Estate sales are a great way to help your elderly relative clear out their home as they are preparing to move into smaller quarters. Not only is it freeing to be rid of so many objects, but it can also be a smart financial decision. A well-run estate sale can net hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to help your relative start out in their new home with a comfortable amount of savings.

When to Have an Estate Sale

It is advisable to have an estate sale while your loved one is still in good health and can be a part of the process if they so desire. The ideal time is when they are planning to downsize and are ready to part with some of their belongings that they no longer need or want.

Sadly, many people do not plan and wind up having to scramble and hold an estate sale after their elderly family member has passed away. Having to worry about holding an estate sale at such a time can be overwhelming and emotional.

How to Prepare for Your Estate Sale

• Have a large number of small bills and coins to make change.
• Close off any areas of the home that are off-limits to shoppers.
• Separate out the valuable items and make sure that they are displayed in a location that is easily monitored.
• Advertise! Post on local internet groups and estate sale listing websites, post easy to read signs around the neighborhood and consider placing an ad in your local newspaper or bulletin.
• Check with your town to see if you need a permit to hold an estate sale. If so, give yourself adequate time to secure the permit before your sale.

Tips for Hosting a Successful Estate Sale

The most successful estate sales are ones that are organized, well priced and held on days and times that are conducive to the local population. Most sales are held over the span of a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the morning and afternoon hours. Avoid holding sales on holiday weekends or in times of poor weather.

Consider marking down items as the estate sale goes on from day to day. You can also consider offering bulk discounts to shoppers purchasing multiple items.

Be friendly. Shoppers are more likely to stick around and browse when they feel welcomed and encouraged to dig around for treasures to purchase.

What to Do After the Estate Sale

Any items that are left after the estate sale still need to go somewhere. Here are some options for what to do with the sale’s leftovers:

• Post on a local buy/sell/trade group on social media and offer everything at a steep discount
• Contact a local charity that picks up.
• Place items at the curb for passersby to pick up
• Hire a local moving company to help you move everything into temporary storage, while you figure out what to do with it. We recommend the Atlanta, GA moving companies, Cheap Movers (also one of the cheapest Decatur moving companies).

An estate sale is an excellent way to help your loved one start the downsizing process. Asking them to help orchestrate the sale may also give them a sense of empowerment and control.

Various studies often cite moving house as one of life’s most stressful events for persons of any age; there are some additional challenges that senior citizens can face here. If you or a loved one are planning to move into a different home or perhaps an assisted living facility, we’re here to provide some tips and hints that can make this situation easier for everyone.

Talk it Over

This may seem very obvious, but we can often overlook it; moving is hectic and logistically confusing, sometimes simple communication gets lost amid the shuffle of boxes. Seniors who may have spent the majority of their adult lives–and perhaps even childhood–in one home will certainly be emotionally invested in their living space. Coupled with the physical stresses will be the emotional pull that the home brings.

In such cases, it is important to take time out of the busywork of moving to sit down and discuss options with the loved one that is moving. Talk with them about the conveniences and benefits of the new home or assisted facility, for example.

Sort Through Everything

This is a major step for two main reasons. The first is, your elderly loved one is almost certainly downsizing when moving to their new home. In fact, there are companies that cater specifically to downsizing when moving. But let’s assume you’re a relative helping your loved one move. He or she may need help sorting through everything they’ve accumulated over the years, deciding what is worth taking, and what may not be. While this is useful logistically, it is also helpful to be there emotionally. This is truly an opportunity to sort through “memories of a lifetime” with your relative. You can be there to comfort them as they let go, and both share in the joy of memories as they take this next step in life.

Hire a Moving and Packing Service

Having a professional moving and packing service assist with the relocation may help put your loved one at ease. Trained movers know the proper techniques for wrapping and boxing household items, so they’ll know how to properly care for those possessions that are so precious to your parent. Imperial Movers (site | Yelp) suggests letting your loved one temporarily place some items in storage if they don’t have room for everything in their new space. This may ease the stress of trying to decide which items to part with. A moving company can handle the logistics of packing items and most have access to inexpensive storage facilities, which means this is one less thing for you to contend with. A moving and packing services also offer unpacking services and can tackle frustrating tasks like reassembling furniture.

