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. One option to declutter and enjoy a more fulfilling retirement life is to move to a retirement community.

You’ve decided it’s time to downsize and begin to think about your next home. Where do you start your research? Typically our clients choose to move to one of the following: smaller home, a condo, seniors apartment, active adult lifestyle community or a retirement residence. Below are some suggestions and resources to help you research and narrow down your options. 1. Smaller Home or Condo If a smaller home or condo is what you’re seeking then Realtor.ca is a good way to fin

This is a question I get from time to time - typically when an estate or downsize seller has a familiarity or a relationship with one or more real estate agents already. The fact that a client has been considering agent 1 or 2 for awhile is not a surprise. With what some say is over 48,000 agents in the GTA alone, most people know at least one. And with the vast majority of real estate advertising being spent on agent promotion - rather than property promotion, it is not unco

Downsizing is no small feat. There are many steps that need to be taken from sorting through and packing up your belongings to finding a new home and selling your old one. At Gordon’s, we are here to help, whether it is managing the whole process or helping with just a few of the details. Are you ready to downsize? Get in touch today! Here are just some of the many services that we offer to help simplify downsizing , and make the entire process easier for you and your loved

We’ve all heard stories of the garage sale that served up a $250,000 painting for a dollar. Anytime the downsize or estate settlement process takes place without the involvement of an Appraiser, the risk of losing potentially valuable things forever goes up. The fact is, that the vast majority of people downsizing or managing an estate are told to throw out hundreds of items averaging $50-$100 in value because the team of experts they’ve hired to guide them through the proce

As you move into your retirement, the idea of taking care of a large family home can become unattractive. You want to spend your hard-earned savings and new-found freedom relaxing, spending time with family and doing the things you love. The thought of downsizing , however, can be an equally daunting and emotional consideration. While downsizing is not the right solution for everyone, it does offer a number of benefits, some of which you may have yet to consider. 1. More Mone

Are you feeling that there's too much unused space in your home, such as empty bedrooms and unused recreation rooms? Do you no longer feel like putting the time and effort into maintaining your property, or having concerns about accessibility, entranceways, staircases, and fixtures? These are just some of the many reasons that you may be considering downsizing. Maintenance-free living, being closer to family, an improved quality of life, accessibility, and more freedom, are j

There are various types of appraisals that one may require at various times in their life. At times we criticise the fact that an appraisal is not worth the paper it’s written on, but that is typically a misunderstanding. Essentially, there are different reasons why one might wish to have an appraisal completed and different types of appraisals serve different purposes. Below is a general discussion of different types of appraisals and their purposes in order to inform your b

We know that COVID-19 has left many of our clients who had previously committed to a chain of events in an awkward place. Some, while not yet committed to a firm sale, made decisions in good faith to sell their house in order to fund their necessary downsize and move to a healthier living environment. Through the pandemic, Gordon's Downsizing and Estate Services continues to diligently support those who must move to a safer residence, keeping our client’s health front and ce

Most of us have read news linking high percentages of COVID-19 fatalities to what is generally being referred to as “senior homes”. This has led many to believe that retirement communities and long term homes are the same, whereas the truth is that these two types of senior living situations couldn’t be more different from each other. As you consider downsizing and residence options for yourself or a loved one, here is a guide to help you understand the important aspects of b

Local agents love working with Gordon's - all across Ontario. We survey cooperating agents from different markets asking about their Gordon's Experience. We consistently receive a 5 out of 5 star rating! Here's what we ask local buyer agents to rank us on: The property information provided by Gordon's Downsizing & Estate Services was comprehensive in comparison to industry standards. As a cooperating agent with an offer to present, I was kept up-to-date on a regular basis and

Often, the hardest part of selling your home is getting the house into “sell ready” condition. This can be a stressful, time-consuming and, frankly, an overwhelming experience for both you and your family. Many people don’t know where to begin, which often leads to homes going on the market in a less-than-perfect state. The truth of the matter is that small changes can make a serious impact on the selling price of your home. If you want to maximize your profit, you must comm

When is the right time to downsize? This can be a difficult question for both seniors and their families. According to the Canadian census ,  6.5% of seniors who are 65 years and older live in seniors retirement homes or assisted living residences. Not surprisingly, this figure jumps to 30% Canadians once they reach 85 years and older. In addition, due to improved health, longer life expectancy and increasing availability of home care options, more than half of Canadians 55 y

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. Donation Boxes - Several organizations have donation boxes around the city for gently used clothing, shoes and housewares i.e. Diabetes Canada Clothesline, OASIS Clothing Bank , and Children’s Wish Foundation to name a coupl

Written by Adam Gordon, COO of Maxsold Edited by Barry Gordon, Founder of Maxsold Gordon's Downsizing and Estate Services has a long-standing partnership with MaxSold to help re-sell larger volumes of estate inventory or personal property. MaxSold has a unique service as COO, Adam Gordon explains in this guest blog post. Maxsold was built in response to an evolving problem in the second-hand market, a problem that is exacerbated by socio-economic trends. This brief overview

I've met a lot of older folks who don't really understand the Internet, but they know it's a great tool. I have a little story that helps illustrate how surprising the Internet can be. One of our clients had an auction with us, and even though his son was in California, he could find the auction no problem. This fellow said, “So your Internet, it's not just local then is it?” So I told him we pay extra to get it that far. Young people take it for granted that they can buy a b

Are you beginning to consider downsizing for your parents? Having this conversation with them is not easy but we offer advice based on our years of experience working with families just like yours. Not having timely access to medical support, not being able to move around the house, too much maintenance, being too far from you – as the child of an aging parent, there are several reasons that you may feel that their current home is no longer the right one for them. You may be

You provide the best advice for your client, and help them make decisions at complex times in their lives. When it comes to retirement planning, Gordon’s can help make the process easy by taking care of every single component - from real estate, to move management, dealing with home contents and everything in between. We're the only real estate company that specializes in (what is typically) the last move. Planning ahead with Gordon’s allows for a trusted partnership , as ou

Gordon’s Downsizing & Estate Services has been helping executors manage and settle estates for over 50 years across Ontario. Our goal is to create a trusted partnership that reduces risk, complexity, work and waste. Our process guarantees predictability and accountability through the bundling of the physical asset envelope. Our niche Real Estate Company, led by Certified Executor Advisors, has served Ontario executors with: Professional probate appraisals Funding of all ex

At Gordon’s Downsizing and Estate Services, our purpose is to help seniors and their families move forward. We minimize that stress for you and your future residents by managing their entire relocation. We specialize in moving and resettling older adults, safely and compassionately . From downsizing, to real estate and move management, our process guarantees predictability and accountability through the bundling of the physical asset envelope. We help speed up your sales cy