How do you think you'll feel when your kids finally leave home? There might be sadness at no longer having them around all the time, mixed with satisfaction about the fact that the contents of your fridge no longer keep disappearing. At some point in the future, you might decide to downsize your home and move somewhere smaller, now that you no longer need a family-sized home. If you have a parent or grandparent who finds themselves in that situation, how can you help them with the act of downsizing and to comfortably (and easily) move into their new place?
Culling Their Possessions
Your relative might need some help when it comes to whittling down the number of personal possessions that will be taken to their new home. Some decisions will be easier than others and will be made out of practicality. It's not as though all the furniture from their current home will even fit into their new, smaller home. It wi take some time to sort through other items, particularly those with sentimental value, and it might be necessary to allocate more time for this than you originally envisaged, with many items triggering a pleasant walk down memory lane. When it has been decided just what will be discarded, you need to arrange for disposal. A garage sale is an option, or the lot could simply be donated to a charity of your relative's choosing.
Applicable Discounts
Does the removalist offer any type of senior or pensioner discount? This information is likely to be included on the company's website, but if you're unsure, just make a phone call to ask. While certain eligibility requirements will apply, the discount (when factored into the overall cost of the service) could actually determine which removal services company you choose.
Additional Assistance
Another factor might be whether the removals company offers any additional services to help your relative ease themselves into their new home. This could include an unpacking service, wherein everything is unpacked, put away as directed, with all the packaging materials then removed. They might also offer assistance when it comes to setting up essential items, such as the installation of the washing machine, or even the setting up of the beds.
It can be a bittersweet time when a parent or grandparent makes the decision to downsize their home, saying farewell to a place that holds so many memories. Fortunately, there are a few ways to make the process as smooth and comfortable as it can be.