Once the kids have left home and retirement looms, the question of whether to downsize to a smaller house or condo is likely to arise.

While downsizing can be a difficult new chapter to embrace, there are many upsides to not living large. From minimal maintenance and less rooms to clean to having more money to travel or living closer to family, less space is becoming ‘the place’ for baby boomers.

And rather than leave the suburbs behind and move into lofts or condos downtown, many are choosing to reside in ‘the Valley,’ which boasts great shopping, farmer’s market, fabulous wineries, beautiful parklands and a thriving arts community.

This was evident last Tuesday, as men and women from all over the Fraser Valley packed into the Murrayville House show room and sales centre in Langley for a free downsizing essentials workshop. Not a single empty seat remained, which means an encore presentation is likely to happen later this month.

The packed event was led by downsizing experts Susan Borax and Heather Knittel, of Good Riddance Professional Organizing Solutions, a dynamic duo who put on quite the unorthodox and engaging presentation about downsizing and home staging — one that adapted classics from Broadway Shows and standards from the American songbook into musical remedies for the organizationally challenged.

Through their clever parodies, they turned the spotlight on procrastination techniques, clutter, the losing battle with paper and the struggle people have with looking for things they just had a minute ago.

While it’s not easy to bid farewell to one’s possessions, especially those with sentimental value, it’s not always possible to keep every knick-knack and memento when downsizing, according to Borax and Knittel, whose clients range from individuals who have lived in their homes for 30 years or more, finding they must move to retirement communities to those busy with young families and hectic schedules.

“Everyone has accumulated junk they need like a hole in the head. We call this stuff CRUD (Completely Ridiculous Useless Debris). These 101 household items stand between you and a happy home life.”

CRUD IDENTIFIERS

~courtesy of Good Riddance Organizing Solutions

• Something that seemed important but now is laughable, such as an award for perfect attendance at school or a Cub Scout badge for carving a wooden car.
• Anything that needs to be assembled but never was.
• Any project you started but never completed, such as baby booties for your daughter who received her MBA this year.
• Gadgets that don’t work and require batteries to operate.
• Gifts you bought but neglected to give.
• Presents you received but wouldn’t be caught dead wearing or displaying in your home.
• Impulse purchases bought on the shopping channel during a bout of depression that you’ve never shown to anyone.
• Any box you were afraid to open. Items that require hand-washing, ironing, refinishing or reupholstering.
• Doilies.

In addition to the presentation, there was the opportunity to explore the gorgeous show home. Every detail has been thoughtfully designed, from the elegant exterior and lush landscaping to the quality fixtures and superior level of finishing, including solid quartz countertops. Two bedroom condos start at just $931.03 per month.

All participants at the event received a free copy of the the book Good Riddance — Showing Clutter the Door (a $14.95 value). ValleyMom.ca was also given a copy to give away to one lucky reader.

To win a copy for yourself, simply tell us below in the comment section one ‘CRUD IDENTIFIER.’ We’ll draw a winner at random on April 1, 2015. You must be 18+ to enter.

Murrayville House is a boutique, 92-unit condominium property in Langley’s heritage neighbourhood of Upper Murrayville. Prices for the homes start in the low $200,000 range. One year of free Internet and Optik TV is currently available for homebuyers. The Murrayville House Show Home and Sales Centre is open from 12 noon to 5 p.m. (except Friday), at 220-230 22196 50^th Avenue, in Langley. Langley-based Newmark Group, headed by Mark Chandler, is the developer and builder of Murrayville House.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post

Valley Mom