For financial and personal reasons, a Minnesota widow in her late 60s must downsize from the huge cedar-sided contemporary she and her late husband built more than two decades ago. But the idea of prepping the place for market fills her with angst.

The problem? Every room in the house is crammed with clutter. And confronting the monumental organizational tasks involved in decluttering feels especially overwhelming for the widow because she suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

For many with ADD, the process of preparing a home for sale and making a housing transition requires a support system to pursue the work systematically, says Linda Anderson, who heads a Pennsylvania-based firm that assists adults with ADD (gettingclear.com). She doesn’t know the widow in this true story. But she’s worked with many clients attempting to cope in similar situations.

“Moving is a huge problem for those with ADD. It’s terribly important for them to connect and reconnect with people throughout the process,” says Anderson, who works as a life coach assisting adults trying to cope with ADD in their daily lives.

A life coach who is knowledgeable about ADD can help people with organizational issues to create a realistic timetable and a plan of action to help ensure a smooth housing transition.

Here are a few tips for would-be sellers with ADD:

-- Weigh the idea of hiring a professional organizer or “move manager.”

Judy Rough, a Colorado-based professional organizer who primarily advises seniors, says people with ADD should be careful whom they ask for help.

“It’s horrific to hire someone who is judgmental. We all remember how upsetting it was when we were kids and a teacher or counselor was critical. And it’s no different when you’re an adult,” says Rough, who’s affiliated with the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (napo.net).

By visiting this association’s website, you can find an organizer in your area who’s skilled in assisting clients with ADD. Another way to locate help is by connecting with the National Association of Senior Move Managers (nasmm.org). This organization specializes in assisting older people who must downsize. But move managers can assist people of any age to take control of a housing transition.

Finding a personal assistant to help with any major project -- known in the organizational field as “body doubling” -- is especially important for people with ADD.

-- Remain laser-focused on your tasks to the extent possible.

Although people with ADD face many challenges in attempting to execute a home sale and move, Anderson says most can capitalize on their strengths to help ensure that the work gets done.

“My clients have many positive attributes, like creativity. And many are very energetic -- though their energy typically comes in spurts,” Anderson says.

But because her clients have so much difficulty staying focused and bringing a task to completion, she’s developed several time- and attention-management techniques to help them face the tasks involved in any major project.

To avoid burnout, she suggests that anyone involved in a major house project give themselves frequent (though brief) breaks from the laborious work.

“Boring, repetitive work puts the ADD brain to sleep. But short breaks can help keep momentum up,” Anderson says.

-- Try to gain traction through exercise.

One problem that often affects many people with ADD is gaining the momentum to launch into a new task.

Anderson recommends that those who find themselves in this conundrum start their day with some vigorous exercise -- like a fast-paced walk through their neighborhood.

“Exercise is a big help in stimulating the brain into action. Rhythmic music can also prove useful,” she says.

If you find yourself working alone and unable to stay on track, consider asking a neighbor or friend to step in, if only until you can get your work started.

-- Allow sufficient time for all your tasks.

In setting a schedule for the work involved in a housing transition, Anderson advises her clients to set reasonable deadlines and resist the temptation to cram too much into any given day.

In addition to the customary “to do list,” one tool Anderson favors is a “not to do list.” When you reduce the expectations you set for yourself, you also reduce your level of anxiety and get more done.

“Problems with anxiety often accompany ADD, and anxiety can interfere with your work,” she says.

How do you use a “not to do list?” On a day when you must paint a bathroom, for instance, it could be wise to place grocery shopping or oven cleaning on your “not to do list.” This will free your mind from the temptation to pack too much into your day.

Even those who normally enjoy an extraordinary capacity to resist distraction can find the extra work involved in a major housing transition taxing.

“Remember that if you’re feeling stressed by all the things you have to do to get moved, you’re not alone. Nowadays with so many demands on us ... most of us feel overwhelmed a lot of the time. And this is all the more so when we have to move,” Anderson says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

As summer rolls ahead, most potential homebuyers are in an expansive mood. That’s because, contrary to economic forecasts of some months ago, mortgage rates have again dipped to near historic lows. Meanwhile, employment levels are strong.

But Tom Early, a veteran real estate broker in Ohio, says one category of would-be buyers -- those who are single -- remain somewhat more cautious than couples about buying a home.

“Relying on just one salary to meet mortgage payments can seem scary because it exposes you to more risk in the event of default. Singles know they’d be a lot more vulnerable if the country hits another recession,” says Early, a former president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Still, there are solid reasons for singles to move toward a home purchase in the near future. One major factor is that renters in many popular areas are now especially susceptible to rising rents.

Arlen Olberding, a certified financial planner based in Colorado, doesn’t necessarily advise all his single clients to pursue a home purchase. He reminds them that there’s relatively little reason to expect significant home price appreciation in the next several years.

“First and foremost, buying a home now should be the right lifestyle decision for you. Think of it less as an investment choice and more as a living expense,” he says.

Here are a few pointers for singles who are determined to buy this year:

-- Pick a property that keeps you within your financial comfort zone.

Many people who faced foreclosure during the last recession were first-time buyers who used an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to finance their purchase. They were able to qualify for the introductory “teaser rate” on the home loan. But once the ARM adjusted upward, they were in over their heads.

They might have avoided foreclosure had they used a fixed-rate loan, says Merrill Ottwein, the broker-owner of an Illinois-based realty firm.

Ottwein cautions all buyers -- especially young singles -- against taking any mortgage (fixed or adjustable) that feels uncomfortably large.

“Decide on your affordability target right from the start -- before you go home shopping. After that, don’t let your real estate agent or lender inch you up above your comfort zone,” Ottwein says.

