Long Lake is one of those West Metro communities that people discover and fall in love with — a quiet lakeside town on U.S. Highway 12 with antique shops, family-owned restaurants, and that small-town feel that’s increasingly rare in the Twin Cities. But for many families, the hardest moment comes when Mom or Dad decides it’s time to leave the Long Lake home they’ve lived in for decades.
I’m Craig Kamman. I’ve helped families in Long Lake, Wayzata, and all across the West Metro navigate these transitions for over 30 years. I’m also an active investor and property manager myself — I know what homes in this area are worth, what needs to happen before a sale, and how to handle the parts that feel overwhelming. Let me walk you through what downsizing in Long Lake actually looks like, step by step.
What Should I Know Before Downsizing in Long Lake, MN?
Long Lake is unique in the West Metro. It’s a tight-knit community of about 1,700 people, with homes that range from charming lake cottages to well-built family homes on tree-lined streets. The downtown — Brown Road, primarily — has a walkable collection of shops and restaurants that make it feel like a genuine neighborhood hub.
If you’re helping a parent downsize here, the first thing to know is that Long Lake homes often sit on larger lots than neighboring Wayzata or Orono. That means more yard, more maintenance, and often more stuff accumulated over the years. The good news? Long Lake’s real estate market has always held its value well — it’s a desirable address.
The second thing to know: Long Lake is less than 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis, and it’s part of the Wayzata School District. That combination of small-town character and city proximity makes it a strong market for selling, even when the home needs some work.
How Do I Help My Parents Downsize From Their Long Lake Home?
I’ve walked through this process with dozens of West Metro families, and the ones who handle it best start early. Not when a health crisis forces the decision — but when Mom mentions, “This house is getting to be too much.” That’s the moment to begin the conversation, not the sale.
Step 1: Start the Conversation Early and Gently
Seniors who feel rushed into downsizing often dig in their heels. Frame it as a choice, not a necessity. Start by asking questions about what they’d like their daily life to look like — less snow shoveling? No more stair climbing? Closer to friends or grandkids? Let them arrive at the conclusion themselves.
Step 2: Sort Through a Lifetime of Belongings
This is the hardest part for most families. A home that’s been occupied for 30 or 40 years contains more than just furniture — it holds memories, family history, and things that feel impossible to let go of. Here’s what works:
- Start room by room, not all at once. The basement is overwhelming — start with the living room or a bedroom where decisions are easier.
- Use the Keep, Gift, Sell, Donate system. Make four piles. Be honest about what will actually fit in the new space.
- Involve the whole family. Heirlooms and photo albums matter to more than just your parents. Let siblings have a say.
- Call me if the house needs a cleanout. A surprising number of homes in Long Lake have basements, garages, and sheds full of decades of accumulation. Most agents will tell you to “handle it yourself.” I don’t. I work with families to clear out, clean up, and get the home market-ready — including hauling away whatever can’t be kept.
Step 3: Decide What’s Next for Mom or Dad
Long Lake has several excellent senior living options. Long Lake Assisted Living at 345 North Brown Road offers 42 units with private rooms and bathrooms, a family atmosphere, and personalized care just two blocks from downtown. It’s one of the most affordable options in the West Metro with that small-town feel.
Beyond Long Lake itself, the broader West Metro has an exceptional range of senior communities — from independent living in Plymouth and Minnetonka to specialized memory care in Wayzata and Edina. I don’t give recommendations on care facilities (that’s a personal decision every family needs to make), but I can tell you what I’ve seen other families choose and how those transitions worked out financially.
Step 4: Get the Long Lake Home Ready to Sell
Here’s where I come in. Many Long Lake homes I’ve worked with need some combination of:
- Cleanout and hauling — old furniture, decades of accumulated belongings, garage items, sheds
- Minor repairs — patching walls, fixing leaky faucets, replacing worn carpet
- Deferred maintenance — roofs, gutters, furnaces that haven’t been touched in years
- Landscaping — overgrown yards that need clearing and mowing
Most real estate agents will tell you to hire contractors for all of this, then wait for the work to be done before listing. I take a different approach: I handle the messy parts myself. If Dad’s Long Lake home has a basement full of 40 years of accumulation and a roof that needs replacing, we can deal with both. I coordinate the cleanout, arrange the repairs, and get the house sold — even if it looks rough when we start.
That’s what sets me apart. I remove the biggest headaches for families and attorneys. I’ve been doing this for three decades, and I own about 25 properties myself — so I understand what a house is worth in any condition.
What Is the Best Way to Downsize in the West Metro?
The families I work with who have the smoothest transitions share a few common approaches:
- They give themselves time. Rushing a downsizing almost always leads to regret — selling for less than the home is worth, making hasty decisions about belongings, or choosing the wrong next home.
- They get professional help early. Whether it’s a senior move manager, an estate sale company, or a realtor who specializes in these transitions (that’s me), having someone who’s been through it before makes a world of difference.
- They stay local. Most seniors in Long Lake want to stay in the West Metro — close to their doctors, their church, their grocery store, and their friends. The good news is that Plymouth, Wayzata, Minnetonka, and Edina all have excellent senior living options within 10-15 minutes of Long Lake.
- They use the right tools. I built a free Senior Downsizing Planner specifically for West Metro families. It includes a Gentle Transition Timeline, a Keep/Gift/Sell/Donate Belongings Sorter, and a guide to every senior living community in the West Metro. It’s completely free — no email required, no pressure. Just a calm, practical tool.
Try the free Downsizing Planner here: https://craigkamman.com/downsizing-planner/
Should I Fix Up My Parents’ Long Lake Home Before Selling?
