How Do I Prepare My Home for Showings When Stairs and Lifting Are Hard for Me?

How do I prepare my home for showings in Orange County when stairs and lifting are hard for me? Start by planning so the physical work falls on other hands, not yours.

I'm Jeanette Nelson, a REALTOR® with Jeanette Nelson Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty, serving Orange County, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, and surrounding areas. For many families, downsizing is a life transition, not just a sale, and getting the home ready should never put your health at risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than one out of four older people falls each year, and that falling once doubles the chance of falling again. Carrying boxes on stairs or climbing on a step stool to clean is exactly the kind of task to hand off.

You don't have to do this alone. Options include:

• Family and friends. Give each person one clear job, like the garage, the guest room or the hall closet.
• Movers and haulers. Many will remove furniture or boxes in a single trip.
• Estate sale or organizing help. Useful when there are decades of belongings to sort.
• A senior move manager. See what does a senior move manager do, and do we need one.
• County resources. The Orange County Office on Aging runs an Information and Assistance line for older adults and caregivers at (714) 480-6450 or toll-free (800) 510-2020, weekdays. It offers free referrals to service providers across the county.

For sorting a lifetime of things, see what do I do with 40 years of belongings before I move.

Focus on what buyers notice most, and let helpers handle anything heavy:

• Clear the floors and paths. Fewer items on the floor looks better and is safer for you and for visitors.
• Pack the upstairs first, with help, so you rarely need to go up once showings begin.
• Store, don't stack. Ask helpers to move extra items to a storage unit or a family member's garage, not into piles in a closet.
• Brighten the rooms. Have someone replace dim bulbs and open blinds. Bright rooms feel bigger.
• Clean deeply once. A professional cleaning before photos saves you hours of scrubbing.

Make it simple enough to do in a few minutes:

1. Live on one floor if you can. Set up the items you use daily on the main level.
2. Keep a "quick tidy" basket for mail, medicines and personal items. Put it in a cabinet before you leave.
3. Make a short checklist: lights on, blinds open, counters clear, pets and valuables secured.
4. Keep medications and private papers out of sight and locked away.

You can set showing windows that work for you, such as certain days or times, with notice ahead. Talk with your agent about how much notice you need to get ready and leave comfortably. Many sellers plan a regular spot to go during showings, like a family member's home, a café or a senior center.

The California Department of Real Estate reference book notes that once you're in contract, the seller makes the property available for the buyer's investigations, with utilities on. Plan for those visits too, and ask for them to be grouped when possible.

If you'd rather move first, some sellers arrange to move before the home goes on the market, or rent back for a short time after closing. See can I sell my house and rent it back for a few months while I move and how do I plan moving day when I'm downsizing.

If you're thinking about downsizing and want a plan that protects your health and your time, I'd love to have a private planning conversation with your family. Learn more about downsizing. Call or text me at 714.366.8575 | DRE: 01397168, or contact me.