Senior Downsizing Services

A senior downsizing service can help simplify your loved one’s current situation by helping them whittle down belongings gathered from 30, 40, or over 50 years of living in the same home. Downsizing can be a freeing experience for all parties involved.

Senior downsizing services can craft individualized plans for “aging in place” that enable your loved one to stay in the same home for much longer than anticipated simply by reducing the items in the home and making the home more accessible.

When searching for downsizing services, determine what your primary needs are. Are you relocating to a smaller location? Do you need more space in the current home? Is it too hard to maintain the current home with all of the items currently there? Will you benefit from storing unused items elsewhere?

In some situations, you may find that staying in the same home with fewer items to manage is a better option than completely downsizing and moving into a smaller community. Each person’s needs are different and one size does not fit all. Talk with your local senior downsizing service to determine a plan that fits best for you and your loved one.

Many assisted living communities can direct you to local senior downsizing services that they work with. You may also talk to friends and ask for their recommendations. Having a solid referral can help establish trust for your loved one. You don’t allow strangers in your home. In the same way, having a specialized senior downsizing service that has been vouched for is like having a friend that you trust come over to help.

It is always a great idea to check out the senior downsizing service’s references. Make sure they are a legitimate company and have been in business long enough to know how to work with seniors in a respectful and meaningful way. They don’t need to roll out the red carpet for you, but you do need to know that they are available to answer any questions you may have and provide additional guidance along the way.

A good senior downsizing service will walk you through the process step-by-step and provide you with a personalized floor plan to show you how and where your items will fit in the new location. They will work with you to identify the furniture that would best fit in the new home and which ones should be sold. They can make excellent recommendations based on your needs.

Depending on which services you select from a senior downsizing provider, you and your loved one may be fully or partially involved in the downsizing process. Many senior downsizing services can complete the full downsizing service by creating a new floor plan, identifying which items to donate or sell, setting up an estate sale, running the donations over to the local charity, packing, unpacking, setting up the new home, and even getting your current home staged and sold.

Never agree to a contract without the senior downsizing service giving you an initial walk through of your home. Ask to see a sample price list of what is included in their fees. Once you have agreed on the price and the terms have been set, ensure that you get a written contract from the senior downsizing service.

A good contract will include: exact services that will be provided, the fee (hourly or project based), and a timeline for completion for each of the services provided. If you can, ensure the contract has a clause to refund some or all of the money within a certain time period if the company fails to provide their services as outlined in the contract.

Imagine being able to find the items you need without having to search the whole house – simply because you downsized to a level that’s manageable for you. A senior downsizing service will help you identify what your main downsizing goals are and provide a path towards achieving the freedom that you desire.

SeniorAdvisor.com Staff

Senior Advisor's knowledgeable writers blog about senior care services, trends and more.