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<\/p>\nDownsizing. It\u2019s hard enough to contemplate for ourselves, but to make such decisions for someone else adds layers of difficulty.<\/p>\n
Some seniors are ready to let go of all but a few material possessions, but for others, the idea of parting with even seemingly insignificant objects can cause great anxiety and sadness \u2013 and that doesn\u2019t even include those who may be grappling with dementia or depression. Additionally, many seniors\u00a0lack the mobility and physical strength<\/a>\u00a0to sort through and pack things on their own.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a list of\u00a012 tips to help make the downsizing task a little\u00a0less onerous for everyone<\/a>\u00a0involved:<\/p>\n If you donate goods to a charitable organization, always get a tax receipt, even if you don\u2019t know whether or not your senior loved one will require it to claim a deduction. Although it can add a layer or two of complexity to your disposal efforts, take photos of everything that\u2019s being donated and note the condition of the items to support the receipt, as condition helps to determine value. Thorough records are helpful in the event of an audit. The\u00a0Goodwill valuation guide<\/a>\u00a0is a good, basic reference.<\/p>\n Local auction houses and consignment shops can be great places to sell higher-quality household furnishings in excellent condition and smaller items, such as art or jewelry. The downside is that these outlets charge a commission and it can take a long time before items sell (if they do, in fact, sell) and proceeds become available to your senior loved one.<\/p>\n Available across North America (and, increasingly, around the globe),\u00a0Craiglist<\/a>\u00a0has largely replaced classified ads as a way to get rid of unwanted items. It\u2019s easy to set up an account and list things for sale, and \u2013 best of all \u2013 there is no charge to place an ad. Interested parties can contact you via proxy email, text or voice, so be sure to monitor whatever means you\u2019ve chosen, and delete the ad from Craigslist once the item or items have been spoken for.<\/p>\n If you have more time,\u00a0eBay<\/a>\u00a0is a great place to sell smaller items that can be easily packed up and shipped. It takes a bit of camera skills and tech know how to set up an account and create listings, but, even though eBay and PayPal (the primary way to get paid for auctions) take a percentage, a decent profit can be made. While you can list larger items on eBay and stipulate \u201clocal pickup only,\u201d you\u2019re probably better off offloading such objects via other, more local means. eBay is also a good resource for researching an item\u2019s potential value.<\/p>\n Make sure the rest of the family is on board before you embark on any major downsizing project. Ask your senior loved one if there are specific items they would like to give away, and to whom; with his or her blessing, invite siblings or others to identify items that they would like to keep. You don\u2019t want to be in the position of having to placate a sister who\u2019s distraught because you gave away the portrait of John F. Kennedy that she made in the second grade out of dried beans and macaroni.<\/p>\n If you are tech-savvy, the apps\u00a0CPlus<\/a>\u00a0(a third-party app for Craigslist)\u00a0Letgo<\/a>,\u00a05Miles<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0OfferUp<\/a>\u00a0connect local buyers and sellers. Currently operating in six cities with more coming soon,\u00a0Dolly<\/a>\u00a0is a \u201cmoving concierge\u201d that sources contracted helpers who can help with everything from a move to a new home to delivering a single piece of furniture.\u00a0Lugg<\/a>\u00a0provides a similar, on-demand moving service, but is limited to four urban areas in California.<\/p>\n Whatever you call it \u2013 estate, garage, rummage, tag, yard sale \u2013 staging a sale is a lot of work, but it\u2019s often the most straightforward way to get rid of things fairly quickly while also raising funds. If the estate is substantial, you might want to\u00a0hire a professional company<\/a>\u00a0to liquidate the assets. Very valuable items such as collectible art and rare or first edition books will likely fetch more money at auction (online or otherwise) than in an estate sale.<\/p>\n Also determined by address,\u00a0Nextdoor<\/a>\u00a0is a free, private social network comprised of more than 156,000 neighborhood groups across the country. Each Nextdoor homepage includes a \u201cFor Sale & Free\u201d section.<\/p>\n Caveats: Overwhelmingly, Buy Nothing, Craigslist and Nextdoor are perfectly safe ways in which to dispose of belongings. That said, never sell small, valuable items \u2013 such as desirable electronics or jewelry \u2013 anywhere but a public meeting place. Regardless of what you\u2019re selling, at home or otherwise, always have one or two friends with you when meeting a buyer.\u00a0This article<\/a>\u00a0has some additional tips on how safely to use online services to get rid of possessions.<\/p>\n Deseret Industries<\/a>,\u00a0Goodwill<\/a>\u00a0(whose website makes it easy to find the nearest donation site),\u00a0Salvation Army<\/a>,\u00a0Society of St. Vincent de Paul<\/a>\u00a0and local, standalone thrift stores are all great places to donate. Many organizations will pick up goods, with varying restrictions and limitations. (If you\u2019re planning to deduct donations, make certain that any shop you\u2019re considering is a legitimate nonprofit organization and can provide a tax receipt.)<\/p>\n More About Donating vs. Selling:<\/strong><\/p>\n What you do with your senior\u2019s excess stuff may depend upon how much time you have. If you don\u2019t feel confident researching valuations on your own, consider\u00a0hiring a professional appraiser<\/a>\u00a0to help you determine what to donate, sell or simply throw away. (You don\u2019t want to be that person who offloads a sloppy painting for $5 and later finds out it was a Jackson Pollock worth millions.) Should you need even more assistance, consider hiring a professional moving manager like\u00a0Katie Munoz<\/a>. An extreme option, sometimes unavoidable due to time or geographical constraints, is working with a dealer who offers a fixed price for the entire contents of a home \u2013 total liquidation \u2013 and the owner just walks away.<\/p>\nTips to Make Downsizing Easier<\/h2>\n
1. Accrue Tax Advantages<\/h3>\n
2. Call an Auction House or Consignment Shop<\/h3>\n
3. Check out Craigslist<\/h3>\n
4. Consider eBay<\/h3>\n
5. Consult Relatives<\/h3>\n
6. Download Helpful Smartphone Apps<\/h3>\n
7. Host an On-Site Sale<\/h3>\n
8. Look Nextdoor<\/h3>\n
9. Make a Donation<\/h3>\n
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10. Seek Professional Help<\/h3>\n
11. Sign Up for Buy Nothing<\/h3>\n