buyers – they either love, or hate the color. Greys are very popular right now. Make sure to invest in a professional painter. Don’t forget to refresh the trim and ceiling as well if they need it.

2.) If it’s Broken, Fix it!
Sounds obvious? Think again. Often homeowners overlook the “small” things, like that broken doorbell, the rattling exhaust fan, or the squeaky door. However, those small things add up to big things to the Buyer. It also makes them think, “What else has not been maintained?” Go through every room of your home and make a list – don’t forget the exterior!

3.) The First and Last Impressions Count.
Think about when you bought your last house. What was your first impression? Chances are, both curb appeal and the appearance of the foyer are what often stick in your mind. Make sure you are making the best impression possible!

4.) Clean, Clean, and Clean Some More!
A clean house is both welcoming and shows pride of ownership. On average, a clean home will sell for more than one that is dusty, dirty, and cluttered. Donate or throw away anything that is not needed anymore. It is surprising what people stash away and don’t even remember they have! Consider hiring a professional cleaner and have the carpets professionally steam cleaned as well. If you own pets, try to remove all evidence of the pet if you are able. If you smoke, never smoke in the house. It can quickly depreciate your home, even to smokers! And make sure the home is aired out if vacant. Fresh air is always appealing in a home.

5.) Give Rooms a Function.
Rooms that serve many functions at once are confusing. What is this room supposed to be? Is it an exercise room? A scrapbooking room? A toy room? An Office? Or all of the above? Don’t laugh – most houses have these rooms. But when you are selling, it is a good idea to pick one purpose for a room and focus on that. It brings a sense of calm and organization to the Buyer, even if YOU don’t always feel that way!

Need a fresh set of eyes? I can help! Contact me for honest feedback as part of my Listing Services. I’m here to help!