Homeowners decide to downsize for a variety of reasons. Some folks decide they don’t want to spend their mid-lives in a large, empty nest, others don’t have the energy or motivation to maintain a sizable living space, and still others decide to trade the quiet of suburbia for the excitement of city living. No matter what your reason is for downsizing, there are several tips you can put into practice to make your downsize a success.
Four Tips For Your Residential Downsize
Purge all non-sentimental nonessential items.
One of the most time-consuming and daunting tasks included in a downsize is getting rid of the things in your home that you don’t need to keep. These items are the nonessential, non-sentimental items such as the six mixing bowls you have stashed away in your kitchen or the duplicate tools hanging on the pegboard in your garage. When going through your belongings, it can be helpful not to use a maybe pile at all in order to force yourself to make decisions quickly. It can also be helpful to begin by writing up a list of the items that are absolutely coming with you to your new home. Begin sorting your belongings as early as possible, ideally more than three months prior to your move.
Avoid throwing things away unless they are trash.
Being environmentally friendly may not help your downsizing efforts beyond keeping the trash pile on your curb at a manageable size, but it’s still a good idea to avoid throwing away things whenever possible. Old clothing, furniture, and various household items can be donated. Rather than throwing away half-used cleaning supplies, give these and other supplies to a friend, neighbor, or shelter. Just because you can’t find a use for a couple sprays of glass cleaner doesn’t mean someone else can’t use it.
Plan the purpose of each new space.
It can be exponentially helpful to plan the purpose of each space in your new home in order to determine what needs to stay and what needs to go. For example, your new craft area might be a corner rather than the room you used to use, so you know that you’ll need to cut down your craft supplies in order to fit them in their new place. Also consider the size differences of spaces such as living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. You might be able to fit two large couches in your current living room, but your new one might only fit one.
Get help from packing and moving professionals.
Professional movers and packers can help you with your downsizing endeavor. These experienced industry experts will be able to help you get and stay organized during your move. They know organization, and they know what it takes to prepare an entire home for relocation. Additionally, moving and packing professionals can offer their objective opinions should that be needed. Some homeowners, for example, will need an objective third party to help them determine what needs to be brought to their new homes and what can be gotten rid of.
Contact Ocean Moving and Storage for help with your residential downsize or any other moving services.