This is one of the most common questions I get from families in Long Lake and across the West Metro. The answer depends on the condition of the home and the current market.
Right now, well-maintained homes in Long Lake that show well are attracting strong offers. But a home that needs significant work — outdated kitchen, old mechanicals, deferred maintenance — can still sell for a fair price. The key is knowing what repairs will pay off and what won’t.
Here’s my general rule: if the home needs new carpet, fresh paint, and some decluttering — invest in it. Those improvements almost always return more than they cost. If the home needs a new roof, a furnace, and major updates — we should have an honest conversation about selling as-is. I’ve sold homes in every condition. What matters is pricing it right and being upfront with buyers.
And if the home needs a cleanout — years of accumulation, furniture that needs to go, a garage packed to the ceiling — I handle that personally. It’s one less thing for your family to worry about.
How Do I Find a Realtor Who Handles Estate Sales in Long Lake?
This is another very practical question. Not every agent wants to deal with estate sales, probate houses, or homes that need significant work. Many agents focus on move-in-ready properties and gently suggest that families “get the work done before listing.” That leaves families stuck — especially out-of-state heirs who live in California or Arizona and can’t oversee a cleanout from 1,500 miles away.
I take a different approach. I handle the difficult properties that most agents avoid. Homes with deferred maintenance, homes that need cleanouts, homes that have been in the family for generations and need someone who understands the emotional weight of letting go — those are the listings I focus on. And I’ve been doing it long enough (30 years this year) that I know exactly what to expect and how to price every situation.
If you’re searching for “estate sale realtor Long Lake” or “downsizing realtor near me,” here’s what to look for:
- Someone who has actually sold homes in Long Lake before (not just the broader West Metro)
- Someone who is comfortable with homes in “as-is” condition
- Someone who can coordinate or personally handle cleanouts and repairs
- Someone who understands probate timelines and can work with attorneys
- Someone who communicates clearly with out-of-state family members
That describes exactly how I work. I’ve helped families in Long Lake, Wayzata, Orono, Minnetonka, Plymouth, and every other West Metro city. I understand the local market, the local closing processes, and how to make a difficult transition as smooth as possible.
What Happens to the Family Home After Mom or Dad Moves?
Once your parents have moved into their new place, the Long Lake home needs to be dealt with. Three common scenarios:
Scenario 1: Sell it on the open market. For homes in good condition or homes you’re willing to invest some money into, this is usually the best option. Long Lake homes in desirable condition sell well — especially with the Wayzata School District and the proximity to downtown Minneapolis.
Scenario 2: Sell it as-is. The home needs significant work, and you don’t have the time, money, or emotional energy to invest in repairs. I can help you price it realistically for a cash sale or a fixer-upper buyer. You won’t get top dollar, but you also won’t have to spend months managing contractors and cleanouts.
Scenario 3: Hold it as a rental (for now). Some families aren’t ready to sell, or the market isn’t right. If you’re considering keeping the home as an investment property, I can help you evaluate that decision — including a realistic picture of what rental income looks like in Long Lake and what your responsibilities would be as a landlord. I manage about 25 properties myself, so this is an area where I have real, hands-on experience.
A Note on Probate and Inherited Homes in Long Lake
While this article focuses on downsizing, I should mention that some families reading this are dealing with an inherited home — the family home where Mom or Dad passed away, and now it needs to be sold as part of the estate. If that’s your situation, the process is similar but with some additional steps.
In Minnesota, inherited homes typically go through probate before they can be sold. This takes time, and it’s important to work with both a qualified probate attorney and a realtor who understands the timeline. I’ve helped dozens of families in the West Metro navigate exactly this situation.
I also have a free Minnesota Probate Checklist available at craigkamman.com/probate-checklist that walks through the entire process step by step. And if you need a realtor who handles the cleanouts, repairs, and difficult parts of an estate sale — that’s what I do every day.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Please consult a licensed attorney or financial advisor for your specific situation.
Your Free Senior Downsizing Planner
Before you go, I want to make sure you know about a resource I created specifically for West Metro families going through this transition. The Senior Downsizing Planner is completely free and includes:
- The Gentle Transition Timeline — an interactive checklist from 6 months out through settled in
- Keep, Gift, Sell, Donate Belongings Sorter — a family collaborative tool for making decisions about heirlooms
- West Metro Senior Living Guide — spotlighting communities in Plymouth, Minnetonka, Edina, Orono, Long Lake, Wayzata, Excelsior, Hopkins, and St. Louis Park
- Relief Quiz — three gentle questions that create a personalized downsizing strategy
Try it free here: https://craigkamman.com/downsizing-planner/
No email required. No pressure. Just a calm, practical tool built for West Metro families.
Let’s Talk About Your Long Lake Home
Whether you’re helping a parent downsize from their Long Lake home, managing an inherited property, or just starting to think about what comes next — I’m here to help. You can call or text me directly at 952-994-4451.
No obligation. No sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about your situation and how I can help. I’ve been serving West Metro families for 30 years, and I’ve seen every scenario. If I can’t help you, I’ll tell you that too.
About the author: Craig Kamman is a real estate agent with Edina Realty in Wayzata, MN, with 30 years of experience serving the Twin Cities West Metro. He personally handles estate cleanouts, repairs, fixer-uppers, and difficult properties — removing the biggest headaches for families and attorneys. He is also an active real estate investor and property manager with approximately 25 properties.
Craig Kamman | Edina Realty Wayzata | 952-994-4451 | craigkamman@edinarealty.com