Downsizing is on the Up-Swing

A recent Atlanta Jewish Times reader shared with this writer, “We are an aging couple in the process of decluttering and have been trying to donate a piano to a deserving group for over a year. We have called many public and religious schools in the area and none of them want it. Surely, there must be a spot for our piano. A used upright piano of this type sells for $500 to $2,000, so it has some value.” You could call the article, “Downsizing couple looking to donate a piano to a charitable organization.”

While this writer couldn’t promise a home for their piano, a lot of people are in the same position. You might relate to downsizing, scaling down or moving, and potentially agree it’s stressful. Finding a good home for beloved belongings or things you inherit is a big job. Items like lifetime collections, Grandma’s dining room table plus artwork, Grandma’s China cabinet and more, make it quite a challenge. And in case you’re an “out of sight, out of mind procrastinator,” you have work to do. The good news is if your attic or basement feels like a storage unit, there is help and resources available and don’t panic. The big question is who wants it and what’s the best way to bid those items farewell?

Organizational professionals and experts can ease your job. Many nonprofits are prepared to pick it up or companies you can hire to take it away. Some destinations have support for those moving to assisted living facilities and provide moving transition experts while many people hire an estate sale company and professional to turn what’s stashed into cash.

Linda Lincoln Diamond, professional organizer and founder of Captured Clutter (capturedclutter.com), suggests asking these questions:
* Do I need this? Do I love this? Do I want this?
* Would a photo serve to preserve memories and substitute for keeping the item?
* Would the item be of value to a family member or friend? If so, give them a deadline to retrieve it, or donate it to a worthwhile cause.
* Work backwards from your moving date and set aside a time allotment each day to go room to room and designate a staging area for giveaways, repairs, toss/recycle. Use sticky notes or color dots to indicate keep or come back to.

Diamond advises starting early. She said, “It’s important to begin way ahead of time when possible. If you are listing your home (and must reduce the contents), less is best when showing it. If the entire job overwhelms you, start small. One room or closet at a time. Begin giving things away a few shopping bags at a time and don’t leave one zone until it’s completed. Be intentional and generous when deciding what to keep. There are so many worthwhile causes in need of gentle, used clothing, items, and kitchenware, plus toys and more.”

Next, she said, “Let go. Some things, even items you haven’t used for years or are inherited, are hard to let go. Finding a loving home for those might be just what you need to bid those things farewell; or you overpaid for something and want to get your money out of it. Walk around the house with painters’ tape and mark the items that must go even if you find it difficult to say goodbye.”

Diamond added to also hire an expert and said, “Perhaps you know someone who is a Facebook Marketplace whiz, find resources who can help you. Hiring an expert who can help advise you what to keep, sell, or donate is helpful. Begin by photographing your keep list and writing down the measurements. That will help you to ensure these items fit into your new space.”

Michelle Cooper, CPO and president, Put It There Professional Organizing, LLC, (put-it-there.com), recommends these suggestions to help guide you and understand that all decisions do not need to be made at once. There will likely be several rounds of keeping and purging. Cooper said to start with low-hanging fruit; what can easily be “skimmed off the top.” Next, she suggests the following common questions to ask:
* Does keeping this item help me reach my goals?
* Do I want to devote space for it?
* Is this the only one I have that serves this purpose?
* Do I expect to use it soon?
* Will it be difficult to get it again?
* Can I manage without it?
* Am I keeping it to avoid something emotional?
* Is there someone I can give it to who needs it more than I do?

It is perfectly acceptable to have some “would be nice to haves” if space allows.

Experts also recommend having an estate sale which requires support. Helpful insights come from Christy Ahlers, who oversees Peachtree Battle Estate Sales and Liquidations with experience having run estate sales for 15 years. Ahlers and her husband, Robert, own and operate Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery (A&O), Atlanta’s largest estate sales and auction company.

Christy Ahlers commented, “Downsizing is a deeply personal process, often filled with memories and emotions. At Peachtree Battle Estate Sales, we take the time to carefully understand each family’s needs and handle every detail with care and compassion. This approach to sales helps to ease the burden while thoughtfully placing and valuing treasured belongings. Each item is priced and we go to great lengths to help families and individuals downsize, clear out and maximize the value of every item for sale with respect and care.”

Estate sale companies specialize in helping homeowners put personal property, collections, and other items of value up for sale especially when downsizing. To determine if you’re a match for their services, it’s a good idea to photograph specific collections, valuable items, and share them for a visit to determine if a full-house on-premises sale is advisable.

If you have valuable items that could go to auction, consider A&O’s long-standing reputation as a sought-after auction resource for private and rare collections. Their highly successful past auctions have included such notable collections as those of Robert Woodruff, Marjorie Knowles, the late governor’s wife, Betty Sanders, amongst others. An auction allows your more valuable belongings, especially when downsizing, to be publicized by the company and sold to a global market. Realized prices are posted online and items are professionally sold to the highest bidder. The competitive nature of bidding is both a sport and a hobby for many along with the excitement of winning a soon-to-be cherished item for their own collection. Their auction gallery is in the popular Upper Westside design district.

To learn more about Peachtree Battle Estate Sales, visit www.Atlantaestatesales.com Ahlers & Ogletree is now accepting consignments for upcoming auction seasons. Email consign@aandoauctions.com.