As always, our mission at Buckelew Realty Group is to take the overwhelm out of downsizing and selling a home.
More specifically, it’s about making the entire relocation process easier and more manageable.
We realized at some point, however, that even though people knew that we could help them with a lot of tasks associated with preparing for a move, they were reluctant to call on us until right before they were 100% ready to go.
This reluctance created a problem in some cases. For one, when people did finally call, they had done things that were simply not necessary.
Maybe they replaced an appliance that was fine the way it was, or they painted rooms that didn’t need to be painted.
In all instances the effort was well-intended, but didn’t always result in a positive return on investment of time or money.
Additionally, people may have tried to do various tasks on their own and were now simply exhausted.
If they had contacted us sooner, we could have either provided support or advised them of more efficient ways to handle certain projects.
Power in Numbers
Our response to this “do-it-yourself at all costs” mentality was establishing a community of like-minded and learning-based people who want to be prepared before making the “big move.”
We’re a small network providing both professional and peer support. Members champion each other as they make downsizing decisions and take steps toward achieving their relocation goals.
As professionals, we guide members in following best practices, making the process easier rather than harder!
Oklahoma Downsizers Club - Founded in 2021
Martha Pendleton, a retired educator and recent downsizer, graduated from the original Oklahoma Downsizers Club.
Moving to the Dallas area from her Oklahoma City home of 67 years to be closer to her daughter, Martha credits the ease of her move to her participation in the Oklahoma Downsizers Club.
“Being a member of the downsizer’s club meant that I had help and support every step of the way,” said Martha. “I got excellent advice and the process was amazingly smooth.” -
Like Pendleton, downsizer club members often attended educational seminars, but while the programs proved to be informative, they lacked the specificity people like Martha wanted in order to feel confident and fully prepared. Essentially, they lacked the hands-on component.
Johnny and Martha Siler also graduated from the Oklahoma Downsizers Club facilitated by Buckelew Realty Group and OKC Mature Moves.
“We had been avid attendees of various educational programs related to senior living options and the relocation process, but we found ourselves slow to make certain decisions,” said Johnny. “There was something about having a knowledgeable group of people to rely on that made everything seem more manageable.”
Retirement Community Groups
Seeing the success of the first Oklahoma Downsizers Club, senior living communities have begun incorporating similar groups for people who are on waiting lists to get into their specific community.
At the time of this post, we have groups at Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon, Oklahoma, and Concordia Life Plan Community in Northwest Oklahoma City.
Members tend to include both singles and couples, all planning to downsize in the next few years.
Most are longtime homeowners and commonly asked questions range from how to make informed decisions about costs and service providers to how to have candid conversations with adult children about when and where they plan to move.
A Safe and Empowering Place to Figure It Out
Linda Greenlee joined the Oklahoma Downsizers Club before she was sure of where or when she might make a move.
“At first I thought I might move to live near my niece in another state. After joining the Oklahoma Downsizers Club and talking with several people in the group, I made a choice to stay nearby and move to a local retirement community,” said Linda.
“Everything I learned in the group, both from other group members and those leading it, gave me the confidence I needed to make decisions for myself.”
Costs Are Minimal
The fee for joining the Oklahoma Downsizers Club is $200 per household. The fee is credited back when the member utilizes professional services offered by OKC Mature Moves.
Some senior living communities like Spanish Cove and Concordia offer membership to Oklahoma Downsizers Club to their depositors who are on waiting lists.
The reason for the fee is less about the costs associated with holding the meetings or providing materials and more about encouraging participation. It’s interesting how people perceive the value of the group when they pay versus when it’s free.
Members who pay a fee tend to take advantage of all the benefits including consultations with local professionals, field trips, shredding events, monthly meetings, and miscellaneous events and programming.
Once a member makes a move and completes the downsizing process, they are considered graduates. We have a fun graduation ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.
Members also get opportunities to share their stories and offer advice to those still undecided or making plans for a future move. And there is cake!
New Groups Forming Around the U.S.
Now that we have successful groups running here in Oklahoma City, we are helping other real estate agents and senior communities around the county implement similar downsizer clubs.
There are chapters in Georgetown and Dallas, Texas, Reno, Nevada, Bentonville, Arkansas, Portland, Oregon, and Wichita, Kansas, to name a few. Organized and facilitated mostly by other Certified Senior Housing Professionals, the clubs may differ in their approaches or schedules, but all of them offer education, as well as peer and professional support.
Join the club!
If you or someone you know would like to join, give us a call! For those who may not be sure, we invite you to be a guest at a meeting or two and see if it’s the right fit. We promise that at the very least, you will be entertained and meet some really cool people!
If you or someone you know would like a complimentary downsizing coaching appointment, give us a call at 405.708.7010.
Planning a future move,
but just aren’t quite ready yet?
If you are a seasoned homeowner or someone
who plans to downsize from a larger home to a smaller
space in the next few years, you have come to the right place.
Click on the Button Below
to learn how you can join the Oklahoma Downsizers Club.