The devilish details of a relocation

They say the devil is in the details, and there’s no question that’s true of a relocation to a smaller home, an apartment or a senior community.

You’ve already made the big decisions. You’ve chosen your new home. You’ve chosen the size-appropriate furniture you want to keep for it. You’ve identified the items family members want and a deadline for them to pick up their treasures. You’ve chosen your big three – your realtor, your lawyer and your mover and/or senior move manager. You’ve begun the sorting and packing process, perhaps already making charitable donations, and runs to the recycling center and landfill.

Good for you! These major decisions take care of a huge chunk of the relocation process, particularly for seniors who may have lived in their homes for decades and have probably accumulated a lot of stuff.

But the devil still lurks in the many, many details that need to be addressed in the right order, at the right time, with the right people ... and none of them have anything to do with downsizing or packing.

These are the details of transferring property from both real estate and legal perspectives, preparing your home for sale, the help you will need for donations, potential auctions, junk removal and the myriad other nitty-gritty things that can become quite devilish without preparation.

We work with homeowners every day going through this process, so we have perfected the list of details that must be attended to, and usually make the following recommendations or, on occasion, directly handle many of them for our clients.

With your realtor, talk through issues like what may need to be done to your home before it goes on the market. Also discuss whether a stager is necessary, and whether you need to declutter and store some items before the house is listed. Discuss the terms of showings, staging, advertising and open houses. If you have pets, discuss how they will handled before any showings. Make sure to gather any important documents, jewelry and heirlooms, and keep them somewhere safe during showings. Ask whether your realtor has a to-do checklist that can help you get organized.

With your lawyer, make sure you know where your deed and associated paperwork are stored. If there is a mortgage on your current home, your lawyer and your realtor will need to know that. Locate and review your will or trust, which will eventually need to be revised after your move to ensure your new property is listed in these documents. If you are moving to a continuing care retirement community, ensure a beneficiary is named for any potential redemption of the initial buy-in investment. Also, make sure your will/trust doesn’t include any specific item that may no longer exist or any particular beneficiary who may have died or whose relationship with you may have changed.

With your mover and/or senior move manager, discuss the timing and the supplies you may need. Also, allow the mover to do a walk-through, if requested, to receive an accurate quote. Discuss moving insurance options. Dispose of anything inflammable, like propane gas tanks, paint and aerosol cans. Hint: check out DSWA.com for information. Discuss any unusual requests in advance, like whether they will move house plants. Take photos of valuable items they will be moving, and note any pre-existing flaws.

Don’t forget, there are several picky items that are entirely up to you, but are critical to a seamless, more relaxed move. Fill out a change of address form at the post office. Make sure all your business/service partners have your new address. Schedule utilities to be turned off in your current home the day after you move, and turned on in your new home the day before you move. Give all your friends and acquaintances your new address. Although optional, it’s nice to leave a note and a packet of information for the new owners. You can include your new contact details, if you choose.

Based on what your partners tell you – and your own pesky to-do list – make a plan for yourself. It may help to have a master calendar with different-colored ink/highlighters for each specific category of tasks, or a long list of things to do in chronological order. If kept in a conspicuous location, like a kitchen counter, a refrigerator door, or an office desk, these types of aids can help you organize yourself week by week.

And, most importantly, remember the wonderful memories you made in your old home, and congratulate yourself for wrestling the devil and making the important decision to focus on your future and move forward!