Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save, What to Let Go (Volume 1) (Downsizing the Home)

The author describes her personal experience helping her parents downsize their home. She covered a lot of the emotional aspects which need to be considered. She also described how you can get valuables appraised and sold. It was well written and gave good details.

I'm not generally a fan of surprises; I've planned my life around avoiding the unexpected. These past few days, I've had a pleasant surprise, which has me pondering whether my tendency to a closed mindset is something to tackle in the upcoming year. I've been dreading a huge impending burden, knowing that it should not be my burden, but that it eventually will be, so I gathered my courage and started accepting the truth. My in-laws moved into assisted living over a year ago. They did so reluctantly, and have yet to embrace the permanence of this move. They are currently in their third residence since, due to a combination of restlessness and some behavioral issues that are long-standing and probably fixed. Not "fixed" in the repaired way, but "fixed" in the permanent way.Left behind are two homes, both fully furnished, one with a lifetime of memories, collections, and household items. The stacks of mail are still there, in their slit-opened envelopes. The magazines are still stacked, complete with the blown in subscription cards which seem to multiply in the dark. Who is going to deal with this? When? There are three grown sons, each with his own new family and full household. Each is a busy professional and none are happy with the seemingly sudden aging of their parents into a dependent state that is far more desperate than graceful.I know without reservation that the emptying of the primary home would not be a task embraced by any of these three sons. I know also that the one son who has the temperament to handle the giant project has used all his patience and forbearance on the day-to-day management of the needs of his parents. If the burden of this house is ever going to be lifted from the family shoulders, and if its value is ever to be contributed to the care and feeding of its former occupants, the process of doing so would fall to me.Fully aware of the irony inherent in purchasing three books on downsizing, I wasn't able to discern from the reviews and blurbs which was the one book to answer my need. I ordered all of them on amazon and did nothing other than post a photo of them to my instagram account inviting my acquaintances to enjoy the irony. I set the books aside, thinking I'd done enough for now.I brought the least daunting of the three books with me to a medical conference, knowing that the subject matter would seem less daunting in an environment of intense learning. I read the introduction and was stricken by not only how practical this book is, but how thoughtful and kind. I expected practicality from a publication from the AARP, but never knew that the advice I'd find would be so respectfully and pleasantly presented. Liquidating a family's memories and treasures is never a happy task. I didn't think I'd get my husband and his brothers to consider reading on the subject, but I will enthusiastically offer to give them copies of this book. My hope is that we can tackle this project with love for one another and respect for the lives their parents have created. That this simple-appearing book offers solutions and advice to that end, is something that has surprised me in the best of ways!

My residents love this book. Its so helpful

This book will be super helpful to many people. I am already in the process of downsizing but this book is still super helpful for reiterating what I should be doing and is teaching me a lot of new methods and thought for shedding belongings. It is a super easy read and enjoyable. Surprisingly hard to put down: yes I know that sounds weird but it's true. I am in my early 50's and my dear mother in law passed away this year: this book is helping me to remember to keep her memory not room fulls of her stuff. I am facing the same with a 91 year old Step Dad and 87 year old Mom in the, sadly, not to distant future. I will keep this book for a reference. They don't have a lot, but it doesn't take much to start crowding up your own home or to put it in storage to address later. With the help of this book I know I will be able to avoid both, while still honoring their beloved treasures, and holding onto a few items of high emotional value.

We needed to downsize, and I was horrified at the daunting task ahead of me... 40 years of accumulation and memories... where to start? Yikes! Reading this book revealed the emotional side of ‘letting go’, as well as the tactical plan on how to do get done. I felt understood and gently guided by the author’s experience of working through the seemingly insurmountable task in just two weeks. Accepting the inevitable, addressing the conversations, plodding through all the emotions... and finally, pulling the job to completion so her parent’s house sold for a nice sum. Good work, Marni! Thank you for your roadmap, encouragement and the insightful tips along the way.

The media could not be loaded.  Downsizing the family home. I thought this book was very helpfu.l We are planning to move and we really, really needed to downsize, everything! First of all I was expecting the book to give tips and ideas on how to organize my cupboards. I could not believe the wit and wisdom of this author. It will amuse and amaze you. The amount of very helpful tips I kept wondering (head slap), why didn't I think of that. She thought of everything and I started cleaning today and making changes. One thing I took away from the book is that unless you have heirlooms that you want to pass down or your children have shown an interest in a certain object, don't save the stuff that you have wonderfully bought and cherished for 40 or 50 years, saving them for your children for their children. Personally I saved my children's baby clothes and toys just knowing that my kids would smile, cry, and through their tears thank me. You want the truth? My kids looked at me and said Mom we don't want this old stuff. I thought what? The minute my kids left to go home I literally threw out all that old stuff. This book is exactly the book I needed to get my bottom in gear and start throwing so much away, giving it away putting things into the metal boxes. Yard sales, consignment shops. I went crazy! Only because this book showed me how to get started. Save a few items that you cherish or heirloomes you want to pass down. But, hey if you haven't used it in four years chances are you never will use it. Get rid of it. Love this book and so will you.Highy recommend.

if you hoping for some tips on dealing with stuff nope! nada . zip.

I loved this book for a reality check and for the motivation to downsize belongings earlier rather than later. It reads well and the author's real-life example is very encouraging.

Great book with excellent advice.

A really good resource that looks at the practical and emotional side of downsizing, whether your own place or a loved one's.

Lots of good tips.