The Downsizing Dilemma

3 sets of china, silver from a grandparent, a dining room table and chairs from the 1940’s, multi-generational photos, antique lamps, these are just a few examples of decisions a homeowner has to make when downsizing. Trying to figure out what to take and what to keep is daunting as many of these items have been passed from generation to generation. What can make this even more stressful is moving at an advanced stage of life. Older adults may feel even more anxious due to the amount of “stuff” they have accumulated as well as the emotional aspect that comes with moving. Many seniors have lived in their homes for over 30 years.

They are used to things being in certain places and in a certain order. Change is difficult and being flexible is not as easy. As professional organizers, one of our most important jobs is to be sensitive and respectful to our client’s needs.

In many situations, children do not live close to their parents. Calling a professional organizer to help make decisions is sometimes the only option that a family has. In addition, seniors do not always have the mobility to move and lift items. Older adults may need assistance with boxing up donates or keepsakes, help to bring stored items down from an attic, or unpacking boxes which may have been stored for years in a basement or garage. This is where an experienced organizer can really make an impact.  A professional organizer will help a homeowner get appraisals on items of value, help determine what is important to bring to the new abode, help box up items for relatives, and help box up donates and plan for their removal.  What a relief for aging men and women to not have to go through the process alone.

Sometimes homeowners are so worried about the move that they have trouble determining what to take with them. To begin with, we may remove the non-sentimental items such as duplicate kitchen utensils, excess clothing, garage items no longer used etc… We may suggest the “one-year” test. For example, if something has not been used in over a year maybe it is time to discard and donate? Photographs should be removed from frames. Relatives can help transfer photos to scrapbooks or other media.

When moving to assisted living, seniors quite often do not have the space they may have had in the home they have lived in. As professional organizers, we can help them choose what furniture they can bring and help determine the best way to remove the remaining furniture. They may be comfortable with the layout they have in their current home so many times we suggest they photograph rooms they wish to recreate. A familiar layout is calming and can alleviate stress. Once in the new surroundings, we can help them unpack and organize, keeping in mind how to bring the comforts of the past to the new space.

Most importantly, when dealing with seniors we must be PATIENT. Listening and understanding to our client’s concerns are key. This is challenging, but an experienced and "professional" Professional Organizer can make the difficult task less stressful. At the end of the day, nothing is more rewarding to us than hearing “I couldn’t have done with without you” and knowing we made a huge difference in helping someone move into the next stage of their life.

There is no typical day for a Professional Organizer

There is no typical day for a professional organizer, says Linda Barlaam. Some days we are in garages, others in kitchens. Sometimes we are helping people pack for a move, somedays we are assisting a stressed-out mom to organize her playroom. That is what makes the job fun and rewarding.

Seeing spaces transformed by de-cluttering and organizing puts smiles on our clients and smiles on us. Yet, at times even organizers can have different points of view. Yes, we are trained to say and do the same things but different generations grow up with different experiences. Take for example my colleague Ben and myself. Picture a typical day in the kitchen as we help a client clear clutter and decide what to keep.

Ben: “gravy boats, butter dishes, I'm not sure people still use these.”

Me: “wait a minute, I do.”

Ben: “how often?”

Me: “idk, 2-3 times a year.”

Ben:  “feels like I'm right.”

I make a face and remember Ben is in his 40’s, and I am in my late 50’s and we bring generational differences to each project.

Recently I ran into a neighbor who was complaining that her adult children do not want her home items which she considers keepsakes and valuable. As she prepares to leave her house of over 30 years she wonders what to do with all her china, crystal, silver and things which she has been saving from her own mother and grandmother. Many articles have been written about the younger generation not wanting their parent's stuff. Young adults live differently than our grandparents and parents.  No one wants to polish silver which has been lovingly passed from generation to generation. People move for jobs more frequently and do not want to be burdened with large furniture and items which are difficult and costly to move. People tend to buy furniture at Target or Ikea. Parents work fulltime and need to make dinner hour easy with paper plates and plastic cups. Very rarely is china used or the crystal butter dish.

