Downsizing is rarely about square footage. It is about everything inside the house and what it means to you. In episode 36, Katy and I sat down with Caitlin Rogers of Good Move Downsizing to talk about how people get through it without regret.
One idea from Caitlin stuck with both of us: the museum of self. Over the years, a home turns into a display of who we were. The kids' artwork, the dishes from a parent, the furniture from the first house. None of that is bad. But when it is time to move, every item can feel like a piece of your story, and that is why sorting feels so heavy.
Caitlin breaks it down with four simple choices for each item: keep, donate, sell, or decline. Decline is the one most people miss. It means a family member is allowed to say no thanks to something, and that is okay. Giving people that option takes a lot of guilt out of the process.
We also talked honestly about what things are worth. Many heirlooms and older furniture pieces mean far more to the family than to the market. Knowing that early saves frustration later, and it frees you to keep the items you truly love instead of hoping they will sell for a big number.
The best way to start is small. One drawer. One closet. Small wins build momentum, and momentum is what gets a whole house done. Caitlin sees this every week. People who start small and keep going finish with far less stress than people who wait for one giant weekend.
For older adults, and for families moving a parent after a loss or a health change, this work needs patience. Caitlin's team leads with compassion, and it shows. The goal is a move that feels respectful, not rushed.
From our side as Realtors, this ties right into selling. When the downsizing plan starts before the listing plan, the home is easier to prepare, show, and sell. Whether you live in Mound, around Lake Minnetonka, or anywhere in the west metro, getting the sorting started early makes every next step easier.
Key takeaways
- Downsizing is hard mostly because of emotion, not logistics. Caitlin Rogers calls a long-time home a "museum of self."
- Sort every item into one of four choices: keep, donate, sell, or decline.
- "Decline" lets family members say no to inherited items without guilt.
- Most heirlooms and older furniture are worth more to the family than on the resale market.
- Start with one small space, like a drawer or closet, to build momentum.
- Senior moves after grief or a health change go better with patience and outside help.
- Starting to downsize before listing makes a home easier to prepare and sell.