Posted 22 February 2022 by
Helen ChristiePurchasing a new home is an incredibly exciting time, but it is also not without its challenges. There are numerous moving parts, and the main focus is ensuring everything falls into place so you can pick up your keys and move into your new home.
The thought of moving home when you have amassed a lifetime of belongings and memories can be daunting. If you are planning to move home later in life, there are several ways Riverstone is helping residents.
Assessing a lifetime of treasured possessions can feel like an insurmountable task. How do you start to work out what to part with and what to keep for sentimental value, as well as from a practical perspective, when your new home is likely to be smaller?
Where do you start? The Senior Move Partnership, which is working with Riverstone and prospective residents, recommends starting as early as possible and take one room at a time. This means you could sort through a drawer or a bedside table one night, and a shelf or a cupboard the next. Taking the time to assess what is important to keep, what could be passed onto family, what could be sold and what could be donated to charity.
Amanda Fyfe, founder of The Senior Move Partnership, comments: “Our aim is to make the moving process as stress- and hassle-free as possible. When helping people to downsize we make sure everyone is able to have sufficient time to evaluate belongings they wish to keep and those they will part with. It is important to us that this process isn’t pressurised and that we take time to understand the sentimental value attached to each piece of furniture, ornaments, and crockery and come up with the right solution for each person.”
Of course, lots of our belongings do have sentimental value, and it is not easy to decide what to give up. But it also isn’t practical to keep everything. A couple of ways to part with meaningful items without losing them entirely is to keep one or two pieces of a 12-piece dinner set, for example. Likewise, for glassware, when 12 matching champagne and wine glasses are no longer necessary think about keeping a couple for special moments.
The other big consideration is furniture. People’s homes have been curated to reflect their tastes and preferences, and it is important these items are taken to your new home as it will help to create a sense of familiarity and ultimately make you feel at home.
Amanda Fyfe adds: “When people choose to move to a Riverstone residence, we will work with them during the purchase process to understand the home they are moving from and the apartment they are moving to, including information on floorplans. This enables us to work out where there is space for existing furniture and belongings and agree where they will be unpacked to on move-in day.”
Once you have decided to part with some belongings, it is very straightforward to arrange for items to be collected by charities. The British Heart Foundation will collect belongings on a chosen day at a convenient time, for example.
There is a lot of admin associated with moving too. Riverstone is alleviating this through a dedicated ‘Move-In’ team, who will introduce themselves to residents at the point of exchange and guide them through the process. The team will tailor the experience to each individual resident, understanding that one person’s experience in the purchasing process won’t be the same as another’s. They will seek to alleviate any pressure, take care of the liaison with the removal company and keep all parties updated on completion dates.
From taking meter readings to setting up new utility accounts and the Wi-Fi and TV, there is a lot to think about and Riverstone will help to ensure nothing gets missed.
The prospect of the actual day can be stressful but working out priorities in terms of unpacking can make this process smoother. Most people like to have at least some functional and recognisable spaces for their first night in a new home. At a Riverstone residence The Senior Move Partnership can work with residents to ensure removal companies prioritise these spaces rather than flitting between rooms. Doing a little bit in each room is a guaranteed way to have no sense of accomplishment or calm by the end of moving day.
Riverstone’s Move-In team will have prepared the apartment in advance too, switching the heating on, setting the time on appliances, stocking the fridge with some essentials and generally ensuring that the first day in a Riverstone residence is a seamless experience. The team will be there for residents beyond moving day too. They will schedule a convenient time to run through the Riverstone resident app, explain how to operate the fixtures and fittings in the apartment and take residents on an orientation of the residence, as well as helping with anything else that might be needed during the first days, and weeks at Riverstone.
Jason Leek, chief executive of Riverstone, comments: “It is important to us that each step on the journey to living at a Riverstone residence is enjoyable and seamless. Our prospective residents at both Riverstone Kensington and Riverstone Fulham are often relocating from family homes in the surrounding area, with a lifetime of possessions. While the distance to relocate may be small, the steps along the way can be the most intimidating prospect. Being able to provide a smoother experience through our Move-In team is invaluable. Plus, with all the unpacking taken care of and some essentials stocked in the fridge residents can start to enjoy The Riverstone Club from the minute they move in, with lunch in our restaurant or a celebratory drink at the bar.”
Riverstone is a provider of exceptional later living for over 65s, with two residences in prime central London. Riverstone Kensington will comprise 190 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and Riverstone Fulham will have 161 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, both welcoming their first residents this year. Central to the Riverstone ethos is enabling residents to live the life they want to live. The well-being strategy is underpinned by the need to nurture mind, body and soul, with a focus on active ways to stay healthy. Riverstone’s partnership with the award-winning The Good Care Group provides residents with access to care should they need it. Alongside the apartments, Riverstone provides the very best in modern amenities and hospitality services. This includes restaurants, screening rooms, espresso bars, libraries, landscaped gardens, swimming pools and fitness studios, incorporating a mix of social and quiet spaces.
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