Today we have a guest post from Michael Longsdon Elder Freedom @ Empower the Elderly  http://elderfreedom.net. Michael will share some thoughts with us about senior downsizing for a successful move. 

Photo via Unsplash

 

Senior-Friendly Downsizing: How to Ensure a Successful Move

 

Thinking about downsizing in your senior years? After retirement, many seniors find that they no longer need as much house as they once did. And all of those rooms get a little more difficult to maintain and keep clean over the years. Who wants to spend their retirement mowing the lawn, wading through clutter, and plugging away at relentless home maintenance? If you’re considering a minimizing move, here are some tips to keep in mind!

 

Selling Your Home in a Pandemic 

Selling your home is a major part of the downsizing process, and likely one of the more stressful items on your to-do list. To make things easier on yourself, hire a great real estate agent who can take the lead. An experienced agent like D. Lisa West will have all the knowledge needed to market your home and find buyers as quickly as possible. This is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic! If you’re concerned about potential buyers bringing COVID-19 into your home, ask your real estate agent about virtual showings. Thanks to video-chat tours and 3D walkthroughs, it’s possible for buyers to tour homes without ever stepping foot inside! 

When it comes to selling your home, you also have to consider the best day to list it. According to Redfin, homes listed on a Wednesday tend to sell for the most money while homes listed on a Thursday typically sell the fastest. So, it’s important to think about your goals carefully when deciding which day of the week to list your home!

 

Finding Your New Home 

As you begin looking for your new home, think about where you want to live. This is your opportunity to move somewhere that fits your lifestyle and personal preferences.

Besides location, there are a variety of other factors to consider when searching for your new home. For example, how will your home accommodate aging in place? Buying a home with accessibility features will ensure you can remain in the home for as long as possible! Keep in mind that you can make your own accessibility modifications after moving in. You can hire a professional to take on all kinds of home modification projects, like lowering your countertops, adding a stairlift, or replacing showers and toilets. You’ll also need to consider home prices in the areas you’re looking in. Seattle home sales have been averaging $742,000, but you can find a smaller home for considerably less.

 

Decluttering Your Possessions 

One of the most difficult parts of downsizing is decluttering. Not only can decluttering be physically taxing, but mentally exhausting as well. It’s important to approach your decluttering projects one day at a time. Start with a really small section of your home, like a single kitchen drawer or bathroom cabinet, and work from there. The last thing you want is to take on too much and wind up overwhelmed. It can also help to have a friend or family member with you for emotional support and encouragement. You’ll be surprised at how hard it is to say goodbye to stuff you don’t even want!

 

Surviving Moving Day

 Moving day is another hurdle to conquer on your downsizing journey. Again, take it one step at a time. Constellation recommends creating a moving checklist a couple of months out so you can start tackling important tasks well ahead of time. For example, it’s a good idea to book your movers at least two months in advance, especially during the busy summer season. Remember to update your address with the post office and switch over your utilities to your new home. Finally, if you have pets, make a plan with a friend or family member to get them away from the moving action. Once the moving day is over, you’re nearly done with this whole process. All you have to do is unpack and set up your new home!

 

Downsizing isn’t easy, but the result is often worth the work! Think about how your life will improve without the ongoing demands of your large house and the clutter it contains. As you navigate the downsizing process, focusing on your end goal will help you make it through!

New Lifestyle Vision Guide!

It’s time to create your 2019 lifestyle! Let your imagination run wild with my gift to you. Get a free Lifestyle Vision guide here.

Lifestyle Vision Guide 

Resolutions for 2017

Resolutions for the 2017.

This article from Houzz did make me think about new year resolutions. Some of these ideas are things that I might incorporate in my life.

As an artist as well as a realtor, art is a big part of my life. I do love art on the walls and about the house so this is an easy one for me.

New pillowcases are always nice. I'll have to evaluate that because crisp clean bedding is always good.

Now flowers and other items to put in my vases. This is  a good one too. In the pacific northwest there are always interesting things growing that can add interest to any room.

Twinkle lights can really add some cheer to gloomy winter days and this is a nice idea as well. We can all use a bit of mood lighting.

I'm inspired by buildings, people and everyday objects. How about you. What inspires you in this new year?
 

6 Easy Design Resolutions That Can Bring You Joy

How Should I Decorate My House?

Whenever I sell and stage a home or think about making changes in my own home, I wonder what kind of furnishings I should use. It's sometimes hard to know just what to use, what will look good or if I'm really confident that I'm making a good choice. I think I've just discovered a solution that can help me or help my clients. There is a new design service available that will let you "try on" furniture before you buy it. Modsy was created after Shanna Tellerman and her husband moved into a new home three years ago. She found many ideas on Pinterest of things she liked and rooms she like but was uncertain how to go about creating the rooms and the feelings that she liked. So she created Modsy. It's a virtual design service that provides 3D visualizations of a fully decorated room in your home that is created according to your taste. Each furniture piece and decor item has been sourced from several hundred retailers and is scaled to your room. You just take a style quiz and upload a photo of your room and several days later you get two virtually styled versions of your room You have options to change furnishings or decor and then make your purchase knowing what it's going to look like in your room.

