Menu
In less than a month, new residents at our Keller Lake Apartment Homes will be moving into their new luxury apartment homes. While moving is a very exciting time, it can also be a bit overwhelming. Where do you even start when it comes to packing, downsizing, and more. If the thought of moving stresses you out, don’t fret! We’ve got tips for decluttering and making the move easier!
Do you ever find yourself opening closet doors in spare rooms and think, “why am I keeping all of this stuff?” Your home has served you well, but perhaps now is the time to embark on a new adventure? Making a move and right-sizing your space will give you the freedom and flexibility to spend more time doing all the things you love rather than spending your time maintaining your living space.
The concept of downsizing is often used in retirement. Couples and individuals opting for a smaller, more simple dwelling place. The term downsize implies you’re taking a step back or down. But for today’s active retirees, we prefer to use the term “right-size” and by that we mean finding a home that fits your active lifestyle. As you settle into this chapter, maybe you don’t need as many bedrooms and you’d like more living space for entertaining friends. Or perhaps you’re ready to let someone else take care of lawn maintenance and snow removal. Right-sizing allows you to live your life to the fullest.
Give yourself plenty of time to get organized — it might take longer than you think! If you can, give yourself a couple of weeks to sort through your house and go through each item one by one. Giving yourself ample time will allow you to not feel rushed when it comes to making decisions about what stays and what goes.
We recommend starting small in a room that might have less sentimental items such as the laundry room or a linen closet. Instead save the big emotional stuff like art or family items that often are in the garage, basement, or attic, for later. This will give you more time to decide what you want to do with these things rather than rushing in head first.
Don’t try to tackle everything in one go! Keep sorting sessions short so you don’t burn yourself out, and so you can approach each item with a clear head.
Keep yourself organized by setting up labelled containers for what you want to keep, donate, and throw away for each room. Avoid creating a “maybe” pile to keep you on task and minimize spending too much time focused on one thing.
Saving photos, letters, and artwork for grandkids can take up a lot of space. You don’t have to totally get rid of those things! Consider taking a photo of the items, or hire a company to digitize your favorite keepsake photos and videos so you can still look at them from time to time.
If there are family heirlooms or antiques that you know you want to gift to family or friends, consider gifting those items now. This will get items out of the way, and you’ll also have the benefit of feeling good after gifting something to your loved ones. Don’t forget to also ask them if there’s anything they want!
There are a number of ways to sell your things these days. Consider using Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, or various other apps to sell your belongings.
If the stress of moving, packing, and decluttering is becoming more than you can handle, consider hiring a third-party like Pathway to help. This will alleviate some of the stress so you can focus on the excitement of moving and settling into your new home.
Consider paying for a full-service moving company to pack, ship, and unpack your things. Working with a moving company means they can do as much — or as little — as you want, from doing all the packing to cleaning your home or estate sales.
Opening in October 2021, Keller Lake’s beautiful new Life Plan Community features 52 luxury, independent-living apartment homes for active adults 62+.The contemporary apartment homes offer spacious one-bedroom and two-bedroom options. Keller Lake’s town-square model will buzz with activity where residents can enjoy outdoor gatherings at the Piazza, contemporary and fine dining, a fully equipped wellness center, walking trails and more!
Our model apartment is available to tour. Fill out the form below to schedule a tour today or to receive additional information about pricing and availability. You can also talk with one of our Senior Living Advisors at (616) 278-6520 or marketing@clarkretirement.org.