Downsizing Checklist for Northern Colorado Families
Downsizing goes smoothly when the sequence is right: decide what moves, document what matters, then auction the rest before the closing date, not after.
Start with what is moving, not what is leaving
Make the keep list first: the furniture that fits the new space, daily-use items, and the pieces with family meaning. Everything else becomes auction inventory. Reversing that order is what makes downsizing feel endless.
Do not pre-throw anything away
Costume jewelry, old tools, sewing machines, mid-century glassware, unopened parts bins — these categories surprise families every month at auction. Let us look before anything goes to the curb.
Handle documents and valuables separately
Pull out paperwork, safes, medications, and personal records before cataloging begins. Check pockets, drawers, freezers, and books; cash and jewelry hide in all of them.
Work backward from the closing date
An online auction takes roughly two to three weeks from walkthrough to pickup. Book it early enough that the home is empty before the buyer's walkthrough or the move-in date at the new residence.
- Week 1: keep list, personal documents, free walkthrough
- Week 2: cataloging and photography on site
- Weeks 2-3: online bidding, then one pickup window
Frequently asked questions
- How early should we schedule the auction?
- Three to four weeks before you need the home empty gives comfortable margin.
- Can family take items out first?
- Yes — anything removed before cataloging simply is not listed.
Talk through your estate with us
We serve Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, and all of Northern Colorado. Free walkthrough, no upfront cost, and an online auction built to maximize the total.