Moving into an apartment in a community living setting usually means selecting an apartment by the number of bedrooms and/or bathrooms needed. Once there, residents can decorate as they wish, with some limitations, but the apartments are usually fairly basic.
TLS has helped those moving to communities with many and varied services including helping to sort belongings, creating a floor plan to determine what currently owned furniture and décor will nicely fit into the new home and what new items may be needed and the full set-up of the new home. Most often, Transitions Liquidation is called upon to work with their clients step-by-step from initial consultation to the final move-in and unpacking. Our carefully vetted approach to completing less stressful transitions has been developed over many years and thousands of client situations.
A New Trend
Lately, however, we have been seeing a new trend that includes a younger set of clientele that is more able bodied and has, perhaps, already completed an interim downsize move from a large home to something that is smaller in size and upkeep. These clients can more fully participate in the physical aspect of the downsizing process and want to take on tasks ndependently. They are excited about their upcoming move and want to share in the process of creating their new home.
This can mean working together on small details – like needing to purchase a smaller sofa, dining table and chairs, or requiring a different size bed and associated bedding. It oftentimes means that clients are wanting a partner, an advisor in what colors work well together. What new rug pattern will complement the furniture I’m moving with me? What lighting fixtures will personalize my space and give it a more up-to-date, trendy look?
The second difference is that some of these clients want to make big changes in their new space. Some require a larger great room, so they want to take down a wall and expand the area. They may want to enlarge the kitchen to incorporate an “eat-in” area or change the tub to a shower for easier access. Others may want all new appliances or built-in wall units. These architectural changes, of course, need to be approved by the community. They require a lot more planning, consulting and project management along with a trusted contractor partner to handle renovations or improvements that are outside the scope of the community maintenance department based on skill set and/or occupancy deadlines.
Here is a case study about one couple who needed assistance and a proven framework for their move but wanted to be active participants in decisions and implementation. In an upcoming newsletter, we’ll write about an extraordinary renovation of a community living apartment for another of our clients.
David and Ruth
Transitions Liquidation recently worked with David and Ruth, a youngish couple in their mid-70s who contracted with NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham MA. They were moving to larger two-bedroom cottage with 2 ½ baths, a den, and a completely finished basement. We consulted with them and California Closets to design and create a 25’ long built-in wall unit to allow the finished basement to serve as a TV room/den when their extended family visited.
The changes also included built-in desks for their two offices and configuring the five closet areas – two entry closets, an office closet, one walk-in closet, and pantry – to better accommodate their needs. Everything was planned in detail from the shelves and cabinets to the storage over the desk.
David and Ruth did their own initial floor plan and then Transitions Liquidation made suggestions to avoid problems with access. We researched and gave suggestions for a new kitchen table and chairs, colors for paint, and new bedding and towels. TLS did the legwork and research, and David and Ruth happily went shopping.
Logistics can get complicated.
Transitions Liquidation was asked to help with the family distribution logistics as part of the move days. David and Ruth have three sons, two of whom wanted some family memorabilia and furnishings. TLS arranged for the movers to make three stops – one stop to each of two sons with the belongings they wanted including internal moving of current furniture to make room for rugs and the “new” furniture, and one to a self-storage unit. Marie and her staff physically parsed out the items, making sure all were well marked and prepared for the mover. They determined how big a storage unit was needed and arranged for all the deliveries. David and Ruth had worked with their sons on the decisions and compiled the lists.
On moving days TLS was there to direct the movers and make necessary tweaks to the floor plan for better flow. Some important family pieces didn’t have specific homes at the new location. For example, they had apprentice toolchests that they wanted to retain but had no idea where to put them. Marie and her staff brainstormed and suggested the idea of using them as end tables or using one as a table for the computer printer! A highly creative solution to a challenging request. It is our goal to always strive to reuse items that our clients want to keep.
Making the house a home.
We also want to personalize the new home so that it reflects the personality of its residents. David was an extraordinary needlepoint artist. He had several pillows that he had made but the couple had a tough time figuring out where to use these pillows … where their colors would complement their surroundings. TLS advised on which pillows would look best in the living room or the bedrooms or den. Dave and Ruth brought an ivory rug with them from their former home, but in their new surroundings, the rug had a “dingy” cast that did not go well with the new sofa or a favorite chair that they had re-purposed from another room. TLS researched new rugs, sized to fit, and made suggestions for colors, patterns, and where to shop.
Often, our clients ask for validation for decisions they are not entirely comfortable with. They often recognize that “something just isn’t right,” but they don’t know what it is. Once they have input and a direction, they can execute the plan. They are no different than many of us. Sent off on our own, we may have trouble deciding on a color or pattern; we may even get stuck. Having help sorting through a multitude of choices is the secret to an efficient and successful move.
This trend of clients wanting to participate more in the transition process, requires some tweaks to our standard work flow and a far greater understanding and tracking of which actions the clients will be taking on and which TLS will be completing….and when to be sure the entire set of work is completed in time to meet deadlines for the move.
If you are planning a move and want to actively participate in the tasks involved but would love to have assistance with some, call Marie at Transitions Liquidation Services – 617-513-0433 – or email her. She will be happy to consult with you to decide how the myriad of tasks can be shared.