3 tips for working with a move manager to downsize
When an older adult makes the decision to downsize their home, someone has to sort through all the stuff in their current home and decide what will go to the smaller space. This task can feel overwhelming for a senior, especially if they have decades of accumulated odds and ends.
Many seniors and their families make the decision to involve a move manager to help with the downsizing process, something my in–laws said was the best money they had ever spent. I would even go so far as to say it was relationship-preserving.
If your loved ones have made the decision to work with a move manager, here are three tips to get the most out of the experience.
#1 Be aware of record retention guidelines
I heard from a friend that her parents had tax records stored in the basement from all 57 years they had been married. I’m all for good record keeping, but when moving to a smaller space there isn’t much space for boxes of paper.
Your move manager is likely to be aware of record retention guidelines and help you preserve what you need.
They don’t necessarily have to be the one sorting through the documents. You can save some money by having a friend or family member help sort the paper, but make sure to leverage professional guidance around what information needs to be kept.
Pro Tips:
Even keeping several years of taxes can take up a lot of space, so think about digitizing your records instead of keeping paper copies.
While you want someone you trust to scan your records, you may not want to pay the move manager's rates to stand at a scanner for hours. This may be a job for a grandchild, or someone who will work at a lower rate.
Protect against identity theft by making sure any personal papers you dispose of are shredded. Your move manager may be able to offer some suggestions for bulk shredding options.
#2 Be open minded about what will fit in the new space
One of the things that makes downsizing so hard is that so many of our possessions are tied to memories.
Logically, there is no reason for someone to keep all the party napkins from their children’s birthday parties, but emotionally those keepsakes represent the journey of raising a family.
Move managers are compassionate people that understand the feeling attached to physical objects.
My mother-in-law said that working with a move manager was such a good experience because she felt heard and understood about the value she placed on things, but they helped her see reality about what was practical to keep.
I think of moving managers as social workers for your stuff and your relationship with your stuff because they understand the process of letting go.
#3 Consider what you can monetize
Part of the role of the downsizer is to help remove all the stuff you’re not keeping. Most move managers have relationships with charities or junk haulers to clear out the discarded items, but it might surprise you what you can sell.
Ask your move manager how they would suggest disposing of valuable items. They may have a relationship with companies like Quinn’s Auction House that will come to DC-area homes and tell you what they can sell for you.
Sometimes estate sale prices can be hard to stomach. Seeing something you paid $5,000 for with a sale price of $150 is tough, but it’s important to be realistic. Perhaps think of any sales as found money, and a way to offset the cost of a move manager.
Smaller things have value too
I’ve had yard sales to clear out some of the clutter in my own home, but I recently heard from a friend that she brought in nearly $1,000 selling things from her parent’s basement on places like NextDoor or Facebook Marketplace. What was surprising was that she was selling electrical cords, Christmas decorations, and used tools.
She also told me that people wanted things like half-full bottles of Goo-Gone and WD-40. While those items were given away, not sold, it was amazing to hear how her parents' possessions found a new life with people just starting in their own homes, or neighbors that appreciated saving a few dollars.
At Everyday Money Management, we have a large network of professionals in the DMV, including move managers. If you are planning to downsize and need some help, please reach out!