After much thought, I have decided to move to a retirement center, and have made all the arrangements to move in by December. The room I will be living in is only big enough for a few furniture items (bed, desk, and a chair). I cannot believe this, but I am faced with having to get rid of a lifetime of possessions that my wife and I have collected over the 50 years of our marriage.
How does one go about making such a change? We never had children and all of our relations are either very old or dead. So, what do I do with all my stuff?
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There are primarily two ways of going about this step. One option is to do it all yourself. If you have high-end pieces or unique collections, and are unsure of their value, you may need to hire professional appraisers, auction houses, and attorneys/CPA's to assist you in selling your property to maximize value and avoid tax and other pitfalls. This is probably the most time-consuming and emotionally difficult way to proceed.
The second option is to hire a relocation specialist or a professional care manager who will help you hire and manage the various services needed to dispose of your property. Some companies will have most of the expertise in-house to handle the entire process of appraising the property, determining the best channel for sale (i.e. auction, garage sale, eBay, etc.), and making the sale, while others will be able to hire the appropriate services required for each step (such as a professional care manager).
In your case, I would recommend hiring someone to assist you. The benefits of hiring someone to help with this process can be enormous. In particular, since the selling of your possessions will be emotionally difficult, you will be doing yourself a favor by turning the task over to someone who does not have the emotional attachment, and who knows how to effectively manage the process.
If you have unique collections, antiques or other items of significant value, including real estate holdings, you should hire the services of the appropriate professionals to assist you. This would include Estate Liquidators, Auction Houses, Real Estate Brokers, and other such professionals to assist you depending on the type and nature of the property you are selling. Listings of such services are found in the phone book under Estates-Appraisal and Liquidation, or by doing a Google search with the same or similar words.
But not everyone needs the services of a professional liquidator or estate sale company. It depends upon the type and value of your personal belongings. If you have basic personal property and generally know the value of your property, it would be wise to hire someone who has experience in downsizing belongings or relocation assistance. These services can be found through local senior service agencies, or through private care managers. You can also find out more information on this subject by doing a Google Search with the words "Senior Citizen Relocation Assistance" or with similar words.
Finally, when hiring anyone, always:
(1) Read all contracts thoroughly and do not allow yourself to be rushed into signing any papers. Either ask for a copy of their contract prior to the initial meeting, or schedule to have a second meeting after you have had some time to review the contract.
(2) Ask about their experience with the specific tasks for which you are hiring them.
(3) Find out if they will provide you with a full written report of their assessment and/or plan of action. You should always ask for an itemized account of all services performed or items sold for you.
(4) Make sure you understand what their fees will be and how they charge.
(5) Be sure to ask for references (and call those references), and find out whether they are bonded and/or insured.
(6) Always meet with the organization, or person, a couple of times before deciding to work together - even if they come recommended by someone you know and trust.
Before taking any of these steps, be sure to take some time to go through all of your things, and take joy in the memories it all holds. Remember that it is okay to cry and feel sad, and be sure to give yourself permission to do so. Keep in mind that life is a continual journey, and that our ability to survive and continue to appreciate what we have comes from the ability to adapt, change, and face life's challenges.
One of the secrets to successful aging is to have the understanding that nothing in life is certain or guaranteed, or is permanently ours to possess. Life and all that comes with it is on loan, and our role is to love and cherish it while it is in our care.
Jeannine Clark is a Pescadero resident, medical social worker and private geriatric care manager with Clark Consulting. She writes a bi-monthly column for the Review on topics relating to life transitions associated with the aging process. Send questions to Clark Consulting, P.O. Box 101, Pescadero, CA 94060, or email to: clark@southcoast.net.
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