This is such an interesting idea and I'd love to try it out or talk with folks who have used it and learn what they think. If you want to read more about it and see examples of how it works, you can read more about it here. Decorating with Modsy

Parents

I've been thinking about my parents lately. They have both passed over, so I am now the "older generation" in my family. Here they were with my oldest. Picture taken some 21 years ago. She looks pretty happy to be in the arms of a loving grandma. 

A view from the water side of Ray's Boathouse in Ballard. What a sweet location.

Tiny Houses

This story in the New York Times about a Portland couple is sweet, except for the part where they will not use a general contractor or a Realtor in the future...of, course I have an opinion about Realtors.

Link here:

Landscape painting in the city

A little sketch I did on Capitol Hill.   Fun in the
Seattle summer, painting outside!

Selling my mommy's house

My dear mother died and it was up to me to sell her home. This took quite some time, as she and my father built the home and in 1965 moved in, raised four kids there and kept quite a bit of "stuff".
The city of Tukwila also had plans to repair a storm drain that ran through her yard. It took several months of planning and cleaning to get the home ready for market.

Here I am with my mom before her cancer took her to the other side.

Pocket Neighborhoods

Ross Chapin Architects has created several pocket neighborhood designs, read more here about them. It seems like a beautiful and easy idea. Small homes in a cozy setting, with short fences in front and meandering sidewalks to encourage neighbor interaction. I could live in one of these.

Driving in Seattle

Sometimes, driving is just so beautiful, and then there's a bump.

Art Market as unregulated as the Drug Market?

Thanks to Jenn Graves for posting this. These videos are worth watching. Robert Hughes, ranting about money and reminiscing about being an art critic since the 60's

Drummers in a small apartment

Here is a link to a terrific little movie and it's very nice to look at and listen to.

more sketches

I found more sketchbooks while preparing for school

Is Life worth It?

This was the question of the day.  She, talking about her dead grandfather and her mother pondering...

Here is a quote from Kate Braestrup, the  tail end of a blessing she wrote:

"Let the shadows flee, let that miraculous moment breathe, let the joy rise up you like the flowers of flame from the sacred earth on which you stand"

and here is Willie Nelson, singing: "Gravedigger" Sorry about the annoying ad that plays, but the video and song are worth a listen.

Anastasia Faiella

This woman used to be a painter, now an interior designer. I see how that can work for a visual artist.

her website:  http://faiella-design.com

The Thank You Economy

I've been reading this book, The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk, and thinking about reading and connecting with people online and off. He has many great ideas in the book, including this: "the person who posts a negative comment is a customer you can talk to." (page 71)

I recently sent a comment to a man who makes soap locally, about his new packaging. His company: Ballard Organics. His soap, my favorite: Ubermoist.

This is what I said to him:




"I am a huge fan of your soap, which I found originally at the Ballard Sunday market. I recently was very disappointed to not find it at my local store. I was shopping at the Ballard Market.

I wanted to find Uber Moist.

I looked and looked and decided to by an alternative brand, which said it was FRAGRANCE FREE, hoping that would do.

I was AT THE CHECKOUT counter before I realized it was your soap, and Uber Moist.

The new packaging had me completely lost. I can't read the Uber Moist without a serious squint or my glasses. I miss the old package,and really don't like the shiny paper. It looks like the kind of paper that is coated and not recyclable.

A fan"

*************************************************************************************************************

AND TO MY SHOCK, this is what he said back:  "Can't please everyone I guess."

**************************************************************************************************************

On his site, it had a link for feedback. I think it should say, positive feedback only.

Mom has Cancer

Here are my two nephews, running around and having a super fun time on Thanksgiving. I noticed they were anxious when they weren't rambunctiously playing every time they noticed their mom wasn't in plain sight. They would scream and cry out "mommmmmmm", when they noticed she wasn't around.

I feel the same way now that my mom has cancer. I went for years just seeing her every so often, knowing she was fine, and just "running around" living my life. Now I see her, struggling with cancer and the treatments and it makes me feel a little like these kids....

"Mom! ......."

The Boundaries of a Breakup

Facebook and how to get or lose your "friends"...interesting article. Ok, it's an old article, but I just found my note on a scrap of paper, and wanted to share it here in November....so here it is!

The Oldest People on the Street

The other day I was feeling old, creaky, and just plain worn out. (That's right, I am only in my fifties)...then I looked out the window, and caught a glimpse of my neighbor, an older woman (in her 80's who is Norwegian. At one recent block party we all remarked that while we may get older and die, she'll be re-roofing her house and outliving us all. She showed up to that event with a party platter, cut meats cheeses, lefse that she made herself, and gave all a jar of homemade jam.

So, as I limped to the window, imagine my shame as I saw this gal outside, in her boots and rain gear, hauling around her hose. I thought, what? She is washing her house? It turns out she was washing her windows, outside with a long handled contraption I can only think she made herself in her basement. Here is what she looked like:

The New York Times had this little essay by Michael Winerip on a similar line of thinking.