At some point in your life you may find that you will need to downsize and move into a smaller property than what you’ve lived in previously. It could be down to moving to a new area that’s more expensive, you’ve reassessed your finances, or you no longer need to have all the space in your home.
No matter what situation has prompted your move, you’ll want to make sure that you downsize correctly, so you don’t regret giving away certain possessions later on. Here are some things you can consider ahead of your move.
Take small items with you
It may be tempting to give away or sell a lot of your small items – such as clothes, dishes, and decor – but you may want to take this step slowly. That’s because, although it’s a good idea to get rid of the general junk that can accumulate in a home, you shouldn’t start with items you enjoy or use regularly.
So, keep any items that you are using now, or use seasonally. Also, hold onto items with a practical purpose or sentimental value, even if you don’t use them regularly. For example, you may find this is a great time to dispose of baby clothes and old toys – but hang onto items if you get any sentimental feelings.
Downsize your big items
If you’re moving from a three-bedroom home to a two-bedroom one, for instance, then there will be no need to take three beds with you. Things can be trickier when you’re downsizing space rather than bedrooms because, although you may need all your bedroom furniture, you might not be able to fit some other items.
This may result in you realizing you can keep your dining room table but not your breakfast table, for example. You could think about using self-storage from StorageArea.com if you find your items don’t fit into your new home.
Tackle one space at a time
It can be easy for you to get distracted when sorting out items. However, staying in one room or area will help you to focus – and you will get tremendous and immediate satisfaction when that task is complete.
You might also want to set a timer, which will help get you going and give you a time for you to finish – then you can either continue, have a break or stop for the day. Start with two-hour blocks.
Think about selling your items
Do an inventory of what items you have and divide the remainder into what you can offer to friends, donate, throw away, or try to sell. For those things you decide to sell, then be aware that your collectibles and heirlooms might go for a lower price than you think they’re worth – or not at all.
Talk to your family
The priorities of other generations may have changed, but there might be people in your family who may want specific items you have. So, speak with your relations to see if anyone has an interest in items you want to dispose of.