Anti-Clutter Experts Help Downsizers Take Leave of Their Household Census

She laughs at the idea of old business records, Christmas decorations, discarded clothes and unwanted household items flying out the side of the attic where it's all been stashed for 48 years.

The nearby house where Lewis, 82, has lived since 1956 is just as bad, they say. He has even been called a "pack rat." Both had spouses who died several years ago.

"My children got a lot of things like silver and dishware," he said.

Neither Elizabeth nor Lewis want to take care of a big house or yard anymore, so they moved into a 940-square-foot apartment at the Arbors, a retirement community in Newport News, Virginia.

They decided to start fresh, with mostly new stuff that would be better scaled to the smaller size of their new living quarters. Getting rid of what they owned posed a big problem.

The couple hired local design consultant Teri Zodda of Roomscapes by tz in Newport News Virginia to help them decide what to take and what to leave behind. Zodda also selected new furniture for the apartment.

In the end, the Parsons took four of Elizabeth's nicest mirrors, two white wingback chairs and some bedroom furniture. They also kept a few personal items such as the miniature cars Lewis collects and an English tea set Elizabeth cherishes.

"It was in Teri's hands, and we didn't see the apartment until she was done," Elizabeth said.

"We're totally pleased," Lewis added.

In addition to helping make decisions on possessions, Zodda preps each home to get it ready for sale. She also brings in a professional company to handle the estate sale.

A former real estate agent, Zodda started her Virginia business in 1997 to help homeowners ready their property for sale. It's a process called "staging" -- placing furniture, establishing the right lighting and getting rid of personal effects in a for-sale home so would-be buyers can imagine themselves living there.