This week’s Q&A column is sponsored and written by Hope Peele of The Peele Group and McEnearney Associates Realtors®, the leading real estate firm in Alexandria. To learn more about this article and relevant Alexandria market news, contact The Peele Group at 703-244-6115 or email [email protected]. You may also submit your questions to McEnearney Associates via email for response in future columns.
Question: When downsizing, who do I need on my team?
Answer: When you’ve lived in a home for years — decades even — there comes a time when many decide to pare things down. This is something that is always better to start on sooner, rather than later. The downsizing process can feel overwhelming, but The Peele Group likes to create a team of professionals who do this all the time and can take some of the burden off of you.
Here are some examples of who we recruit to help!
Organizer — After living in a home for years of holidays, vacations, and memories, there is bound to be a ton of things you’ve accumulated that you might not necessarily need in the next stage of your life. Perhaps you have a passion for artwork and it fills the walls of your current home. If your next home is smaller, you will need to choose which items to keep and which to pass along. A professional organizer can help you make decisions about what is important to you. They should never make you feel judged, and will work with you to establish goals as well as a pathway to get there!
Estate Sales — Many of my clients are collectors of some sort, or at the very least have a collection of beautiful things they have amassed over the years. An estate sale company will be able to assist in valuation and then go over various routes of resale, based on both the value and number of items.
Junk Removal — Once you’ve decided what to keep and what could be sold, sometimes it’s easiest to hire a company to come and haul away everything else. They should have all of the same equipment and methods as movers, keeping the home completely protected. Some companies will also go through what they gather and donate what they can. Many of my clients prefer ones that do, so that they know their things are going to a good home, plus the added benefit of avoiding the landfill as much as possible!
Mover — Sure, we all have friends and family who might offer to help us move. But in my experience, it is always worth it to hire insured, professional movers. They not only have the equipment but also the know-how on the best way to pack up your belongings efficiently and safely. There is also a recourse process if, in the worst case, anything should happen while your items are in transit. Some movers will even hold onto your things if you don’t know your final destination quite yet.
Stager — Whether you’ve decided to empty your entire home, or begin showings while you are still living there, a stager is very helpful in deciding how to give the best impression possible. Most people think of stagers as bringing in all of the furniture and creating an entirely new set-up. While this is one of the services they offer, many will also work with your existing living space. They can advise on which art pieces to show, and where, and how to best arrange the things already in your home.
Realtor — Getting this entire team together is one of the many services that we provide at The Peele Group. Engaging with your real estate agent early in the process, maybe even before you’ve fully decided on a timeline, can make everything go more smoothly. We frequently work with sellers who are planning on downsizing in the next five years or so and would like us to work with them to create a timeline that works for them.
For more information on downsizing, and to meet and hear top tips from the professionals listed above, RSVP to our Downsizing Seminar — July 13th at James Duncan Library from 2-3:30 p.m. at [email protected] or reach out for a private consultation.
Hope Peele is a licensed real estate agent with McEnearney Associates, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up in Old Town and currently lives in Del Ray. As a partner with The Peele Group, Hope is dedicated to guiding her clients successfully through the many-faceted process of buying or selling a home. Contact Hope at 703-244-6115.
If you would like a question answered in our weekly column or to set up an appointment with one of our Associates, please email: [email protected] or call 703-549-9292. McEnearney Associates Realtors®, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. www.McEnearney.com Equal Housing Opportunity. #WeAreAlexandria
