topic Re: Downsizing, advice welcome in Home

Downsizing, advice welcome

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 02:19:20 GMT

Just tired of having to go up and down steps to do the Laundry, wanting everything to be on one level. Need to do some minor repairs then put my home on the market and would like to find a condo. If you have been thru this process, how did it go ? Did your home sell quickly ? did you have to do any updates to your home first and did you find that perfect place to move into? Trying to make this process as smooth as possible and as quick as possible. Thanks

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

D Kay — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 02:44:24 GMT

I am wanting to do the same. I talked with a realtor who recommended doing updates before putting my house on the market. Hate spending the money but she she said it is pretty much expected in the neighborhood that I live in. My problem is getting rid of stuff.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 03:08:08 GMT

DKay wrote:

getting rid of stuff is also a problem of mine. 22 years of "stuff !"

I've had a knee replacement, now bone on bone on the other knee and my doc wants to proceed with replacement but I want to relocate first. Good luck on your downsizing.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

ItsME — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 03:45:05 GMT

I'm trying to do the same thing. Not downsizing, but merging two households. Don't know where to start in getting rid of things and getting my house ready to sell. And, I wanted to have it sold by now!

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

homedecor1 — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 04:22:16 GMT

@Goodie2shoes

We "downsized" from a 4 bedroom 2-story, full 2.5 garage & full basement to relocate to spouse dream house in FL. Selling and downsizing to me was a terrible overwhelming experience😕. I had a inventory book of everything I wanted to take / sell.

what a job that was emptying 35 years of "stuff". At first, I wanted to take my beautiful furniture but after got the estimate to move this "stuff" forget it! I had a house sale and it barely killed me to sell aka "giveaway" beautiful Thomasville, Herendon & more. I

really was upset but knew for the moving costs I could buy new furniture.

As for my holiday decorations, household things, etc. I had to do a yard sale. We basically just emptied our closets & took very little. When it was all said & done we moved using a POD 8x8 which I packed and was stored then delivered when we found a place to live.

Selling our house:

I found selling my home was the most frustrating experience. the "lookers" were ridiculous -- I swear they found a million things wrong why they didn't buy it. Think they watched to much HGTV😉

Then, the realtor thought we needed to "update" things -- most of it was ridiculous too. Some of the things were: update kitchen by installing white cabinets (I had oak), install quartz counters (I had Corian)buy new SS appliances, restain hardwood floors to darker color, put in new rugs in bedrooms, etc. -- Are they crazy? The realtor said if you invest $10-15,000 you'll get it back in the sale🙄.

The house sold in a few months at asking price. The realtor really didn't do much but give us "feedback". The other thing was realtor appointments -- all different times & we need to leave while realtor showed home and worse -- some never showed up😤. Plus, heaven forbid something is out of order -- I'm neat but had to be 100% clean & neat everyday because we had "lock box".

Fast forward, we now live in a 2 bedroom villa 1979 sq ft) and boy, storage is certainly a issue. I have to be "creative" in having excess -- although it's open living space is great it lacks closet space m. We only have attic and garage. (Believe me didn't take me long to fill it up!).

Every month I'm purging something. Worse thing ever, I still have unpacked boxes in my attic from stuff I brought & never used😯.

My home is now after 5 years starting to come together. It's been a remodeling labor of love. I am currently looking to buy a home vs villa -- he is against it but I want a big eat-in kitchen/family room.

Good luck

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

WindingRoad — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 04:47:12 GMT

@homedecor1 We're thinking about selling. I'm curious, did you actually put in a new kitchen and all else to sell? Good grief!

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

queendiva — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:07:02 GMT

I was just about getting underway with downsizing at this time last year.

So much to consider; I will try to keep this as short as possible.

Do it ASAP. The process will not get easier as you get older. Needed to sell my 4 BR, 2 1/2 bath house w/ small-ish basement and 2 car garage. Lived there for 12 years. Moved stuff from the previous home of 10 years with still unpacked boxes. That was not going to happen on this move. First: packed up out of season clothes and non-essentials. Next: called in junk haulers to remove a few large furniture pieces, including an old sofa, desk and armoire, all of which made their respective rooms look too small. Junkers moved all of the packed boxes from around the house to the now cleaner garage. Hired some of the workers for a later date to move the boxes into a rented POD after the house was under contract. Hired a handyman to do some small repairs and did a minimal amount of painting. No such thing as too much cleaning- including windows and power washing of outside areas.

