If you have been wondering if downsizing from your larger house to the more compact lifestyle of a retirement community is the right step for you then you are not alone. According to a survey done last year, 52% of Ontario baby boomers (people born between 1946 to 1965) consider big cities unfit for retirement. And so, a majority are considering downsizing and moving out.

The thought of downsizing can be a daunting one, particularly when you don’t know where to start. At Gordon’s we’ve been helping clients in the Kingston area downsize for over 25 years and we have managing the process in a stress-reduced way down to a science. We help clients: plan where to move, what to move, manage the packing, moving and unpacking for them, and help them handle disposal of any remaining contents they can’t take with them, preparing their property for sale, and finally listing and selling their property. Over the years, we’ve learned that the following five tips are key for navigating the downsizing process with ease.

It is often remarked that moving is a stressful experience for most people at any age. But particularly when you are older and you don’t have the energy to do literally “the heavy lifting”, making the decision to downsize can be extremely daunting. From our experience helping thousands of clients downsize over the years, here are three ways to reduce stress when downsizing:

You’ve asked and we’ve answered...visit our FAQs page for the response to the following frequently asked question and more.

Question: What's the best sequence for a major downsize?

You’ve asked and we’ve answered...visit our FAQs page for the response to the following frequently asked question and more.

You’ve asked and we’ve answered...visit our FAQs page for the response to the following frequently asked question and more.

Question: How can you work all across Ontario? My agent friend says you need to know the local market to get the best price.

Visit the new FAQ page of our website to learn the most common questions we are asked about downsizing and estate settlement related topics along with our answers.

You’ve decided to downsize, found your new home, and now it’s time to prepare to move. The size of the move and how quickly you want to make decisions about what you are going to take and what you would like to do with your additional stuff dictates how quickly move preparation will take. At Gordon’s we create a custom moving plan for each of our customers once we understand your goals and desired timelines.

The move preparation plan includes the following tasks:

Oftentimes, when downsizing or managing an estate, you need to donate items. Knowing where to donate what items requires some research. Based on our experience working in the Greater Toronto Area, below is a helpful list of donation options to consider.

“How much are your services going to cost aside from the real estate commission?” is a question that we hear on a daily basis when meeting with potential clients. It’s natural that people want to know how much our assistance with their move and/or personal content management needs are going to cost. One answer is - probably less than trying to manage the work yourself in fragments. And - what will it cost you if things aren’t managed well? Managing the contents and move well, which are often aspects with the highest complexity are precursors to a smooth real estate closing, which is the real pay off. In other words, how much is a smooth real estate closing process worth to you? Let me elaborate...