Success Story: Downsizing With Confidence
- Kaytlyn Beakhouse
- Feb 11
- 4 min read
How These Edmonton Seniors Navigated Downsizing
After more than 50 years in their family home, Sandra and Neil* were ready for a change. They were looking forward to downsizing into a senior apartment in Edmonton, within the neighbourhood they already knew and loved.
But getting there was another story.
Like many couples in this stage of life, their home and garage held a lifetime of memories and belongings. On top of sorting through it all, they needed to list their home and prepare to move - leaving them feeling overwhelmed!
With a tight timeline to list, sell, pack, and move, and adult children busy with families of their own, they knew help was needed.
That’s when they reached out to Sort & Simple!
What Sandra and Neil Needed Most
Sort & Simple’s purpose was clear: become the anchor point for Sandra and Neil so everything happened smoothly & efficiently, without causing excess stress and strain.
We needed to:
Get the house photo and walk-through ready.
Pack for their move.
Work around real life, including Sandra’s weekly yoga class!
Their Downsizing Plan
From the very beginning, it was clear that Sandra and Neil didn’t need rush to reach their timelines. They just needed a steady, thoughtful path forward.
Their Lead Organizer, Sondi, created a plan with Sandra and Neil to ensure that each deadline would be reached. Like many of our clients, they didn’t need help with everything. Just the pieces that felt overwhelming or too hard to manage on their own!
Having a clear plan and someone to guide it made all the difference.
“I’m so appreciative of the Sort & Simple process with Sondi — I don’t know how we would have coped otherwise.” — Sandra
Preparing Their Home for a Confident Sale
Since getting their home on the market was the priority, Sondi focused first on thoughtful, high-impact listing preparation of the spaces that would make the biggest difference for photos and showings.
That meant:
Decluttering the office and removing furniture so the space could be painted.
Depersonalizing and simplifying key living areas by pre-packing items.
Emptying the basement to highlight it's spaciousness and potential.
LEFT: Starting point. RIGHT: Listing photos.
By starting with the key areas, Sandra and Neil could see real progress without feeling overwhelmed. With these simple steps, they and their wonderful Realtor, Morgan Taylor of Blais Realty, felt confident that the house would show at it's best.
The result? The listing went live after just two weeks of preparation. An offer followed the very next day!
For Sandra and Neil, the quick sale brought immense relief and reassurance. Instead of months of uncertainty, now they could go ahead with their moving preparation knowing the first major step was complete.
“Kaytlyn and her team helped my clients downsize their family home of over 50 years, starting with thoughtful decluttering and listing prep. From there, they guided them through packing and moving with clear, kind support every step of the way .” — Morgan Taylor, Blais Realty
Moving and Packing Preparation
With their house sold, Sandra and Neil could turn their attention to preparing for the move to their apartment in four weeks.
Sondi continued to support them through decluttering and downsizing the remaining spaces in the house, including the garage, where Organizers Jamie, Judith, and Kepler joined in to help make a big job feel more manageable. (Thanks team!)
Donation pickups were coordinated with Find, SEESA and other local partners, ensuring items were thoughtfully rehomed rather than sent to the landfill. So Sandra and Neil could continue living comfortably in their home right up until move day, packing was done strategically, finishing with a team packing day right before the move.
Once moving day arrived, everything was ready! Because of all the preparation, Sandra & Neil and their daughter were able to easily manage moving day on their own with YEG Movers! There was no last-minute panic about details because nothing had been overlooked. They got the smooth and easy moving experience they were hoping for!
A Happy Senior Move in Edmonton
A week later, we visited Sandra and Neil in their new apartment and were met with smiles and unpacked boxes! They were already settling in, decorating, and enjoying their new space just a block from their longtime home.
This entire transition—from the first session to move-in day—took just two months. We were so honoured to get to work alongside such kind and wonderful people, and to see them embrace their next chapter!
*Names have been changed.
If you've been trying to downsize or move on your own, but haven't made progress, reach out to our team for a Complimentary Consultation. We'd love to help you reach your downsizing goals!
About the Author
Kaytlyn Beakhouse is the founder of Sort & Simple Professional Organizing, specializing in compassionate support for seniors and families navigating downsizing, estate organizing, and major life transitions. With a passion for simplifying the overwhelming, her team helps clients declutter confidently and settle into their next chapter with ease!
Contact Sort & Simple today!
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