Episodes

  • Seniors Do's and Don'ts of Staging a Family Home You're Planning to Sell

    Seniors Do's and Don'ts of Staging a Family Home You're Planning to Sell
    Feb 17 2022
    I’ve been through many seniors' homes and have a very comprehensive list of successes and not-so-successful presentation techniques for selling the family home & Home Staging Tips. There are one-offs, of course, however, there are a lot of similarities when comparing family homes of seniors.    I’ll give you my favorite Home Staging quick wins for seniors when selling the family home.  I’ll also encourage you to think a little differently about what stays for the sale and what goes for the Home sale. 1) DO! Review your paint color inside and out A repaint is one of the quickest ‘bang for bucks’ you can do when preparing your home for sale. Look up some of the paint brand’s websites and browse through their pictures. I’ll challenge you to think, Do all the pictures need to come down anyhow? Does a lot of the furniture need to be moved anyhow? Did you want to steam clean your carpets anyhow? Why not use this as an excuse! Some of the paint companies will offer a color consultant with over a certain volume of paint bought, so why not enquire. Always hire a color professional they know what younger families want to see! 2) DO! Rethink your furniture As we get older, we know our children want to move around and often our friends start selling and moving too!  Things really do change as you get older, the street, then neighbors, and local facilities all change, so you may need to re-think things! 3) DO! Declutter, declutter, declutter! You’re going to a smaller house, so have a think about what you really really want to hang onto. Like all your furniture, what you take to your new place should really only be the items that you really really love. We have a whole activity in the training regarding how to approach and stage the declutter of your home. You’ll love it I’m sure. You need declutter timeframes, declutter order of rooms, declutter rewards…! I hope you love my favorite quick wins for seniors and DON'T! leave it too late or ignore what a refresh and declutter at your home can do when thinking of selling. My job is for you to have a stress free downsize and get the most out of your property sale, so head on over to www.rightsizeyourhome.com.au to learn much much more about downsizing and getting the most out of your property sale and getting the most put back in your pocket, you deserve it! Also, Read - IS IT OK TO USE OLD FURNITURE TO PRESENT THE HOME FOR SALE? RIGHTSIZE YOUR HOME ONLINE COURSE: PART 1 Shifting Your Mindset Understanding The RIGHT TIME, Moving Roadblocks, And How To Be READY For Your DOWNSIZE This online course for empty nesters is designed as the first step of a 3-part program focusing on improving your mindset and can be completed independently or as a pre-requisite to Part 2 and Part 3 for the full ‘Rightsize Your Home’ program. Rightsize Your Home Online Course Part 1: Shifting Your Mindset will help you understand where you are currently at and help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. Also, you will begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! We invite you to try this online course, click below now. TRY THE FREE LESSONS TODAY
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    6 mins
  • 5 Top Tips - A Downsizing Experts guide to House Hunting for Seniors

    5 Top Tips - A Downsizing Experts guide to House Hunting for Seniors
    Feb 10 2022
    Ah - the “dreaded downsize” I hear you say!   Alas, not true, your downsize turns out just fine in the long run, I promise you and so do dozens of other downsizers that I’ve worked with over the years.  Here are my top tips for downsize house hunting, I suggest you sit down with a trusted loved one and seriously discuss this list. Tip 1 - Know where This means in which geographical area, not specifics.  This will determine numbers 2 and 3, who and what you want to be near to.  Research it properly and also ensure you give this information to your buyer's agent, so they have all the correct information and won’t waste yours and their time. Tip 2 - Know who want to be near to i.e. your friends/family (or an airport) As we get older, we know our children want to move around and often our friends start selling and moving too!  Things really do change as you get older, the street, then neighbours and local facilities all change, so you may need to re-think things! Tip 3 - Know what services you want to access to Services are critical too, think about your next phase and make sure you research and prepare well for this and the next phase.  No one likes moving again that is for sure! Tip 4 - Know the type of property you want to live in  I’ve got a great guide in my book that was drawn from an expert in his field Rich Harvey, CEO of property buyer.com.au, a business like theirs will assist you to fill them out and even get the whole process done for you.  In order to do this process well, however, you really need to sit down with that trusted loved one and seriously discuss the list. (refer to Buyer Wishlist found in page 96 of my book Rightsize Your Home: The Empty Nester's Guide to a Stress-Free Downsize) Tip 5 - Don't worry about the exact suburb necessarily - let a buyer's agent do all the work! Downsizing and the process of house hunting when you’re downsizing is a stressful occupation! I hope you enjoyed this short top tips list and it encouraged you to have a good think and have that ‘serious conversation' I referred to!  To find out more visit www.rightsizeyourhome.com.au, and in the book as well as the courses you’ll gain access to those helpful tips and checklists to get you in control of the downsize. RIGHTSIZE YOUR HOME ONLINE COURSE : PART 1 Shifting Your Mindset Understanding The RIGHT TIME, Moving Roadblocks, And How To Be READY For Your DOWNSIZE This online course for empty nesters is designed as the first step of a 3-part program focusing on improving your mindset and can be completed independently or as a pre-requisite to Part 2 and Part 3 for the full ‘Rightsize Your Home’ program. Rightsize Your Home Online Course Part 1: Shifting Your Mindset will help you understand where you are currently at and help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. Also, you will begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! We invite you to try this online course, click below now. TRY THE FREE LESSONS TODAY
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    6 mins
  • Where Should I Downsize To?

