For as long as I can remember, real estate in Westchester County has been an insulated market.  More buyers than sellers, and while we’ve taken hits when everyone else did, we bounced back more quickly and more strongly than most. TRH has been helping ready local properties (and their owners!) for market for 20 years.  We see homeowners, used to holding a lot of the cards, are instead facing some harsh and inconvenient truths when they start planning to downsize.

Underestimating the amount of work that needs to be done and how long it will take.

Things you see every day just don’t register after a while. And out of sight, out of mind takes on new meaning when you start emptying closets and cabinets.

• They’re expecting there’s work to be done, but it’s how far off their worst-case imagination is that derails them.
• They just don’t foresee how hard it is, or how long it takes. The choreography of scheduling trades, getting the kids to come and pick up their things, bringing things to donation centers, or even just lugging stuff out to the curb all takes an unexpected and inordinate amount of time.

Overestimating their bandwidth to make all the decisions, as well as their availability and abilities to do the work.

Growing up, was self-sufficiency part of your background? It was central to mine. Most of us were encouraged to figure out and get things done on our own.  And very carefully rethink the idea of bringing in someone else to do things.

• An especially awkward and inconvenient truth, I find many would-be downsizers blur the lines between what is being fiscally responsible vs taking on a personal challenge.
• Sure, you could do the painting or regrouting yourself. But at what cost?  Do you work, or have other obligations?  Does it need to be done well the first time? Would a couple of rainy weekends, a cold, or a grandchild’s birthday party delay or blow your timeline to capture a hot market? And how’s your back?
• Most people find processing the memories part of deciding what to keep, pass on, or toss challenging. Even if you’re not feeling overly sentimental, it’s a tremendously draining experience.
• And even if you’re ready to have it all hauled away,  you really do want to go through everything first: Checking every pocket and box, shaking open each book. I have found thousands of dollars in cash and checks, along with family heirloom-level jewelry in the damnedest places.

Thinking quick help is a phone call away.

Perhaps the hardest and most inconvenient truth I’ve seen downsizers face is that none of the skilled trades are sitting around waiting for their phone to ring. Forget the national economic reports on the nightly news. The reality is that Westchester County’s trade community is thriving.  The good ones always do, but even the meh companies are booking weeks out.

• The painter you got a quote from in February? The window washer you thought about calling in March? Busy, and very busy. Ditto for everyone from the carpenters you needed to fix the deck to the junk removal companies and landscapers, to appliance repair and deep-cleaning firms.