Downsizing Parents Guide | Helping Your Parents Downsize

How to Help Your Parents Rightsize

09.9.21 | Downsizing

When it comes to downsizing–or rightsizing as we like to call it–we see a pretty common denominator with clients. In most cases, they are older, empty nesters who are ready to leave behind their large family home and make some life-changing decisions in order to enjoy their retirement. 

Typically, these clients have been out of the real estate market for years–for some, decades!–and, in many cases, their biggest challenge is how overwhelming everything might seem. 

One of the best resources these clients have on their side is actually their grown children. For many rightsizers, grown children are the ones who are helping to steer the train to get their parents into a better living situation with less hassle and more time to enjoy life. 

If you’re thinking about helping your parents rightsize, or you’re currently in the process of helping them now, keep reading for some helpful insights on how to make a smooth transition. 

The Psychology of Downsizing

As we’ve mentioned in the past, for most people, the actual process of downsizing is not the hardest part. It’s actually the psychological aspect of it. The idea of letting go of your possessions and moving away from a place you’ve called home for so long is really daunting and can be overwhelming, and even scary.

It’s often not as simple as figuring out whether something “sparks joy” as Marie Kondo says. 

For children helping their parents, the key is patience and understanding. Empathize with your parents and let them go through the emotional process of rightsizing at their own pace. This might seem frustrating if they are hesitant, but trust us, if you let them take the wheel here, they will begin to appreciate some of the most exciting and positive psychological aspects of rightsizing. 

This article in Psychology Today does a really good job of outlining some of the positive emotional feelings that often come with rightsizing. Your parents will get the chance to walk down memory lane, declutter their minds, reconnect with friends, make new friends, and finally get excited about their new “less is more” lifestyle. 

Read our Complete Guide to Rightsizing blog right here to learn more about the benefits and practical side of rightsizing. 


Our very own Richard Silver recently rightsized to a smaller home. Read about his experience in this case study:


Start with Decluttering

If your parents have lived in their home for any amount of time, chances are, they have accumulated a ton of belongings. As humans, it’s in our nature to fill the spaces we occupy, so if the home is large, you might feel a little overwhelmed with having to go through everything and decide what stays and what goes. But once you get started, decluttering can feel cathartic!

We recommend taking a systematic approach to decluttering. Work room-by-room and identify the items to keep, sell, donate, and throw away. Sticky Post-It notes are really helpful for this. 

If your parents are planning to move to a smaller home with less floor space, you might need to sell some of their larger furniture in favour of smaller apartment-sized pieces. In addition to resources like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace, you can also host garage sales–if COVID-19 restrictions are not in effect. 

Want to learn more about decluttering? We’ve got a full blog dedicated to the art of living a decluttered life! Read it here.

Consider the Legalities of Helping Your Parents Downsize

In Canada, in order to make financial decisions (ie., sell a home) on behalf of someone else, you would need express permission to act on that person’s behalf. In most cases, this comes in the form of becoming a power of attorney (PoA) representative. It’s quite common for grown children to be PoA to their parents, and when helping your parents downsize, it’s an essential step in making sure you can help them to your best ability. 

If your parents are still able to make decisions for themselves, this is a conversation you should have early on so they can appoint you as their PoA before it becomes a necessity. As PoA, you have a fiduciary responsibility to act in the absolute best interests of your parents. This means keeping accurate records and financial statements. However, as PoA, you have the ability to help facilitate the sale of your parent’s home, sell belongings, and deal with any other items relating to their estate. 

As with everything, before taking any action that involves the law, we recommend speaking with an attorney experienced in family legal dealings. 

Are you ready to help your parents rightsize? Whether you’re helping to sell your family home or find the perfect place for your parents to enjoy their retirement, we can help. Contact us today for everything you need to get started.