    Where Should I Downsize To?
    Feb 3 2022
    If you would like a guide to downsizing, read on here… My guide for you is taken directly from the comments of previous downsizers and their thoughts about what sort of downsize has proven to be successful. They are passing their gems of downsizing experience and wisdom through me to you!  Top of the ‘Where should I live?’ downsizing list is… Location Location Location - who do I want to be near? This could be in the form of clubs, family, services, medical specialists. Make sure who is top of your list. Now to confuse things - don’t necessarily rely on children for example, as they may want the freedom to move around. What type of Support do you want to be near. Remember, if you are currently living with someone, what happens if they are not around? You probably don’t want to think about it, but it does regularly happen. If you don’t want to move again (let's face it, who likes moving!) then think about this one carefully. In conjunction with #1 and #2 is What do I want to be near? Some of these things are available in many places too, so should be looked at in combination with the above. This may mean; airport, lake, mountains, beach, services etc, etc. What about the next phase? I really don’t want to scare you now, but think about all of the numbers 1-3 above for the ‘next phase’. You may want to be somewhere where your next phase is just around the corner (logistically)! For more information about ‘Shifting Your Mindset’ and thinking about these things, tap into the information in my book etc, etc. All of the information is from many years of working with downsizers and knowing their insights learned and secrets shared! RIGHTSIZE YOUR HOME ONLINE COURSE : PART 1 Shifting Your Mindset Understanding The RIGHT TIME, Moving Roadblocks, And How To Be READY For Your DOWNSIZE This online course for empty nesters is designed as the first step of a 3-part program focusing on improving your mindset and can be completed independently or as a pre-requisite to Part 2 and Part 3 for the full ‘Rightsize Your Home’ program. Rightsize Your Home Online Course Part 1: Shifting Your Mindset will help you understand where you are currently at and help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. Also, you will begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! We invite you to try this online course, click below now. TRY THE FREE LESSONS TODAY
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    5 mins
  • 5 Key Retirement Planning Steps to Take

    5 Key Retirement Planning Steps to Take
    Jan 26 2022
    Thinking about retirement should be fun, and my advice is to start thinking about it as early as possible!  Everyone has different retirement ideas and there are many things to have ideas about. If you spoke with 20 people, they would all have completely different ideas about how and where to retire to, downsizing goals, and what they want to achieve. Retirement strategy and retirement planning, in general, is the essential component of success. It is also the key to a successful downsize. Essentially a great retirement strategy houses retirement ideas, retirement goals and ultimately, underpins how you retire and the downsizing plan. A great retirement strategy needs to be designed early on with the assistance of well-practised retirement experts. There are many parts that fit into a strategy, ie; the financial aspect, personal well being, where you live - just a general thought, not specific at this stage, where your friends and family live, how near or far you want to be from them, available transport, medical and the retirement housing of your choice and of course much much more. Your retirement goals determine all of this! Use the list above as a Q&A for discussion with your loved one, write them out and discuss them now, no matter how old you are! With all of these goals in place, this will formulate the strategy and what you want to accomplish. To read more about the professionals and the order in which to organise these discussions, you can read more in my book . Tune into the first part of the course which will help you wrap your mind around these goals and help you understand if there are any roadblocks in formulating your retirement and downsizing goals.  RIGHTSIZE YOUR HOME ONLINE COURSE : PART 1 Shifting Your Mindset Understanding The RIGHT TIME, Moving Roadblocks, And How To Be READY For Your DOWNSIZE This online course for empty nesters is designed as the first step of a 3-part program focusing on improving your mindset and can be completed independently or as a pre-requisite to Part 2 and Part 3 for the full ‘Rightsize Your Home’ program. Rightsize Your Home Online Course Part 1: Shifting Your Mindset will help you understand where you are currently at and help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. Also, you will begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! We invite you to try this online course, click below now. TRY THE FREE LESSONS TODAY
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    5 mins
  • Downsizing Advice from Older People and People Taking Care of Elderly Parents

