{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F8e43cdc7-c93c-4663-9801-786c63059d17","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"029. Ready to downsize? Hear about the service that'll help you sort, sell, pack and move it!","description":"If you\u2019re moving out of your house of 30 years, where do you even begin? Donna Rae lifts the veil of the professional packing, moving and liquidation service as the franchise owner of Caring Transitions in North Dallas. With 200 offices across the U.S., the business partners with seniors and their families to declutter, pack, move, and settle into their new home. Many seniors benefit from such a service especially as they downsize into smaller homes and senior living communities.Donna shares her top tips for approaching a move and simple ways to get started - even if it\u2019s intimidating. Her team\u2019s strategy even works with seniors who have decades\u2019 worth of belongings. She\u2019ll also explain why it\u2019s important to work with people who understand all aspects of the business and have strong knowledge of the senior population and this stage of life.Topics discussed in this episode:- Tips for downsizing and decluttering-\u00a0Packing and moving seniors- Online auctions and estate sales-\u00a0Moving into a senior community-\u00a0Packing service for seniors-\u00a0Liquidating belongings: Donating, gifting and sellingTakeaways from this episode:\u00b7\u00a0Start grouping your belongings into 4 categories: keep, donate, gift, and recycle. Use different types of bags / packing for each, like a trash bag for donations and a tote for gifts.\u00b7 Floor planning helps with layout and visualizing the new space. Measuring furniture will help give a greater idea of what will fit into this layout.\u00b7 A good moving service will help empower seniors to make decisions about their furnishings and what to leave behind while advising on what\u2019s critical.\u00b7\u00a0Caring Transitions will \u201cmirror\u201d a home setup, so they\u2019ll recreate portions of the space to make it feel like home for when you move in (like a nightstand setup).\u00b7\u00a0It\u2019s important to communicate with adult children during the process, especially if the packing service finds legal documents or hidden cash (which is common with seniors with memory loss).\u00b7\u00a0Check pockets and furniture to make sure there\u2019s no important items hidden away.\u00b7\u00a0With COVID-19, online estate sales are an increasingly popular way to help liquidate belongings from the comfort of home.\u00b7 In-home consultations (free) are a great way to determine how much the service will cost and to tailor individual needs.Resources mentioned in this episode:Online Auctions/ Caring Transitions Bids:https://ctbids.com/Caring Transitions Brochure and next steps:https://2c62c2be-18b3-4bab-b584-5c844cba4b48.usrfiles.com/ugd/2c62c2_7721ea8ebfde434e8ffe37d4027ba022.pdfLearn more about Caring Transitions:https://www.caringtransitions.com/home/fbclid/iwar1rvfazs2yxudguvcemblsski4x9u0pj3mx7enn5-wzxkhsaim1bjlkjdaTo suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email Lori@Loriwilliams-seniorservices.com For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/1bfacc2a-972c-48e6-8bca-6af5306c63dc/23108943afb058f2fcf9e7824ffc27b8-square-big.jpg"}