There may be many reasons that people may consider downsizing their homes. One of the most common reasons to downsize is when a couple finds their nest suddenly empty. Once adult children head out on their own and perhaps start families of their own, that large family home and the expense associate with it seems less necessary.
This economy is also another pressing reason that many are choosing to leave larger more expensive homes to choose smaller less extravagant living choices. Whatever your reason may be, here are some tips that may help with your decision to downsize you life.
Decluttering
As with any type of move, the first thing you need to consider is getting your clearing your home of unnecessary items. Decluttering and getting rid of items that you do not need to take with you to your new home will make packing more efficient. This will likely not be an easy task. Your inclination is to hold on to things that you truly don’t need. Things that you haven’t had your hands on in over a year, you do not need to keep.
Think of having an estate sale. You’d be amazed at the amount of money you can make by doing this. It could even pay for the money you’ll need to hire movers. Be sure you go through all of your items carefully. If you think you have things of value, look them up online to be sure you are pricing them correctly. Don’t just put a low price on something to get rid of it. Use sites like Vintage to sell items also.
Where to put the extras
The downside of downsizing is that you may not have room for everything. If your new house doesn’t have a garage you might need to consider renting a small storage unit or getting a small storage shed to hold things like your Christmas tree and other holiday decor. A backyard storage building can also hold your lawn mower and other garden implements. A rented storage building is good for items that need to be in a climate controlled building.
Evaluate your furnishings
If you are downsizing your home, then there is a good chance that the room sizes will be smaller than your current ones. For this reason, it’s a good idea evaluate the size and number of the furniture pieces you’ll be moving into the new home. You undoubtedly need fewer pieces of furniture in your smaller home. Selling the pieces you won’t need to take will be another source of revenue for you. Take this money to purchase new rugs, window coverings and accessories for your new home. Pinterest is a great place to go for inspiration for making the most of smaller spaces.
Make a decision about movers
Scheduling a moving service needs to be done several weeks before your move. You’ll need to decide if you want to hire a company who will simply load your furniture plus the boxes you’ve already packed or one who will actually pack up your items as well. There is a higher cost to have a company actually pack your items, of course, but it might ease your mind somewhat. Professional movers, at least in theory, will be better and keeping your items safe. They will also be catalogued and the boxes will be labeled correctly.
Having those difficult rooms like your your kitchen and dining room packed by a professional would certainly make the process easier. They will also pack the clothing in your dressers and closets. Whichever types of movers you decide to use, scheduling far ahead of your move is the key. These companies book weeks in advance; especially the most reputable. Be sure you read reviews and go with a company that is bonded and insured. Read their terms in case they damage any of your items.
If it’s time for you and your family to downsize, it doesn’t have to be a time to stress. Hopefully these tips will make this transition a little less painful. There is, of course, so many more things you need to do to get ready for any move. I have written several times about this. These tips are some of the most important, however.