    Downsizing Advice from Older People and People Taking Care of Elderly Parents
    Jan 18 2022
    After working with many senior downsizers, I feel reassured and glad that I invested my time speaking with them, learning, and listening.  These downsizing conversations and experiences motivated me to write my book Rightsize Your Home, the Empty Nesters Guide to a Stress-Free Downsize. I wanted their lessons to be passed onto the next downsizers, to help them with the challenges and pre-emptive steps which can be taken to avoid any unnecessary stress. When I hear advice from older people and advice from children taking care of elderly parents.  They say they are so glad they downsized when they did and strongly recommend downsizing to others to happen sooner rather than later when you are in complete control of your destiny. After working with these downsizers through the months of organising (and often more so in seeking advice themselves), I heard every downsizer, without exception, state they wished; number  They had downsized sooner or number  Thought the job was much easier than first anticipated. My advice for anyone taking care of elderly parents or parents-in-law who are in the lead-up and/or downsizing is to reassure them and even seek advice from other older people who have downsized themselves, they will all say the same thing.  Your parent/s will also say that they would never go back in the long run! There are many benefits of downsizing for people caring for elderly parents.  My advice is that downsizing your parents will be so much easier in the long run for everyone involved.  Approaching the advice about downsizing is of course an emotive subject and should be expressed with care, however, once you’ve started the conversation, don’t go back.  It is important to start the conversation and seek professional advice together.  Remember to seek advice from professionals who specialise in helping older people with financial and real estate knowledge. If you want more advice about ‘how to downsize’, tools and insights read the book. Click here to purchase the book. RIGHTSIZE YOUR HOME ONLINE COURSE : PART 1 Shifting Your Mindset Understanding The RIGHT TIME, Moving Roadblocks, And How To Be READY For Your DOWNSIZE This online course for empty nesters is designed as the first step of a 3-part program focusing on improving your mindset and can be completed independently or as a pre-requisite to Part 2 and Part 3 for the full ‘Rightsize Your Home’ program. Rightsize Your Home Online Course Part 1: Shifting Your Mindset will help you understand where you are currently at and help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. Also, you will begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! We invite you to try this online course, click below now. TRY THE FREE LESSONS TODAY
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    6 mins
  • Reasons Why Downsizing is Beneficial for Seniors

    Reasons Why Downsizing is Beneficial for Seniors
    Nov 11 2021
    Less loneliness, Better friendships and Less Stress… Reasons Why Downsizing is Beneficial for Seniors  There are many reasons why downsizing is beneficial for seniors.  I’m so passionate about it that I wrote my book because of it!  The downsizing benefits can mostly be linked with statistics that focus on mental health. Where a senior is happier, not lonely and less stressed with their surroundings, the flow on effect is enormous. Downsizing means the senior has more time to invest in themselves, their own interests, and relationship re-kindling or building. A decrease in loneliness is also a huge factor that is assisted with downsizing, and is linked to increased mental health.  Our first hand findings are that where a senior is either left on their own or is caring for another, it is far more difficult in a larger family home.  It is often harder to get out and socialise. Again, first hand experience of more happier seniors is seen when a couple is embedded into a downsized home and community, prior to losing a partner.  It works so much better when a couple is established with their networks and home prior to the event. Seniors will enjoy more freedom to move around and take time out for travel and spending time with relatives and friends.  If a senior is caught up in a larger home with maintenance issues, and/or having to get in the car to go everywhere, travelling to see people becomes a barrier to investing that time.  Again, contributing to raised stress levels. Other benefits include the distribution and control of items contained within the house, again this benefit correlates to lowering stress levels.  First hand research shows where seniors are in control of this process, the practice is far more enjoyable and frees the burden of constantly looking and being reminded of all those items around you. To find out more about how to shift your mindset about these benefits, click here. RIGHTSIZE YOUR HOME ONLINE COURSE : PART 1 Shifting Your Mindset Understanding The RIGHT TIME, Moving Roadblocks, And How To Be READY For Your DOWNSIZE This online course for empty nesters is designed as the first step of a 3-part program focusing on improving your mindset and can be completed independently or as a pre-requisite to Part 2 and Part 3 for the full ‘Rightsize Your Home’ program. Rightsize Your Home Online Course Part 1: Shifting Your Mindset will help you understand where you are currently at and help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. Also, you will begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! We invite you to try this online course, click below now. TRY THE FREE LESSONS TODAY
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    5 mins
  • Myths and Facts About Downsizing

