Don’t enable the thought of downsizing strike terror in your heart. You simply need an intelligent strategy … and we’ve got it!
Moving house, in general, is notorious for being just about the most stressful and demanding experiences in life. Relocating to a smaller home presents an even greater set of challenges.
Not only will you have to adapt to a radical change in your lifestyle, but you’ll additionally be required to part with a variety of cherished belongings that won’t fit into the new tighter space. However frustrating and upsetting this idea may be, understand that with fewer possessions to weigh you down, your life may be simpler and even more enjoyable than ever before.
So, just how do you downsize effectively and take care of such an overwhelming transition smoothly and without great emotional turmoil? Everything you need to do is take the right steps to downsizing your house.
Downsizing How to Tackle it in 5 easy Steps
1. Make a complete inventory of your belongings
To efficiently pare down your belongings you have to know exactly what you have. So, walk through your home and document all your belongings.
You can write everything on paper, if you like the old school method, alternatively you can make use of a spreadsheet application to develop a home inventory list that can be easily edited. Either way, try to be thorough and register all the relevant specifics, such as the current condition of every item you possess, its market value, etc.
Not only will this type of detailed inventory sheet assist you identify duplicate, outdated or unneeded items, but it can also function as a packing list when the time comes to prepare your belongings for shipment. Besides, you will be able to make use of the same inventory information in order to get an accurate estimate of your moving costs.
2. Draw a floor plan of the new home
Planning your interior design in advance will allow you to make the best of the available living space, together with avoid wasting your time and your money on relocating items you won’t be capable to use in your new surroundings.
Take precise measurements of the exact dimensions of every room, door and hallway in your new residence and compare the figures to the sizes of your larger household items to find out which of them can fit inside.
Keep in mind that even if you manage to get a bulky piece in the doors or around sharp corners in your new home, you may still end up not being able to find a suitable location for it, particularly when it comes to custom-made or oddly shaped furniture pieces, appliances and others.
3. Consider each of the relevant circumstances
Even if you like a certain item and have enough space for it in your new home, it may still not be worth moving. There are numerous crucial factors to take into account when determining the fate of your belongings:
Climate.
You’ll have little use for your snow blower or even a fur-lined coat, as an example, if you are relocating to a Southern state.
Daily routine.
You may not have many – or any – chances to use your barbecue or lawn mower if you are going to live in an apartment building downtown.
Cost of moving.
In many cases, it will make much more financial sense to sell an item of yours and purchase something more suitable for your new surroundings than to ship the old piece to your home-to-be.
Value.
When it comes to rare antiques, valuable artwork, expensive equipment, precious family heirlooms, high-quality pieces, or any other items you are really attached to, you will most probably prefer not to part with them, however restricted your available living space may be.
Practicality.
If an item is worn-out, outdated or in need of repair, you should think about leaving it behind. Exactly the same is applicable to everything else you haven’t used in over a year, don’t like or have duplicates of.
Context.
If you’re discarding everything else a particular item fits in with, it’s a good idea to let it go too.
Once you have figured out which of your old belongings to take along to your new place (be it for practical, aesthetic or sentimental reasons), you’ll want to look for an advantageous way to get rid of what’s left.
4. Organize your belongings
Decluttering your home really should be your top priority when preparing to move to a smaller place. Go through every nook and cranny of your old property, open every drawer and cabinet, look under the beds and inside the closet, and sort out everything you find in these catch-alls for miscellaneous items and categorize them into several piles:
Keepers. Useful, valuable or coveted belongings you are taking with you.
For sale. Unneeded items in good condition you can sell in a yard sale or on sites like eBay or Craigslist to make some extra money.
Give-away. Unneeded items in good condition you’d like to donate to charity or give away to friends or family.
Throw-away. Damaged or worn-out items that are unfit to be sold or donated and really should be taken to a recycling center or dump.
Make sure you address each pile in a timely and efficient manner. Organize all of the items in the first group in a meaningful way and pack them carefully to make sure their safety during shipment. Don’t forget to label the boxes properly, to help you to easily unpack and locate whatever you need when you arrive in your new home.
Keep the items you’re selling, donating or giving away in a separate room or section of the house, to make sure they don’t get in your way and you don’t think about them. Get rid of them as soon as possible, as it’s very easy to change your mind and start pulling some pieces out of the pile, compromising your downsizing efforts.
5. Start early and stay resolute
Keep in mind that waiting until the last minute to downsize your house is almost certainly going to result in severe mistakes: you may discard something you actually need; you might not be able to sell your used items should you be pressed for time; or you may get overwhelmed and simply toss everything into the moving boxes without sorting it.
Start paring down your belongings as soon as you decide to relocate to a smaller home, and don’t reconsider the fate of an item you have already agreed to let go of. Downsizing your way of life will only make things easier.
Nick & Cindy Davis have assisted many families in selling and buying their new home simultaniously. It takes a significant amount of coordination to successfully sell and purchase your new home. Let us assist you. We can always be reached at 813-300-7116 or simply click here and we will be in touch.