Are you overwhelmed with the amount of space in your home? Whether you’re a senior frustrated with maintaining your property, a renter looking for a smaller living space, or your children have moved away for school, downsizing can be a great next step for you and your family. If you’re preparing for a move, or just curious in how to cut down on clutter, read on for essentials on downsizing.
Planning is critical.
Just like in school, procrastination on your downsizing operation can leave you stressed out on the due date. Tackling the project early and often allows you to chip away at the bulk of your belongings, and avoid the stress of making snap decisions when moving. Sitting down and making a list of essentials should be your priority, offering a clear place to start when it comes to packing.
Visualizing the floor plan of your new space can be a major point of relief. Knowing how much space you have, and the layout beforehand lets you strategically pick and handle the most important rooms first.
Sorting based on value. – Have you decided on downsizing but aren’t sure where to start? We recommend beginning with laundry rooms, garages, or other places that don’t hold very many objects of high nostalgic value. This lets you make easier decisions and gives you the confidence to tackle trickier rooms. When struggling with a choice, author Kondo challenges cleaners to ask whether objects in your home are propelling you forward or holding you in the past. This deceptively simple question can shed light on whether something is necessary in your new home.
If you feel like your holding on to too much, getting an outside opinion from friends or family can help you cut through the haze. The fresh point of view can make an objective decision, and help add some much-needed breathing room.
Frugal first! – When on a roll, it might be tempting to toss your finished belongings in a dumpster to be done with. However, there are a variety of better options with your new baggage, allowing you to pad your pocket or help others. We suggest treating the trash can as a last resort, questioning whether something can be donated to charity, recycled, or even sold before tossed. Having a garage sale, offering antiques to an auction, or even listing your things on EBay can make your move a profitable one as well!
Downsizing is also a unique opportunity to take inventory of your space. Keeping track of what your sorting, properly labelling boxes, and pre-arranging an organization system means that everything has a place once the move is complete.
Are you starting to get the feeling that you could use a smaller location? Downsizing can be a great option to find a better space for the life your living right now. Regardless of the reason, consider speaking to a real estate agent before you make the important decision. They allow you to work with a professional, and formulate a plan for a seamless and effective move.
