National Seniors – Adelaide East Branch Event

On October 16, I was invited by Gary Byron (pictured right) Vice President of  National 

Seniors Australia, Adelaide East Branch to speak at their monthly members’  meeting. 

The topic was about Downsizing and Estate Clearances. 

It was an interactive, hour long talk in which I gave the 40+ attendees many  effective and 

ready-to-use tips, information, inspiration and anecdotes related to  downsizing or needing 

to clear a home or Estate of unwanted items. 

Some of the key points I focussed on were: 

• It’s OK to have amassed a lifetime of belongings, you’ve earned that. But ask

yourself, “how much stuff is enough that I’ll be comfortable or happy”? As you  get 

older, having people around makes you more happier than having stuff. 

• People will generally fall in to two sides when it comes to their items – you’re  a 

“keeper” or a “chucker”. So, your personality will often dictate your  willingness, 

ability and time needed to let go. 

• Start making decisions and declutter your home way before any planned  move date 

– and even if you’re not planning to move – otherwise, you may lose control of 

making these decisions and/or need to make them under duress because of  some 

unexpected, and often traumatic, life event. 

• Your items don’t have feelings and you’re in control of them. Your love for, or relationship with a person is not going to change if you decide to let go of a particular item associated with them. 

• You’re not a museum for your adult children’s stuff anymore – give them a  deadline 

to come get it. The same with items you’ve been kindly storing in your home  for 

others. 

• Accept that your children are less likely to want your stuff. Your 12-person,  gold leaf 

Wedgewood dinner set, collection of crystal decanters & glasses and box of  your

Great Aunt’s doilies, for example. 

• Don’t have a garage sale to sell items – or let a random person pick through  your 

stuff. You’ll have all sorts of opportunistic people with alternate motives at  your 

home. Often buying items for way less than their market value. I use auction houses on behalf of my clients. 

• Don’t assume charities will want all or any of your items. They are far more selective these days. 

• How far back dated are the tax records you’re storing at home? Why? The  oldest 

I’ve heard from any audience member is 1958!