Know Your New Space

Related to the above tip, it is helpful to know the general size of the new house to which your family member is moving. This is useful in helping you to pare down what you’ll take, and motivate you to consider what is important, rather than just what you like.

Gone Doesn’t Mean Forgotten

Consider giving some of your possessions to caring relatives or even friends; you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your cherished things went to a home where others will enjoy them just as you did.

Break Moving Down

It’s stressful enough without trying to do everything at once. Plan out smaller tasks that you can perhaps check off of a moving checklist. You or your loved one have lived in their space for a long time; it’s perfectly okay for moving to take a little while.

Keep in Touch

Don’t forget that you should fill out your change of address and other transitory information, preferably ahead of time so that things are ready when you arrive at the destination. Bills, utilities and the like are also things to switch over.

This is but a list of a few helpful suggestions for your senior move; there are other resources out there and companies that specialize in care and guidance during such a move. You are never in this alone.

Seniors can find moving is a challenge. Moving involves difficult decisions. Seniors move for all sorts of reasons. This can include a death in the family, medical reasons, a job, retirement, assisted living, or simply the desire for a new experience. The good thing is that effective moving services are

For many people, their home is considered their haven. For the elderly, this is particularly the case. Imagine how your elderly loved ones might feel if you must tell them that they have to leave the place that they have been staying at for decades to move into a nursing home. That is one of the major challenges that makes the moving process difficult.

Challenges of Senior Moving

Leaving a place where you have lived for years, or even decades can be a very emotional experience for the elderly. The moving process can also be difficult for the elderly. Packing up all of their belongings is an emotional moment for many seniors. It is a clear sign that they are moving and leaving their comfort zone.

For many elders, they have to move for serious health reasons. The moving process requires lots of energy, as you will be doing lots of packing. Exerting the necessary amount of energy towards packing up the necessary items is a challenge for seniors, as their health issues may limit what they can do. Depending on family assistance can be tough, as most of the elderly have adult children who may be too busy with their own lives to help out. These family dynamics have an emotional impact as well, as that may cause many older adults to feel lonely.

Best Senior Moving Companies in U.S.

An increasing number of families realize that putting their elderly loved ones in an assisted living/nursing home is the right decision. Here is a look at the top senior moving services throughout the country:

1. Gentle Transitions 1726 Manhattan Beach Blvd G, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. 1-800-619-3049.

Originally founded in Minnesota, Gentle Transitions is the first company to be completely dedicated to helping the elderly relocate. Gentle Transitions strives to help every single person in a caring way. A Move Manager will oversee the entire moving process. The Move Manager will develop a floor plan for movers, and speak with the rest of the family to decide what is best for the mover. The staff at Gentle Transitions helps unpack everything.

2. Senior Moving Company. 3221 Garden Brook, Farmers Branch, TX, 75234. 972-488-1700

For over 25 years, Senior Moving Company has helped the elderly relocate. Senior Moving Company prides itself on having outstanding customer service. Senior Moving Company also assists with installing any electronic appliances at the new residence.

3. Assisted Moving L.L.C. 246 N. Main St, Plymouth MI, 48170. 734-751-5026

Assisted Moving L.L.C. helps the elderly and their families with moving and downsizing issues. Assisted Moving L.L.C. has helped seniors relocate through their Five-Step Plan. Assisted Moving creates a floor plan based on the individual’s needs. After taking time to figure out what items you would like to keep, Assisted Moving will help get rid of any unnecessary items. They will then help you donate any items of your choosing. Lastly, Assisted Moving will assign you a Senior Real Estate specialist to help you if you decide to sell your home.

Perhaps one of the most dreaded conversations between children and their elderly parents is one that involves the mention of assisted living homes. This conversation is hard because most of our elderly parents don’t like leaving the homes where they have spent the biggest part of their lives in. They