Fearless Downsizing - How Boomers Are Taking Control Of Their Futures
02/01/21 • 33 min
Are you a boomer in the process of selling your home? Or a family member helping an elderly parent downsize and transition into a new chapter of their life?
Then this episode is for you!
My guest Vivien Sharon is a real estate professional and the author of The Boomer's 7‐Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom, which shares key strategies and methods for transitioning to a joyful, downsized life.
50% of Vivien’s business today is the boomer and senior market. As a highly-trained transition specialist, she understands that most of her clients are fearful of change — and aren't sure where or how to begin.
Luckily, Vivien has literally written the book on this!
Houses owned by people aged 55+ often have special needs in terms of decluttering. The family home is often overwhelmed by clutter, with basements and offices being particular hot spots. Old clothing, children’s toys, and paperwork are just a few of the things that tend to build up, and this type of clutter makes it a lot harder to impress prospective buyers.
Often, these homes could also use a refresh in terms of flooring, fixtures, or cabinets, if the owners haven’t already updated it. (This can greatly affect a home’s value and ability to sell at its asking price.)
There are three different levels of staging to choose from when preparing for viewings, and the level chosen can have a big effect on the home’s perceived value.
If you’re interested in learning more about pricing, marketing, and showing your home (as well as what fees to budget for), Vivien is sharing everything you need to know!
In this episode, we’ll also explore:
- The 3 different types of staging & how much value staging your home can potentially add to a sale
- The current state of real estate in the pandemic era — what is hot and what isn’t
- Whether spring is still the best time to list your home for sale
About Vivien Sharon
Vivien Sharon is a real estate professional and the author of the free e-book The Boomer's 7‐Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom, which shares key strategies and methods for transitioning to a joyful, downsized life.
Highlights:
- 00:43 Introducing Vivien Sharon
- 03:23 Downsizing when 55+
- 06:03 First steps
- 07:53 Senior real estate specialization
- 10:31 To stage or not to stage?
- 14:28 The current state of the market
- 17:01 Breaking down decluttering
- 18:33 Navigating the fear of change
- 20:44 The importance of pricing & marketing
- 23:56 Costs to expect
- 24:55 How many months of lead time needed?
- 26:04 The best time to list a home
- 27:05 Vivien’s experience
- 30:28 Vivien’s big takeaway
Links:
Vivien Sharon
https://www.viviensharon.com
The Boomer's 7‐Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom
https://www.viviensharon.com/book
The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom
https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom
Work with me
https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me
Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @meli
Work with me:
Follow me on:
IG: @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa
Are you a boomer in the process of selling your home? Or a family member helping an elderly parent downsize and transition into a new chapter of their life?
Then this episode is for you!
My guest Vivien Sharon is a real estate professional and the author of The Boomer's 7‐Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom, which shares key strategies and methods for transitioning to a joyful, downsized life.
50% of Vivien’s business today is the boomer and senior market. As a highly-trained transition specialist, she understands that most of her clients are fearful of change — and aren't sure where or how to begin.
Luckily, Vivien has literally written the book on this!
Houses owned by people aged 55+ often have special needs in terms of decluttering. The family home is often overwhelmed by clutter, with basements and offices being particular hot spots. Old clothing, children’s toys, and paperwork are just a few of the things that tend to build up, and this type of clutter makes it a lot harder to impress prospective buyers.
Often, these homes could also use a refresh in terms of flooring, fixtures, or cabinets, if the owners haven’t already updated it. (This can greatly affect a home’s value and ability to sell at its asking price.)
There are three different levels of staging to choose from when preparing for viewings, and the level chosen can have a big effect on the home’s perceived value.
If you’re interested in learning more about pricing, marketing, and showing your home (as well as what fees to budget for), Vivien is sharing everything you need to know!
In this episode, we’ll also explore:
- The 3 different types of staging & how much value staging your home can potentially add to a sale
- The current state of real estate in the pandemic era — what is hot and what isn’t
- Whether spring is still the best time to list your home for sale
About Vivien Sharon
Vivien Sharon is a real estate professional and the author of the free e-book The Boomer's 7‐Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom, which shares key strategies and methods for transitioning to a joyful, downsized life.
Highlights:
- 00:43 Introducing Vivien Sharon
- 03:23 Downsizing when 55+
- 06:03 First steps
- 07:53 Senior real estate specialization
- 10:31 To stage or not to stage?
- 14:28 The current state of the market
- 17:01 Breaking down decluttering
- 18:33 Navigating the fear of change
- 20:44 The importance of pricing & marketing
- 23:56 Costs to expect
- 24:55 How many months of lead time needed?
- 26:04 The best time to list a home
- 27:05 Vivien’s experience
- 30:28 Vivien’s big takeaway
Links:
Vivien Sharon
https://www.viviensharon.com
The Boomer's 7‐Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom
https://www.viviensharon.com/book
The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom
https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom
Work with me
https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me
Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @meli
Work with me:
Follow me on:
IG: @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa
Previous Episode
How To Be Present With Your Money
Increasing your revenue is great, but it shouldn’t be your only goal. Not by a long shot!
