Community Corner
On the Move: Seabrook's 'Big D' event Encourages Seniors to Clear Out the Clutter
Future Seabrook residents donate, discard and downsize on Friday with help from the retirement community's new personal moving consultant.
Future Seabrook community residents were able to support several local charities on Friday morning while preparing to make the move to the retirement community by participating in its Big D Event: Donate, Discard and Downsize.
The event allowed many future residents of Seabrook, who have lived in their houses for decades, find a way to reduce the amount of items that they have amassed over the years as they begin the transition to a new home.
Prospective Seabrook clients were able to bring car loads of usable items to the Seabrook community on June 24 where several trucks from local charities awaited. Represetatives from Habitat for Humanity, Furnished with Love, the Monmouth County SPCA and Jewish Family and Children Services were on hand to collect the items as future residents emptied out their cars.
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Art Sparks, Seabrook’s executive director said, “We are proud to provide our clients with an inventive way to downsize while helping the regional community. Seabrook prides itself on assisting others and hopefully events like this will help spur others to donate.”
Recognizing that older adults can be overwhelmed when trying to downsize or sell their homes, Seabrook has hired Laurie Williamson, a personal moving consultant, to work with incoming residents.
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Williamson, a licensed New Jersey Real Estate Broker, said one of her most important tasks will be to help seniors who have lived in their houses for decades, transition to a new home through a variety of methods.
“I begin by meeting people in their homes and providing resources to them to aid in selling the home. I can give them referrals for painters, repair men or stagers to make the sale of their home as easy as possible,” said Williamson.
“I help them determine which pieces of furniture they want to take with them to Seabrook. We measure it and put it on a floor plan of the home they will have at Seabrook," she explained. "This then allows them to see which items they will need to sell, donate or send to the trash.”
