Atterberry Auction & Realty Company Helps Missouri Seniors Downsize & Transition to a Fulfilling New Lifestyle

As your parents age you may notice a decline in mobility, memory, or even self-care. Unless caused by an injury, these changes happen slowly. Your mother may misplace the car keys or your dad may trip on the living room rug, and while these seem like minor occurrences, they can lead to more dangerous situations. According to the CDC, 36 million senior adults fall every year in the U.S. Fall injuries can range from minor bumps and bruises to severe hip fractures and even death if they fall alone and cannot reach a telephone or emergency services alert device. Major injuries can often result in extended hospital stays, ongoing physical therapy, and even the need to move to an assisted living facility. Help your parents live a long and healthy life by suggesting a senior transition. Speaking with your parents about moving can be a difficult and painful conversation. However, if you are sensitive and compassionate, it may be easier to reach a decision about your parents' ongoing care and safety.

Your parents have options for senior living. Help them choose the best living arrangements for themselves in mid-Missouri

Where your parents move matters. Depending on their age and mobility, there are three common options for senior transitions in Missouri. The first is to move your parents into your home. This allows you to keep an eye on your parents and their health while providing a safe environment where they may already feel comfortable. The second option is an independent living facility. Senior apartments like these have all the amenities your parents may need on-site without sacrificing independence and personal choice. Independent living facilities are great for mobile seniors who are not at risk for falls. The last option is an assisted living facility. Assisted living facilities are a good choice for those who are experiencing memory loss, limited mobility, or a debilitating illness. 

Before making any choices on your parents’ behalf, speak to them directly. Let them know your concerns and make them aware of the current options available to them. Senior aging is not what it used to be and many of America’s seniors are happily living independently well into their 80s or even 90s. If your parents express an interest in making the transition to a new home, be generous with your time and energy when helping them find that perfect home. 

Do you need additional assistance explaining the benefits of making a senior transition? Learn how Atterberry Auction & Realty Company helps seniors downsize.

Downsizing in mid-Missouri is easy when you help your parents create a plan for their personal property

Once the decision has been made to downsize and move, it’s time to consider what should be kept and what should be sold, given away, or donated. Atterberry Auction & Realty Company is happy to help guide you through the selling process. We help families auction personal property and real estate. 

How to decide what to keep & what to sell when downsizing to a smaller house or retirement home

1: Get rid of duplicate items

Over time, especially if your parents have lived in their home for decades, it can be easy to accumulate duplicates of things. Duplicates are often found in the kitchen, bedroom, and garage, where it is easy to forget about items in the back of drawers or closets. Common duplicates include kitchen utensils, extra bedding, tools, and even small appliances. When sorting through duplicate items, gently encourage your parents only to keep one. This will reduce clutter in their future space and make moving a much lighter job.

2: Sell unused or outdated appliances & tools

Just like duplicate items, outdated and unused items are often found in the back of drawers, cabinets, closets, and garages. These items often include hardware tools, small kitchen appliances like ice cream or pasta makers, generators, old televisions, and more. These items are easy to sell in a personal property auction and attract buyers who are looking for a great deal on expensive equipment and appliances. 

Even if an item is in great shape, it may not have been used in the last year. Items like these will be appreciated by auction-goers looking to save money on a tool or appliance they’ve been considering buying at full price. Remind your parents that many of the items being sold will be replaced or upgraded in their new home and that you will help them learn how to use their new appliances and tools. 

3: Sell items that won’t be necessary for their new home

If your parents are moving to a retirement home, it is unlikely they will need lawn tools, outdoor furniture, or appliances. Lawn care items like lawnmowers, leaf blowers, seeders, aerators, and hand tools are hot commodities at auction, while durable outdoor furniture and appliances attract many bidders. If your parents are struggling to let go of an item, be empathetic to their connections but remind them they will no longer have to do yard work or hard labor in their new home. Their transition to a new space will take a huge responsibility off their shoulders and allow them to sit back and enjoy time with family and friends. Atterberry Auction & Realty Company will handle selling these items while your parents enjoy a more relaxed and stress-free lifestyle. 

