Deirdre Sauvage
Ca. DRE # 00847381
dsauvage@apr.com
For many sellers, the most challenging aspect of selling a home is deciding what to do with unwanted items. Pre-sale preparation and moving typically involve cleaning closets and donating or selling items that are no longer wanted. There are many donation options available on the San Francisco Peninsula including:Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Career Closet, and The Costume Bank in Los Altos Ca. to name but a few.
For those pet lovers out there: many local pet rescue groups accept donations . One example is the Peninsula Humane Society’s Pick Of The Litter thrift store located in Burlingame.
For more valuable items, sellers may want to consider Consignment Shops or full service Estate Sale companies. Typically these shops and services charge a percentage of the gross proceeds.
There are numerous organizations and services available to help with both donations and the sale of items that are no longer wanted. Many sellers like to focus on charitable organizations they have supported through the years for their donations. Often the best way to get started is with a simple list . It is important to check for references before placing items for sale or donation!
For those senior sellers needing more assistance there are professional move consultants who can manage the entire process.
A special thanks to Jean Cary Consulting for allowing me to post the following article:
Adapting Your Dog For Service Work
Recovery from a stroke, trauma, surgery or dealing with a progressive disease can leave you with adiminished physical capacity. After returning home from rehabilitation, everyday activities may be daunting, and you may require assistance to prevent further injuries. If you have a compromised sense of balance or are using a walker, bending over to retrieve objects on the floor may cause you to fall. The simple task of reaching the mail or keys may not be possible if you are sitting in a wheelchair. Locating missing items (remote control for T. V. or cell phone) may also be difficult if you have a memory deficit or are just too weak to wander around the house. If you live alone and have decreased hearing acuity, you may not hear the doorbell or the phone ringing.
The companionship of your dog is a huge asset for recovering from an illness, coping with depression and promoting socialization. Often your dog will provide you with the courage you need to get out of your house and re-enter the world. Why not adapt your own companion animal for service work and foster your independence?
A dog that is well trained with the basic obedience commands of “sit”, “stay”, “down” and “come” can be taught the behaviors that you require for assistance. Dogs can be taught to find and retrieve a variety of objects, to help with dressing (i.e. by tugging socks) and to alert you to the sound of the doorbell, the smoke detector or the telephone. Large breed dogs can assist their owners to rise from a seated position or to negotiate stairs by providing a platform for balance. You will benefit from the dog’s assistance; and your dog will find the mental challenge to be a healthy outlet for his energy. In addition to increasing your independence, teaching service skills to your dog will strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Having a dog that can find and retrieve your glasses may be convenient, but teaching your Read more
Safety Advantages with Home Automation
Rapid advances in technology and stiff competition between manufacturers of home automation systems have created a boon for homeowners. Wireless systems that communicate through radio waves or infrared technology have fallen in price by twenty-five to fifty per cent the past five years. Residential customers can now have burglar alarms, surveillance systems, smart meters for energy saving modes, motorized window shades and remote lighting controls installed without cutting into the drywall to rewire. Home automation systems maximize the energy efficiency of a home, reducing utility bills and enhancing the safety of the occupants.
The new simplified control panel uses large easy-to-read icons which are displayed on a handheld universal remote control, a T.V. or computer screen, an iPad®, a smart phone or a wall switch. With one integrated system “wall clutter” is reduced. The elimination of floor cables for the T. V., computer and printer means less chance of tripping. Clients can now control all the lights, window coverings, audiovisual equipment, and temperature from the comfort of their recliner or bed with a simple single remote control. Read more
Over the last several years I have become increasingly aware of the unique services required by my downsizing and senior sellers. The decision to sell the family home or downsize to a smaller living space is fraught with logistical and emotional decisions. Linda Murphy (DRE 00863753) and I have teamed up so that we can provide concierge level “high touch” services for our downsizing clients and their families.
Our unique services are based upon our extensive experience with downsizing clients, senior sellers and trustees. Whether you are selling the family home or deciding to simplify your life style, we are here to help. Read more
As more and more people begin to live well into their nineties, the decision to stay in the family home or downsize to assisted living or a smaller home becomes a pressing issue for adult children who often live miles away from Mom and Dad and are worried that basic needs such as medical appointments and meals are not being met. Across the nation there is a growing Village Movement for Seniors which aims to keep seniors in their homes and local communities .
In San Mateo County California there are numerous Assisted Living and Care options if living at home no longer becomes a workable alternative. It is important to correctly evaluate what level of care is required and try to find the most suitable environment. Aging in Place is clearly the preference for most seniors and their families so the decision to enter Assisted Living and move from the family home is not always easy to make.
For many sellers who have lived in their home for a long period of time , the most difficult aspect of downsizing or preparing a home for sale is the disposal of personal possessions that either will not fit in a smaller space or are no longer wanted. Whether it is headed to a consignment store, sold to an antique dealer, marketed through a garage sale, given to a local charity or simply disposed of …the decision of how to handle each item, what to keep and not to keep and how to handle a life’s accumulation of memories can be both physically and emotionally exhausting. Read more