Even now, in an era of tight credit standards, he says it’s possible for qualified buyers to gain approval for a larger mortgage than they can reasonably handle.

“Being ‘house poor’ causes lots of fear and anxiety. It’s an awful way to live,” Ottwein says.

-- Screen for a home that a roommate could share.

If you shared space with roommates in a college dorm, you may be in no mood to repeat the experience in your own home. Still, as a young single, Ottwein encourages you to seek a property that would be attractive to a potential boarder, should you one day need the rental income to help cover your mortgage payments.

“Having an extra bedroom for a roommate can be a way to make ends meet if you find yourself in a financial pinch. Also, a house with two or, ideally, three bedrooms will be easier to sell when you decide to do so,” Ottwein says.

What type of home works best for accommodating a roommate? Ottwein suggests you look for a place with a bedroom suite that includes a private bath, so a roommate could live there more independently. Also, a separate, outside entrance to the suite is ideal.

-- Choose an energy-efficient place.

Once they’ve moved in, many first-time buyers are surprised by the size of their home upkeep expenses. The size of their energy bills also comes as a shock.

Obviously, some costs associated with homeownership -- such as taxes and insurance -- are unavoidable. But home shoppers can more easily contain their energy expenses by choosing a property that’s well-insulated and has substantial double-pane windows, Ottwein says.

“Be sure to ask the home inspector you hire to evaluate the energy efficiency of any property you plan to buy in advance of a final commitment for its purchase,” he says.

-- Remember to factor your social life into your property selection.

If you’re like most singles, your personal life is of paramount importance to you. And even though you may outpace your friends in achieving homeownership, you won’t want your move to make it tough to see them.

You don’t have to live in the immediate vicinity of your friends to stay in touch. But if possible, you’ll want to avoid buying a property many miles from your closest friends, even if that’s the most affordable option.

“When you’re moving ahead with homeownership, be sure not to break the bonds of friendship. Buying a house is an important priority, but so is keeping those friends who are tried and true,” Ottwein says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

After multiple years of intense rivalry among homebuyers competing for property in popular neighborhoods, the news is mostly favorable for purchasers. A gradual increase in inventory means more available homes. This, coupled with unexpectedly low mortgage rates, has brought a degree of relief for those who seek homeownership.

But housing analysts say wannabe owners from the current generation of millennials are extremely thoughtful when selecting a property. Rather than pick a “starter home” where they could live for just a couple of years before trading up, more young families now aspire to a place where they could remain indefinitely.

“These days, even people with very little children are shopping for a neighborhood that offers more than a good elementary school. They’re also looking for a strong high school their kids could attend years into the future,” says Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and co-author of “Home Buying for Dummies”.

That’s because it’s becoming increasingly

costly to move frequently.

“Remember, when you sell a house, you pay commissions to a real estate agent. In addition, there are transfer taxes and charges. Beyond that, there are moving costs, which alone can be ruinous to a budget,” Tyson says.

At the national level, U.S. home values fell slightly from March to April, the first month-over-month decline since February 2012, according to Skylar Olsen, the director of economic research for Zillow, a Seattle-based firm that tracks real estate markets throughout the country.

Olsen cautions against drawing conclusions about a one-month change in home values. Still, she says the statistic should serve as a reminder to buyers that values don’t always rise.

“It’s too early to say if we’ve hit another home-value peak and are at the beginning of a sustained downturn, or if this is just a bump in the road,” Olsen says.

Is your family hoping to buy a place where you could afford to live for years to come? If so, these few pointers could help:

-- Assess the costs of commuting from a distant suburb.

You might be enamored of a very spacious and reasonably priced house in an outlying area. But how much would it cost you and your spouse to commute from that distant location?

Too few prospective buyers anticipate their commuting costs down the road, says Christopher Leinberger, who chairs the Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis at George Washington University.

If possible, he encourages buyers from dual-income households to look for a property from which at least one spouse could walk to work or commute by public transit. That way, the household could slim down to a single vehicle, saving lots of cash in the process.

-- Factor in the utility costs for a large home.

“Anyone who hasn’t noticed rising utility costs has been sleepwalking through the last decade,” says James W. Hughes, a professor and housing analyst at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He urges buyers to take into account the costs of heating and cooling any place they plan to buy.

“Be sure to ask the current owners to give you two to three years’ worth of utility bills. Notice the trend, keeping in mind that energy costs will undoubtedly keep rising,” Hughes says.

-- Remember upkeep expenses.

If you buy a brand-new house from a builder with high construction standards, you can often expect relatively low repair and appliance-replacement costs for a period of five to 10 years. But chances are you’ll be less lucky if you select an older home, which could be especially expensive to maintain if it’s large.

“When you need a new roof on a big house, that’s going to be extremely costly, as would be a new cooling system. So, be sure you could handle those expenditures,” Hughes says.

He also recommends you think twice about the upkeep costs of a house with a lot of wood trim and siding, which will probably need extensive repainting every few years.

One way to gain help in approximating future upkeep costs is to be sure your home inspection is done by a well-trained inspector. One source of referrals: the American Society of Home Inspectors (ashi.org).

-- Take note of the trend in homeowner association fees.

Whether you’re planning to move to a gated community in the suburbs or a condo in an urban setting, the odds are you’ll be subject to a monthly fee to cover the costs of maintenance, security and other common expenses.

Before you commit to any property with a monthly management charge, Hughes says you should get detailed information on these charges, going back multiple years. Then examine the statistics carefully to see if inflation has been a major factor pushing up these costs. If so, he says you should assume this trend will continue in coming years.

“When you’re choosing a home, you really need to become an amateur accountant -- calculating not only your monthly mortgage payment, but also all the other costs of living there,” Hughes says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)