The inventory of houses in my area was low so I felt that I did not have to spend thousands. Important: I interviewed 4 listing agents. Hired the agent I used to sell my previous house successfully. * Do not skimp on this process! Agents are going to charge the same, more or less, so hire the person with the best plan and most units sold during the previous year. Someone telling you to spend big before listing may want you to do their work for them. * Important: look at your agent's on-line listing photos before hiring. Online listings are Everything! They should be paying a professional photographer. You take pics on your phone before the photog comes so you can see what buyers will see.

*Declutter, declutter and declutter MORE! Don't interview agents until you are ready to list. Do the work first. It will take longer than you think. Call junk haulers as needed, often more than once. A necessary expense.

Bottom line: my house sold in a day for over list. Two family members are still on the market many months later. Price your house right and declutter. Family members did not do that. Moving was my full-time job 7 days a week.

Downsizing means getting rid of a LOT of stuff. Moving it costs too much. I recommend Maxsold for that.

Downsizing was exhausting and stressfull. Not going to lie about that. I bought a 2 BR 2 1/2 bath villa (end unit) w/full, unfinished basement and 2 car garage, so plenty of storage. I shopped after my house was sold. Did much work on this end, but happy with the end result. From beginning (deciding to sell) to end (last reno project in the new place) the timeline was almost a year for me, and that was fast, having sold my house in a day.

First things for your downsizing To Do list: junk hauler, good handyman, cleaning help (inside and outdoors) painter if needed. These people need to be hired ASAP. Possibly landscaper as well. I had fresh mulch applied at the front of the house.

The time when most buyers are active is March 1-June 1. I listed second week in June and got lucky. You may decide to list next year if your To Do list is too long. Regardless, the time to start on downsizing is Yesterday. Good Luck!

Also, I am a firm believer in prayer to St. Joseph and burying a statue of the saint. You can google that for more info.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

Catiele — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:07:25 GMT

We will be downsizing by Fall hopefully. We won’t be doing much to the house. Cleaning out is overwhelming. The house is way to big for us. I have been cleaning out for months. Getting my DH to throw away things has been difficult to say the least. Many excuses. When I start to throw his things away he joins me fast. I now realize he doesn’t like to part with anything. We have a ways to go.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

Snowpuppy — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:08:40 GMT

Just a word on condos since I've had 2.

Get the rules/bylaws in writing before a contract. This will spell out all requirements. One condo didn't allow any overnite parking in your own drive. Some rules are ridiculous. Also find out how financially stable the HOA is. Many are not.

I'm considering right sizing as well in this next year.

Good luck to you!.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

queendiva — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:19:10 GMT

@Snowpuppy : true about the HOA., but that's on the buying end, not selling.

Fortunate that this was my first time ever living in a condo community and their rules are very reasonable, enforcement is on an As Needed basis and they have returned from the brink to financially secure, all with reasonable monthly fees.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

queendiva — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:29:49 GMT

What not to bother with when preparing to downsize:

anything major besides decluttering and deep cleaning on the upper floors. People make their decision on your house based on location, curb appeal and the first floor of the house, including kitchen and all other rooms on this floor. First impressions.

I found Mr. Clean Magic Erasers were easier and lots cheaper than painting walls and trim.

Garage sales. Too time consuming for the payoff. Google Maxsold.

Keep and move "stuff". When in doubt, throw it out (or donate).

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

Sweet_Serenity — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 06:03:28 GMT

Fascinating reading everyone's experiences. I'm always amazed "stuff" people collect throughout their lifetime. Reminds me of "George Carlin" his routine on "Stuff" hilarious and on point. YouTube has the video. Back to my experience never lived with over abundance, made it easy moving.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

panda1234 — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 07:51:04 GMT

@queendiva wrote:
@Snowpuppy : true about the HOA., but that's on the buying end, not selling.
Fortunate that this was my first time ever living in a condo community and their rules are very reasonable, enforcement is on an As Needed basis and they have returned from the brink to financially secure, all with reasonable monthly fees.

