8 Helpful Tips When Downsizing Your Home

There are times when life calls for downsizing your living space. If you’re an empty nester or retiree, dealing with a job relocation or divorce, you may be thinking of moving to a smaller home.

A new start in a smaller, more efficient home can be very appealing. But there are pros and cons to living in a small space: Less square footage to clean and maintain also comes with less storage. And the thought of downsizing and moving can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve raised a family or lived in the same home for a long time. For seniors, downsizing homes is a major life event. It’s easy to accumulate! So how and where do you begin to condense a household full of mementos, hobbies, housewares, and furniture?

We’ve got helpful go-to pointers to ease the transition. Use our checklist of eight great downsizing tips for a successful moving experience!

8 Great Downsizing Tips

Time It

Our number one downsizing tip is TIME. Give yourself plenty of lead time before moving to a smaller home. Sorting, organizing, reducing, and packing a household can take several months. And purging a lifetime of belongings can be emotional. So, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and pace yourself.

 

Strategize

It can be easy to get overwhelmed by a house full of belongings. So, break it down. Decluttering and sorting will be easier – and much more organized – if you take it room by room, space by space. Start with areas of the house that get the least traffic (e.g., guest room, attic, linen closet). Write out a downsizing plan; you’ll have the satisfaction of checking off rooms as you go.

 

Sort & Declutter

The goal is to move to your new home with only essentials and a curated collection of your most treasured items. Sort your belongings into four key groups: keep, donate, sell, toss. How to decide what to keep? If you haven’t used it in a year, it goes. Remember, the more you declutter and divest, the less you’ll need to move and fit into your new space, saving money, effort, and frustration on the other end.

 

Family Time

Make your downsize a family affair as you sort and prepare. Your idea of a thrift shop donation may be another family member’s treasured takeaway. Adult children will have to take responsibility for personal things being kept in your home. And now is a good time to give special items and mementos to loved ones you want them to have.

 

Plan Ahead

Know your new space. Exactly how big will it be? Have a copy of the floor plan and use it to help you make decisions about what to keep, pack, and let go of. (Bonus: Knowing where the sofa fits and what is going where will make move-in day much easier.) You’re downsizing, so avoid bringing along and filling a storage unit with things you don’t need or will never use. But if your new home includes storage, use it wisely.

 

Sell & Donate

Sorting and organizing is hard work. But there’s potential for payback. Hold a garage sale or sell your giveaways via an online marketplace (e.g., Craigslist, eBay) to help cover moving costs. Donate gently used goods to a favorite nonprofit if you don’t have the time or if items don’t sell.

 

Call the Pros

If time is of the essence or you’re leaving behind high-value items, consider using estate sale professionals. They will come to your home, appraise and make an offer for the household items you want to sell, and take over the sale process.

 

Take a Break

Our final tip is self-care! Downsizing is a BIG undertaking. Be sure to take a breath, take a break, assess, step back, and give yourself what you need to dive back in again. Before you know it, you’ll be in your new space.

There’s a lot to do with any move. Keep track of month-to-month, week-to-week tasks up to the big day with a moving checklist. (As you get closer, be sure to schedule your movers.) It’s an exciting and busy time; checklists and tips can help ease the stress.

How Can Priority Moving Help You Downsize?

Downsizing have you down? Priority Moving can take any overwhelming, seemingly “too big” moving job and make it small and stress-free. Our team of experienced, licensed professional movers will help you with your moving needs, from packing to moving to storage to unpacking in your new home. Priority Moving is THE go-to professional moving company in Oregon for households large and small. Whether you’re downsizing from a house to an apartment or moving from your family home to a retirement home, we’ll efficiently and safely pack your household and move you across state or across town. Get a free moving quote to help get you on your way, or call 503-544-7972 to learn more.