Planning ahead and finding ways to reduce expenses are just as important.
My guest Eowyn Levene is a money coach and the host of the Creatives Do Money podcast. She’s found that many of her clients come to her with the idea that her coaching is all about helping them make more money.
They soon realize that business finances are about so much more than increasing revenue.
Often, they can tap into unexpected levels of financial freedom — without earning a single dollar more in revenue!
It’s so important to figure out how to manage your finances at the beginning of your business journey, because guess what? Money problems scale. Doubling your revenue won’t solve your budgeting issues. You may find that, as you grow, so do your money leaks. This means that you’ll be making far less profit than you think!
So, how do we spend less money?
Many businesses go overboard with marketing expenses, targeting too large an audience rather than honing in on their ideal targets. Remember, there are a lot of ways that you can market your business without spending a lot of money!
Start-up costs are another issue that pops up as we embark upon our entrepreneurial journey. Many entrepreneurs tend to rack up credit card debt investing in different platforms, programs, leases, coaches, subscriptions, or supplies.
Seductive marketing messages can convince us that we absolutely need the latest workshop, incubator, or technology to run our business successfully, but often these offerings lead to unnecessary debt. It’s important to really weigh the benefits when making these kinds of decisions — and planning ahead is incredibly important.
In this episode, we’ll explore:
- How to figure out which start-up costs are necessary
- The most common emotional blocks when it comes to managing money
- Effective marketing techniques that don’t a lot of money
About Eowyn Levene
Eowyn Levene is a money coach at Plum Tree Money and the host of the Creatives Do Money podcast. She helps creatives, artists, and healers master their money . She is also the owner and sole practitioner at Living Link Massage Therapy, an independent studio.
Highlights:
- 00:42 Introducing Eowyn Levene
- 05:31 Financial literacy & self-employed creatives
- 09:12 It’s about more than just making more money
- 10:27 Money & emotions
- 11:16 Eowyn’s biggest client transformations
- 12:08 Money management problems scale
- 13:15 Common money mismanagement habits
- 14:47 Staying present while undergoing challenges
- 16:09 Eowyn’s biggest money lesson
- 18:34 The perils of start-up spending
- 21:00 Marketing without spend
- 22:43 Eowyn’s takeaway
Links:
Plum Tree Money / Creatives Do Money podcast
https://plumtreemoney.com
https://livinglinkmassagetherapy.com
The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom
https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom
Work with me
https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me
Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on T
Work with me:
Follow me on:
IG: @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa
Next Episode
How To Hire A Trustworthy Bookkeeper
“A bookkeeper is the first line of a company’s finance team.”
— Melissa Houston
One of the most common questions I’m asked is: how do I find the right bookkeeper for my business?
Another common question: what exactly will having a bookkeeper DO for my business?
Many entrepreneurs make the decision to keep their books themselves, but I believe that working with a skilled bookkeeper is invaluable — particularly as you grow and scale.
Business owners often hesitate to take on the expense of hiring a bookkeeper, but the truth is that having accurate, well-kept books will SAVE you money at the end of the year.
If your books are incomplete, inaccurate, or disorganized, your tax accountant will need to spend time fixing your numbers.
Let me tell you, these corrections will cost you far more money than paying a skilled bookkeeper would!
Not only are you paying a tax accountant their expensive hourly fee to correct these errors, but it takes much longer to repair your books than it would to input your numbers accurately the first time.
Bookkeepers have the knowledge of how each transaction should be recorded and understand the generally accepted accounting principles (also known as GAAP).
Skilled bookkeepers know how to deal with industry-specific transactions. Remember, this is their zone of genius, and having them take care of the numbers allows you to focus on your own zone of genius — building up your business!
Finding a great bookkeeper is a challenge, but in this episode I share all the information you need to make the right choice for your business!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Questions to ask yourself before you look for a bookkeeper— and questions to ask them during the hiring process
- What to keep in mind when deciding whether to hire a self-employed bookkeeper or work with a bookkeeping firm
- How to set key dates, organize timelines, and communicate expectations clearly
Highlights:
- 01:29 The cost of bookkeeper errors
- 02:49 Keep an audit trail
- 03:27 Why hire a bookkeeper?
- 05:11 Sound you DIY?
- 05:32 Hire your perfect bookkeeper
- 07:38 Key dates
- 08:13 Top hiring tips
- 09:29 The power of referrals
- 10:53 The interview process & your requirements
- 12:56 Service example
- 14:13 Communicating expectations
- 15:48 How are you protected?
- 16:27 Bookkeeper pricing
- 16:51 Final thoughts
Links:
The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom
https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom
https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me
Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.
Work with me:
Follow me on:
IG: @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa
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