@queendiva Excellent advice regarding their financial security. You should be able to get a copy of that from them with no problem.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

godi — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 12:18:05 GMT

We did it three years ago. I told my DH if we haven’t used it or touched it in over a year it’s gone. I couldn’t believe what we donated and threw out!

We moved to a condo community and I like it. Some units do not have basements, we got one with because of DH work benches. I got rid of all Christmas stuff haven’t put a tree up in three years. How liberating that was! Just a wreath on the door.

The advice I would give is make sure your common wall isn’t up against bedroom. That was a deal breaker for me. We share a dining room wall.

I hope your neighbor takes care of the unit next to you because that could be a problem also. We are lucky we have a neighbor who does. We didn’t get in a community where they do it for you. No covenants.

I miss my stand alone home though. I feel I do not have 100 % privacy here.

My DH loves it. Good luck in your decision and purging.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

queendiva — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:04:52 GMT

@godi : there are always sacrifices to be made, aren't there?

I'm in an end unit with a first floor master. Next door family's kitchen shares my BR wall, so that works. Their bedrooms are all on the second floor, which is my guest suite.

The wife is constantly cleaning. Grateful for a clean neighbor in a condo and having only one shared wall. No one above, below or to the other side.

I don't miss my single family homes and the work and $$$ involved, but I always had beautiful, quiet yards. Miss that!

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

tobes — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:05:51 GMT

my advice -- get your kids to clean out--mine was ruthless -- i went upstairs and while I was gone he had already filled 3 bags for disposal -- no going back including my fry boots bought 50 years ago and only worn by me thru the 70's.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

Group 5 minus 1 — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:14:45 GMT

Because we love where we live,in 2000 we did an addition. Many changes and a laundry room off the bedroom. Bedroom is on the main floor, 2 bathrooms,large doorways to allow wheel chairs, bathrooms w/ much lower threshold for showers, handicap style commodes.

Stuff like that. Moved in the addition in May,2001. Have not regretted it.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

LindaSal — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:17:03 GMT

Wow, that is some great advice. We too just downsized to a condo in January. I agree, it was brutal moving, donating, cleaning and painting......exhasuting. However on the upside it is worth every minute of soreness in the back and shoulders. There is a good feeling in getting rid of the stuff you never use, just streamlining and all that. We bought a condo that is an end unit with a double garage and full basement. The back of it borders a state park so it's abundant with trees and wildlife, which is what we're used to. We lived in a 3300 sq ft home and now are in a 2000 sq ft condo. I have to say I am loving it!!! So nice not to have to do yard work and shovel anymore. My advice, do it while you can and are able. It won't get any easier with age so I am happy to have it behind me. I also would never leave that overwhleming burden to my kids if anything happened to us. Just saying.

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

queendiva — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:17:39 GMT

Forgot to add to the many who are considering downsizing from the house lived in for decades: console yourself that you may well be sitting on a pile of money that is your house. If it has not been updated but is structurally sound, price it to sell. If you are in a desirable neighborhood and/ or school district your well priced home will sell. Instead of spending thousands on kitchen and bath updates put that money into moving out and doing your new place for you, not for an unknown potential buyer.

My rooms were all previously updated and fairly neutral decor and my neighboorhood was very desirable and stabile with infrequent availability of homes, so that made for quick sales for both myself and a nearby neighbor last May and June. The only two homes that were for sale all year, and one right after the other. That theirs listed and sold for top dollar helped me, for sure.

Clean, uncluttered, great on-line photos, and right price will sell your house.

Homes that need new roofs, HVACs, windows, etc. sell every day if priced realistically for the present market. In addition, spring continues to be the best time to sell with the most serious buyers looking.

Best of Luck to all you sellers. Go for it!

Re: Downsizing, advice welcome

queendiva — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:20:37 GMT

@LindaSal : Everything you said! No pain, no gain in moving. Enjoy your new home and your new life!