Category: Downsizing

Clearing the House Mr. C and his Late Wife Built

8/4/2019

We stood in silence as the furniture was loaded into the back of a hatchback belonging to a young family. As they admired their new end tables, Mr. C and I watched out the window. Tears welled up in my eyes as I imagined the thoughts going through his mind. 51 years in the house he and his wife built. 45 years of marriage before he lost his wife tragically. Quilts, dishes, and furniture that won’t fit into his new home. He said quietly, “I wish I could have taken those tables with me but I don’t have the space.” My response was “I bet it is hard seeing it all go but that young family can now use them in their home. It looks like they are going to enjoy them.” A smile came over his face as he thought about it. We looked at each other and I could tell it was hard but it was getting easier.

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How To Sell Your "Stuff"!

4/30/2017

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Last month I shared where you can take all that stuff you don't want in your house anymore out for donation. Maybe you want to make a buck or two though on your items and you need some ideas for how to sell it all. Hopefully this blog post will teach you at least one new method that would be helpful to you...

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Where To Donate...

3/31/2017

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We all have it... stuff... everywhere! We entered this world with absolutely nothing but the bodies we were born in and we leave it with a large footprint of history, stories, and things we've collected our whole lives. Our first homes are typically small, starting out with the essentials, and as we grow older & build our families, we collect more & more, creating the need for bigger and bigger homes. Eventually, if we haven't made it a point to purge as we took new things into our homes, we end up with a mound of things that are owning us vs. us owning them.

Finding new homes for our things we've decided to part with is not easy, especially when downsizing a large home. The first step is knowing your options. Here are some places where you can donate your unwanted belongings (links are for Polk County/Central Florida area):

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The Organized by Nicole Story

2/13/2017

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Inspired by SCORE's American Small Business Championship and SCORE Awards, this blog post, combined with my contest entry, takes you inside my company to learn what exactly it is that my services do for the local community and its residents.

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5 Ways to Clear a Home of its Contents

11/30/2016

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Decades of treasures, from china to knick-knacks and collectibles to furniture, adorn the walls and floors of the home you've lived in for the last 10, 20, 40, or 50+ years. When you're downsizing into a smaller home or apartment, there is simply not enough space to store it all. And, as hard it is to let these things go, you've realized these are only things. You've enjoyed them and now it is time to allow someone else to enjoy them, so that you can enjoy your new home with the pieces that mean the most to you. Now, you wonder, how do I get rid of all this stuff?! There is no easy answer to that question, as each person's situation is completely different, but here are a few standard options:

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Your Move Notebook

10/31/2016

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It's no secret - moving is stressful! First of all, there is organizing it all! Then there is packing, discarding, cleaning, and paperwork. If you don't keep it all together - everything you need for your move to be organized - then there is also constant searching, questioning, and unpreparedness. If you found this post, I imagine being unprepared is the last thing you intend on being, so here is what you should have in your move notebook...

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Why Space Planning is Important when Downsizing

8/31/2016

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"I would like to bring my 10' x 5' dining room table to my new apartment home if it will fit."

I have heard this at least a few times since becoming a Senior Move Manager® early this year. Meet my husband and Business Operations Manager, Danny Ramer. In the picture above, you see him measuring 10 feet out from the dining room wall to show where the dining room table described above would be if it were flush with the wall. As you can see, it would come out to the middle of the hallway - not ideal in a smaller living space.

Imagine not having measured the new space, paying to have the table moved, only getting it there to find out it is not going to work out. Now what?!

Here are some other things to keep in mind when downsizing and planning your space:

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Should I Downsize Before or After I Move?

7/31/2016

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Downsizing can be a daunting task. You've lived in your home for upwards of 20, 30, 40, or 50+ years. You've collected so much over the years. You know you are moving into a smaller space; one that doesn't have quite the upkeep or maintenance, but you are asking yourself how you can downsize your belongings and is it possible to just do it after you've moved it all and finally have the time.

Since becoming a Certified Senior Move Manager® and completing 56 senior move management projects since January 2016, I've experienced an array of different scenarios. Some of my clients have downsized and moved multiple times in their retirement; others have never downsized before and can't fathom the idea of going through each and every item, making decisions on what to keep and what to let go of. In either case, I recommend making those decisions before your move vs. after for the following reasons:

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Nicole Ramer

Hi there! Welcome to my blog and thank you for stopping by!

I am a Professional Organizer and Certified Senior Move Manager® in Central Florida. I have a HUGE passion for organizing and finding the best, most efficient way of doing things!

My goal with this blog is to use it to teach my readers methods of organizing and as a way to communicate with the members of my community.

Please feel free to chime in and leave comments with your opinions or ideas. I'd love to hear from you!

Enjoy and happy organizing!

Clearing the House Mr. C and his Late Wife Built

How To Sell Your "Stuff"!

Where To Donate...

The Organized by Nicole Story

5 Ways to Clear a Home of its Contents

Your Move Notebook

Why Space Planning is Important when Downsizing

Should I Downsize Before or After I Move?

Nicole Ramer

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