5 Tips to Downsize with Ease
Spring is here which means the housing market is about to heat up! Whether you’re in the process of downsizing or are planning on downsizing in the next 5 years, it’s an overwhelming process. Oftentimes it’s an accumulation of many years worth of items and memories. Read along to see our top tips for a smooth transition into your next home.
Tip #1: It’s never too early to start.
I say this to people all the time. Whether or not downsizing is in your near future, it is NEVER too early to start purging. There is nothing more stressful than going through 30 years worth of items on a rapidly approaching deadline. Things end up getting thrown into boxes with nowhere to go on the other end, creating lots of clutter and overwhelm once you move into your next home. My tip is to start with the low-hanging fruit. Maybe it’s the linen closet or pantry. Slowly go room-by-room and see which items you’re ready to part with.
Tip #2: Someone’s trash is another person’s treasure – don’t throw everything away!
When people are in a hurry, they often don’t take the time to distribute their unwanted items appropriately, thus, ending up in the garbage. There are SO many different options when it comes to parting with your unwanted things. Check out our resources page for starters. If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop, our favorite place is Clean Out Your House. They will take away anything and everything from your house and properly dispose of it (that includes trash, recycling, donate AND consignment).
Tip #3: Give a deadline to unwanted things.
If your kids or friends have offered to take certain things from your house, make sure to give them a hard deadline and stick with it. It’s easy for people to put things off- especially when it comes to toting away boxes of their own childhood memorabilia. This last-minute frenzy ultimately leads to things not being picked up beforehand and shipped to the next destination, or added chaos coordinating last minute pick-up times.
Tip #4: Map it out
The purpose of downsizing is to move into a more manageable space, oftentimes, losing space that you previously had. If your living space is being reduced by 50%, challenge yourself to purge 50% of what you have. Before you move, measure the furniture pieces you’re planning to bring with you and plan out exactly where they’re going to live to make sure it all fits where you want it to. Don’t stop with furniture. Map out your kitchen cabinets, drawers, bedroom closets, etc. Be realistic in what you’re bringing over so you’re not bursting at the seams with stuff on the other end. Perhaps you had a garage or basement for extra storage which you’ll no longer have at the new place. Keep these things in mind as you’re purging!
Tip #5: Ask for help!
We can’t say it enough. Downsizing can be a very exhausting process both physically and mentally. Don’t hesitate to ask for help! The perks of using a professional organizer during this process is having an unbiased, unattached person help you make decisions. Sometimes a family member or friend might be more emotionally tied to what you have, making it harder to be realistic with what should be kept versus donated. We can help you sort, purge and organize your belongings before you even leave the house. We’ll coordinate the disposal of all your unwanted items, pack you up with a digital inventory of what’s where AND get you unpacked and set up at your new place.
Looking to downsize on the Cape? Check out this article by realtor David Doucette. Whether you’re moving in the next few months or few years, give us a call if you’re looking for help. You can set up a complimentary phone consultation here.