Waterloo

Downsizing and senior moves in Waterloo

From a full family home in Beechwood to a condo in Uptown or a retirement suite, one crew handles all of it. Free walkthrough and one written price.

Waterloo homes hold a lot

Waterloo's established neighbourhoods are full of large family homes that have had one owner for a very long time. Beechwood, Lakeshore, Lincoln Heights, Westvale, Colonial Acres. Two storey houses with four bedrooms, a formal dining room, a finished basement and a double garage. Many were bought in the seventies and eighties by people who came for the universities or the insurance companies and never left.

What that means for downsizing is volume. These are homes with a dining room set that seats ten, a wall of books in the study, a piano, and a basement where three grown children still have their things. When the move is to a two bedroom condo, most of what is in the house is not coming, and every piece of it needs a decision.

In the older streets around Uptown, the houses are smaller and older, with the narrow stairs and tight doorways that come with a century home. Different problem, same care.

The books, the piano and the kids' boxes

Three things come up on almost every Waterloo job, so here is how we handle them.

Books. A lifetime library is heavy, and it is often the hardest thing for its owner to thin out. We help choose the shelf or two that is coming, and find a good home for the rest.
The piano. It can be moved to the new home, delivered to a family member, or rehomed. We will tell you honestly which is realistic.
The children's things. Boxes of trophies, yearbooks and old bedroom furniture that adult children have been meaning to collect for twenty years. We set them aside, label them, and can deliver them, so they stop being your parent's problem.

Want to talk it through first? Call or text (289) 670-3146, or book a free walkthrough.

Where Waterloo downsizers are going

Uptown condos are a popular landing spot, close to the shops, the park and the LRT. Others move to a bungalow or a townhouse on the edge of the city, or into one of Waterloo's retirement residences. Some leave for a community closer to their children.

For condo and residence moves, we book elevators and move in windows directly with the building and plan the furniture around the real measurements of the new space, so nothing arrives that does not fit.

What we do

We walk the home with you and hand you a written plan and one written price. We sort alongside the person moving and they make the calls. We pack, wrap, move, and set up the new home down to the pictures on the wall. When the old house needs to be emptied and cleaned, we do that as well. One crew, one schedule, one bill.

Items in good condition go to a local registered charity partner with a donation receipt. Valuables can be sold through our auction partner if you choose.

When the family is not in town

A lot of Waterloo families are spread out. The children went away for school or work and settled in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary or further. If that is you, we can carry most of this without you being here. We walk the home, agree the plan by phone, send photos as we go, and deliver the family pieces where they need to go.

Selling the Waterloo house

We work hand in hand with our real estate partner, a local brokerage. We handle the downsizing, they handle the sale, and both run on one plan. When the home is listed with our partner, the transition is included, along with clearing and cleaning the house so it is ready to show.

Questions families ask

Which parts of Waterloo do you cover?

All of Waterloo, including Beechwood, Lakeshore, Lincoln Heights, Westvale, Eastbridge, Colonial Acres, Laurelwood and Uptown.

Can you move a piano?

We will look at it during the walkthrough and tell you what is involved. Upright pianos are usually straightforward. Larger instruments may need a specialist, and if so we arrange it as part of the plan.

Our parents are not ready to let go of much. Is that a problem?

No. It is normal. We work at their pace, start with the easy rooms, and use storage for decisions that are not ready to be made.

Do you charge by the hour?

No. You get one written price after a free walkthrough, before anything starts.