My name is Danielle Demerino and I’m a Toronto real estate agent. I have been in the industry for 15 years and consider myself to be somewhat of an expert! I recently heard an expression called the Heirloom Avalanche and so many of my peers are going to relate to it.
About the Heirloom Avalanche
I recently helped my mother downsize from the family home I grew up in. There was 30 years’ worth of stuff that we had to donate or sell. I could not possibly have fit another set of dishes in my home that is already bursting at the seams! I realized as we went through boxes and boxes of stuff that she saved for me; that we were in the middle of am Heirloom Avalanche.
Most of our parents have accumulated an extensive collection of possessions over the last 30 years, which they affectionately refer to as “heirlooms.” However, the situation has resulted in an Heirloom Avalanche.
In their hearts, they believe that these mementos hold the same value for you as they do them. Things like your old dolls, photographs, dishes, artwork, crystals, etc. The reality, though, is twofold. First of all, your tastes differ from theirs, and you prefer new items over their older belongings. Secondly, you lack the necessary space to store these cherished heirlooms.
This disconnect between their desire to pass down these items and your inability to accommodate them has given rise to a complex mix of guilt and frustration. My advice is to have an honest and compassionate conversation with your parents as soon as possible, explaining that you have no intention of accepting their possessions. It would be more practical for them to consider donating these items to families immigrating to Canada or selling them on platforms like Marketplace.
By addressing this issue proactively, you can avoid feeling guilty or resentful when the time eventually comes for them to pass on these heirlooms to your new home.
If you need more info on downsizing, give me a call and I would be more than happy to walk you through the process.