That being said, when events such as holidays come and the table is set with candles, silver, crystal, and china, it really does feel special as it should. Nothing gives me more pleasure than setting the table a few days before an event (yes organizers set tables very early) and stepping back and admiring how beautiful the room is. When my adult children come home and the guests show up, using the “good stuff” makes the holiday seem that more special. It is true that special occasions are only as good as the people in the room, but breaking out the pretty linens, china, crystal, and silver can only enhance the beauty of the occasion.

So the challenge is to find a balance. A balance between the past, present, and future. How to organize and keep things from our past but being mindful of the future. Of course having space may determine what you can and cannot take. Decide whether it is worth holding on to something or passing it to a relative, friend, or donating to a charity. Some tips we can suggest are to be gentle and kind when talking to relatives about what you can and cannot take. Remember even if it not meaningful to you it may have significance and history to your relatives. No need be rude or get upset, stay calm. Maybe compromise and focus on the small things. You might say, “I can take a few small items that are meaningful to our family. Maybe the silver? Maybe a small chair? Maybe antique jewelry?” You can pick some really important items that have personal meaning and can be transported easily. Try to remember that you may not use it now, but when you are older and have space, wouldn’t it be nice to have the beautiful dining room set magnificently for special times in your life?

Back to work,

Ben: “is this an ice bucket? Do people still...”

Me: “here we go again!”

Guest post: 3 Kid-Friendly Fridge Storage and Organization Solutions You Should Know About

Fridge storage and organization can get pretty tricky at times, but when you throw a couple of hungry kids into the mix, you have a real situation on your hands. Before you turn to the pros for storage solutions, here are 3 quick and easy storage and organization solutions you can try out to make your fridge kid-friendly!

Image from Pinterest

Keep the snacks at their eye level

Want to avoid a big mess in the fridge? Store your kids’ snacks and drinks at their eye level. To give your kids easy access, keep the snacks and drinks on a shelf that is low enough for them to reach and make sure they’re kept in the front of the fridge.

To up your fridge storage game, you can even store each snack in a separate bin or container - simply head over to the dollar store to get these special fridge storage containers. If the kids know that the low shelf is their special snack section, they won’t rummage around the fridge to get what they want!

For older kids who are looking for a big bite, make sure your leftovers are in glass containers and kept in a visible area. The great thing about glass containers is that they are dishwasher and microwave friendly, so you don’t have to worry about them using the wrong container for the microwave and it can reduce cleanup time by eating in one container!

Make sure breakables are out of reach

Another fridge storage solution is to move the breakables out of the way - things like eggs and glass containers should be moved to the shelves that are higher up and towards the back to make sure your kids can’t get to them. The same theory applies to food that you don’t want the kids to eat - the higher up, the better!

Hide unhealthy food the smart way

Want to hide unhealthy food like ice cream and popsicles from the kids? Simply put them in old food containers and bags they would never think to open! You can store ice cream or a bag of popsicles in a resealable bag of frozen veggies as a storage solution. Out of sight, out of mind - as long as they can’t see it, they won’t eat it!

So there you have it, 3 quick and easy storage and organization hacks for your fridge! The next time you go grocery shopping, you can store and organize your food the smart way!

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There's an App for that!

Not the One from Frozen

One of the many things we often hear from our clients is that they are busy. Time can be a barrier when it comes to getting rid of unwanted items. While many organizations offer pickups for donations it can be time consuming if you want to sell items. Sites like eBay can sometimes work well for valuable items that are easily shipped. However, large pieces always present a challenge. For a long time Craigslist dominated the market but now there is a new kid in town. Letgo is a free mobile app that is very easy to use. Once downloaded you simply post a picture of the item you want to sell adding a brief description. Since you are using your phone you take and upload the picture basically at the same time. If you allow location services than even that step is taken care of quickly. What’s the catch you ask? Currently, there is no fee to list, buy or sell. In other words everything is free for now (the app is part of the tech bubble phenomenon where your stock price is huge but your company doesn't make a profit). Another option allows you to list the item for free which works well for treadmills and other large items since paying a hauling service to take unwanted items can get pricey. Since people have to come over to pick the item up it is best to make sure they bring enough help to carry the item and a suitable vehicle to take it away.  You do need to be comfortable with the buyer coming to your house and if you can, it works best to have the item in the garage or outside when they arrive. Additionally, if you list multiple items try and book all the pickups near the same time as to free up your day.