4: Digitally scan important files & photos for future generations to appreciate

Photo albums and filing cabinets are some of the most difficult items to sort through. Fortunately, modern technology has made keeping paper items easy. When sorting through your parents' important documents like property titles, wills, tax documents, and more, safely scan the documents to keep them digitally. Once successfully scanned, you can shred any documents that don’t require physical copies. Not only will digitally scanning documents help to eliminate unnecessary paper and files, but it will also help. Children often struggle to sort through their parents' documents after they pass on, but with organized digital documents, it will be easier to close your parents’ estate.

Family photos should not be discarded or donated. However, it is incredibly beneficial to scan photo albums. With digital photos, you can share images easily with family members and even create a digital frame slideshow for your parents to showcase in their new home. 

There are many online companies that offer digital scanning services for family photos, videos, or similar media. However, we recommend scanning sensitive documents yourself or at a local service that specializes in digital scanning. Protect your mother and father’s assets and memories with safe and secure digital scans. 

5: Encourage your parents to pass down heirlooms early

If your parents have a will or estate plan, it is likely they have already planned to pass down certain items to certain people. If your parents have a simple will that does not outline how their assets will be divided, help them to take action now. Encourage your parents to visit an estate planner or attorney who can help them split assets upon their death and prevent feuds in the future. 

With a proper estate plan in place, encourage your parents to pass down heirlooms sooner rather than later. By sharing a beloved family heirloom before they pass, your parents will see how much joy and reverence family members experience when being gifted with such a precious item. Not only will they see that item in the hands of someone who treasures it, but they can also relax knowing no one will need to fight over their personal property after they are gone.

Take the stress out of selling personal property & real estate in Columbia, MO with Atterberry Auction & Realty Company

Choosing what to sell when helping your parents downsize is the most difficult part of the process. Letting go of treasured possessions can be daunting, but selling them can be easy when you work with the right downsizing company. At Atterberry Auction & Realty Company, we specialize in senior transitions and downsizing. Our personal property auction experts will carefully walk you through the auction process, helping to set opening bids, packaging items for shipping, and even handling the real estate auction. With Atterberry Auction & Realty Company, your parents can quickly sell their assets for top dollar. Your family won’t have to deal with a home that sits on the market for months or items that just aren’t selling on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Atterberry Auction & Realty Company takes the stress off of senior parents and their children when it’s time to downsize. 

Sell personal property with Atterberry Auction & Realty Company

When your senior parents decide to downsize, they will need help to sort through their personal belongings and choose what to keep and what to sell. When you and your family are ready to sell, you’ll need help liquidating assets. That is where Atterberry Auction & Realty Company comes in. Our personal property auction team brings a compassionate approach to downsizing and senior transition. 

One of the greatest benefits of working with Atterberry Auction & Realty Company is just how quickly you can liquidate items. Your family can set your auction date to ensure you don’t have any extra boxes to pack when it’s time to move. While you help your parents set up and decorate their new home, Atterberry Auction & Realty Company will handle item pick up and shipping. With a personal property auction, your family will find peace in an otherwise stressful time.

Sell real estate with Atterberry Auction & Realty Company

The modern housing market is volatile. One day homes will be selling after a few hours on the market, and the next, a home may be on the market for months. Avoid bad offers and endless open houses and sell real estate easily with Atterberry Auction & Realty Company. Not only can we sell homes quickly and for top dollar, but we also auction properties like farmland, hunting land, and undeveloped plots. Don’t fret over helping your parents sell their home. Atterberry Auction & Realty Company will take care of everything. 

Make the Transition to a Retirement Home or Assisted Living Facility Easier for Your Aging Parents With Atterberry Auction & Realty Company

Helping your parents transition to a retirement home, assisted living facility, or into your own home is a complicated process that may take many months of conversations and coordination. However, when your parents make this choice it can greatly benefit their life. They will have fewer responsibilities and stressors, and you can rest easy knowing your parents are well cared for. When you need help managing your parents' personal property or real estate, contact Atterberry Auction & Realty Company. Our auctioneers are ready to help you.