Are You Thinking About Downsizing?

Are You Thinking About Downsizing?   This sentence evokes fear and a lot of emotion in people who are considering a downsize, since moving in general is never an easy task.  The painstaking thought of cleaning and going through each and every item in your home and reducing those items down to fit into a smaller home or condo is overwhelming. Here  are some topics to consider when you are thinking about downsizing.

Take An Inventory: This is important when downsizing your home. You should go through your belongings and decide what you want to keep, throw away, donate or sell. Try the divide-and-conquer approach by tackling one room of your home at a time.  By taking this approach and spreading your task over several days, you can work at your own pace and feel less overwhelmed. 

Wants vs. Needs:  It is important to know the difference between what you “want” and “need” since it is very likely that all your belongings will not fit in your new, smaller home. The  attachment we feel to many of the things in your home is not about the items themselves, but rather the memories associated with them. When it comes to treasured but unnecessary belongings, consider sending them to family and friends, who also have an attachment to the items. Other times items in your home are bulky and unnecessary and can be replaced with smaller items. shelves. 

Avoid Duplicates: After taking inventory of your belongings, you will become aware of what you have multiples of, and can identify favorites. In many cases, your kitchen is a common locale for duplicate items. Whether it be too many spatulas, or having more sets of plates, glasses, and silverware than you need, now is the time to get rid of the extras. Be sure to sort through your pantry and spice cabinet as well. Remove any items that have passed their expiration date or that you simply do not use anymore.

Check Your Space & Make The Most of It: Moving to a smaller home means you have to make the most of the space you have. This means being creative with your organization efforts. Perhaps buy some hanging shoe racks, ottomans with interior compartments, sliding bins that go underneath your bed, or built-in shelves. Clear plastic containers are a great choice as they allow you to see into them easily and identify items you have stored.

Make Money: If you need to get rid of extra items, you may as well make a little bit of money in the process! Have a yard sale, or list belongings with online sites like eBay, LetGo, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Remember, even items that may seem useless could have value for someone else. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. 

Take Measurements:  Before you move into a new space, you will need to know the amount of space you will be working with. First and foremost, you need to check if your current furniture will fit into your new home. Measuring your current belongings, such as beds and furniture, will help you have an early insight on how to lay out your new home. It will also help you know what you can take with you and what you cannot.

We know that downsizing is stressful.  Just take a deep breath and remember that there are also several financial and lifestyle benefits that come with downsizing your home. One great benefit is there is less area to clean and maintain!  Your utility bills often are lower too, because it requires less energy to heat and cool a smaller home. Mortgage payments, property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance premiums may be lower.