The Process
Sorting a lifetime of belongings, prepping and pricing a home, coordinating movers or estate sale companies, timing everything around a move-in date or care need — realistically, that’s a lot to manage, especially on top of everything else going on. You won’t be doing it alone, and you won’t be doing it all at once. Here’s how it breaks down:
No forms, no pressure — just a conversation about your situation and timeline, so we know exactly how to help.
We tour the home and hand you a personalized Downsizing Action Plan — clear next steps for decluttering, prep, and a Real Estate Review. If you need extra help, we’ll connect you with trusted estate sale companies, movers, a partner who helps you find the right assisted living or care community or clean out services — you’ll always have one point person to ask, not a list of strangers to call.
One target price and one plan to get there — based on your goals, on the timeline that works for you.
From prepping the house to “Sold,” you’ll always know what’s happening and who to ask.
Downsizing Is a Different Kind of Sale
Selling the home you’ve lived in for years isn’t like a typical transaction — and it deserves an agent who treats it that way. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist®, we bring local knowledge, a patient approach, and a real plan built around your timeline, not a sales quota. Whether you need to connect with an estate sale company, a mover, or a trusted partner who helps families find the right assisted living or care community, we’re your single point of contact for all of it — so you’re never left figuring it out alone.
As your Seniors Real Estate Specialist®, we recognize that selling this home may be the last major physical asset you sell in retirement. That’s not something we take lightly. Our job is to help you get a fair, well-informed price — through smart pricing strategy and real local market knowledge — while keeping the whole process calm, clear, and on your timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to start the downsizing process is with an action game plan for your goals. Whether you need minimal support throughout the process or guidance every step of the way – we can craft a plan tailored to your needs. If you’re ambitious and ready to start on your own – gather some boxes and begin packing up the items you for sure plan to keep, but don’t need anytime soon (seasonal decorations, off-season clothing). Stack the boxes in the corner of each room or your garage. If the items are already in your basement, you can use that space, but don’t do extra work bringing boxes downstairs that are on upper levels.
Downsizing usually isn’t just decluttering – it involves paring down items that you truly need, love, and will be used in your next home. By packing in boxes, you can clearly begin to see progress. Start with the “FOR SURE” items you plan to keep, the “FOR SURE” items you plan to donate or discard – and save the “MAYBE” items for last.
If you have access to free boxes from work or business or leftover boxes from items you’ve ordered like Amazon great! Home improvement stores like Menards (take advantage of the 11% rebate when applicable), Home Depot, & Lowe’s have inexpensive moving boxes that are very sturdy and a variety of sizes that are easy to pack. We packed our last personal home using a majority of medium sized boxes (21”x15”x10”), some small, and some large. The medium sized boxes are easy to handle, they stack really well, and they don’t get super heavy.
Packing paper is cost effective for protecting items (can also be purchased by the moving boxes) and allows you to reserve specialty boxes and wrapping for very fragile or heirloom items. Don’t forget to pick up some packing tape which can be purchased at many local retail stores or of course ordered online. If you get stuck accessing boxes, let us know!
If you get to pick or are planning ahead, in our area the ideal time to list your home for sale is between March – June. This is driven by warmer weather during these months and home buyers with school-aged children who want to make their decisions & move before the upcoming school year. We tend to see buyer activity slow around the 4th of July holiday. That being said, we list & sell homes 12 months of the year. Sometimes life happens and you may need to move quickly for health or family reasons. That’s okay too!
If you own investment properties or a home that is a fixer-upper, buyers who purchase those properties shop year round.
Many of the home owners we work with qualify for a home sale tax exclusion when selling their primary residence. Consult your tax/financial advisor for information on your personal situation.
Don’t guess! Homeowners can overlook important items while focusing on not-so-important items when planning to sell their home or downsize. Spending money on unnecessary improvement projects you won’t get back is one example. Most of our clients have never worked with a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® before and are (happily!) surprised to learn of the guidance, support, resources and expertise available throughout the process. Schedule a complimentary consultation with us to discuss your real estate needs and questions. We look forward to speaking with you!
Not many. If your home is in a trust or LLC, you will need to provide a copy of the trust certificate or operating agreement for the LLC to the title company prior to closing. If a power of attorney will be signing on your behalf, a copy of the legal paperwork confirming your POA will be needed. If you don’t possess a digital copy, the attorney who drafted the documents for you or your financial professional may have a copy on file. We will work with you at the beginning of the process to coordinate gathering any documents the title company may need for the sale of your home.
If you own your property with a family member, spouse or partner who has passed away and is still listed on the deed we will coordinate with the title company and kindly confirm any documents needed for the sale of your home.
No worries! While digital technology allows for streamlined communication throughout the process, if you’re not comfortable using it we understand that. We can coordinate with you ahead of time so you can sign paper copies of the documents needed for the sale of your home.
Our team is licensed in Kansas & Missouri and serves the Greater Kansas City area including Lawrence & Topeka, KS. Additionally we are also able to connect & refer you to a great agent in your area if you don’t live locally or plan to re-locate out of the area.
The calls you are getting are from various types of buyers who most likely want to purchase your home for a low ball price or want you to “seller finance” the purchase or other types of off market transactions. In the current market, there would be no reason you shouldn’t ensure you are receiving fair market value for your home. We find seniors are frequently targeted by buyers who are hoping to cash in on a good deal with an unassuming seller.
Even if you find yourself in an urgent situation where you need to sell your home quickly due to health reasons or otherwise, it’s vital to consider all of the pros and cons before entertaining an offer that may add even more stress to your plate where you begin an agreement with no recourse. As your local Seniors Real Estate Specialist® we are very familiar with these types of offers and should you receive one contact us and we will review it free of charge so you can make an educated decision.
Thinking About Your Next Move?
As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® serving Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka, we bring local knowledge and a patient, personalized approach to every family we work with — whether you’re just starting to think about downsizing or ready to make a move.
Call 913-232-3383 for a complimentary downsizing consultation.