    Myths and Facts About Downsizing
    Nov 5 2021
    What are the myths and facts about downsizing? Listen to Belinda Woolrych as she discusses this interesting topic for empty nesters.  Myth #1: Downsizing is for old people. Fact - In order to get more fun out of a downsize, my extensive research proves you can be as young as you feel! (No really) Downsizing should be a strong consideration for anyone whose kids have finished their exams and potentially Yr 1 at uni! Top Tip - book a meeting with your financial planner and get cracking organising. You will have some plans to put in place so please talk about it YEARS before you were expecting to! Myth #2: Downsizing is overwhelming Fact - It can be, if you let it, I have seen many downsizers in this situation. They do all tell me however, that they wish they had not have worried so much when it was all done. With careful planning and consideration of the full position, with the right people helping you, it will not be overwhelming. Shifting Your Mindset is designed to help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. You will also begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! Myth #3: I can’t afford to downsize Fact - You can afford it, with the right advice and the right people helping you. It may be that it is more expensive if you want to downsize to the golden triangle near the beach in your dreams. Getting the right people to advise on accurate property prices and off-market opportunities, you can afford to downsize. Myth #4: I’m too young to downsize Fact - Refer to Myth #1! Myth #5: I have nowhere to go Fact - Yes you do! There is always somewhere to go, and DO NOT let it stop you from starting to walk along the preparation road.. In fact it is more important for you to start working on your downsizing and decluttering before you have any next home locked in, so you don’t feel under pressure. Once you are decluttered and your property is looking fabulous then you are free to fall in love with the next home! RIGHTSIZE YOUR HOME ONLINE COURSE : PART 1 Shifting Your Mindset Understanding The RIGHT TIME, Moving Roadblocks, And How To Be READY For Your DOWNSIZE This online course for empty nesters is designed as the first step of a 3-part program focusing on improving your mindset and can be completed independently or as a pre-requisite to Part 2 and Part 3 for the full ‘Rightsize Your Home’ program. Rightsize Your Home Online Course Part 1: Shifting Your Mindset will help you understand where you are currently at and help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. Also, you will begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! We invite you to try this online course, click below now. TRY THE FREE LESSONS TODAY
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    7 mins
  • 10 Tips You Need to Know About Downsizing

    10 Tips You Need to Know About Downsizing
    Oct 21 2021
    There are 10 tips you need to know about downsizing and I'm happy to share them with you. Watch here:  Tip 1: Start way before you start!  Downsizing is a process that can take months of planning Remember you can’t build Rome in a day.  Downsizing takes careful planning and preparation to do a great job of it.  So start thinking early and ensure you’re making moves long before you actually ‘move’! Tip 2: You don’t need to know where you are going before you start the downsize It’s helpful to not to know, then you don’t feel pressured.  However you can imagine the size and the scale of what you want to live in, so plan for that.  Then once you are ready to sell or lease your current home, you are free to fall in love with the next one! Tip 3: Downsizing is your choice, no one else's!  You must however take care of yourself and keep yourself safe It’s great to control the process, but remember if people are worried about you then they are going to be talking about it.  So listen to them for safety, and stay in control - back to point 1….. Start way before you start! Tip 4: Don’t do it alone, get help downsizing Simple - get help (proper help).  Maybe you can return the favour and help a friend of yours too? Tip 5: Dare to dream, downsizing will be better than you think Downsizing can be fun, and ALL the contributors to my book say the same - read it to believe it! Tip 6: Successful downsizing takes ‘mind over matter’ Start with the mindset and you will sail through the waters.  You can understand more at www.rightsizeyourhome.com.au Tip 7: It’s never too late to downsize If you’re worried it’s too late, its not, just do it! Tip 8: It’s never too early to downsize If you’re worried it’s too early, it’s not, just do it! Tip 9: Reward yourself on the downsizing journey Think of all the things you love to spoil yourself and roster them in with your hard work. Tip 10: You can do it!   RIGHTSIZE YOUR HOME ONLINE COURSE : PART 1 Shifting Your Mindset Understanding The RIGHT TIME, Moving Roadblocks, And How To Be READY For Your DOWNSIZE This online course for empty nesters is designed as the first step of a 3-part program focusing on improving your mindset and can be completed independently or as a pre-requisite to Part 2 and Part 3 for the full ‘Rightsize Your Home’ program. Rightsize Your Home Online Course Part 1: Shifting Your Mindset will help you understand where you are currently at and help you move through any overwhelming thoughts that may be stopping you from moving forward. Also, you will begin to plan and feel more excited about your next chapter! We invite you to try this online course, click below now. TRY THE FREE LESSONS TODAY
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    7 mins