Are You Ready to Downsize?
2/24/2020
The time has come, and we are rounding in on downsizing. Whether it’s to simplify your lifestyle, cut costs, or be closer to family, the process itself can be overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Here are 7 steps to stay ahead of the stress, and properly prepare for your move.
- Start Early. If you think you can go through your entire house in one weekend, you are wildly ambitious. Give yourself time. Go room by room and don’t try to sort your entire house all at once. Take each item and decide its purpose, will you need this in a smaller space, will it take up too much room, will you use it regularly? Give yourself ample time. If you aren’t rushed, chances are you will find the downsizing process far less stressful.
- Start Small. Don’t start with the biggest room! Garages, attics, and basements can be the hardest spaces to tackle, so start in a space that you have very little emotional attachment. Try the laundry room, or a linen closet. You have to start somewhere right?
- Eliminate Rooms. If you are moving into a 2 bedroom house, chances are you won’t need your office desk, your tool chest in the garage, your spare bedroom mattress. Let things go. This is a great time to have a garage sale, donate, or relocate items to other rooms.
- Bye Bye Duplicates! Let’s reduce the clutter. Do you need 6 sets of sheets, 5 baking sheets, and 4 spatulas? The answer is inevitably no. You are moving to a smaller space, so only take the necessities.
- No Maybes. Sometimes our personal items don’t seem so cut and dry, how can I put this item in a yes or no pile? We know that some things are going to pull at your heart strings, but please don’t make that Maybe pile. Yes or No only. If you don’t use it regularly, or forgot you had it until you found it in the attic, you probably don’t need to bring it to your new space.
- Put Down the Snow Globe and Sell Sell Sell. It’s hard to let things go, but that collection of yours may just clutter up your new space. There are so many platforms to sell your items, such as Ebay and Craigslist, consignment shops and yard sales. Consider these options when trying to decide what to do with your “No” pile.
- Reminisce. Go ahead and look through your child's drawings, stuffed animals, trophies, photo albums. It’s okay to stop and let the nostalgia take over. Cry if you want, we won’t stop you. But let yourself be surrounded by the things that you love and bring you joy. This is why we started early. Give yourself time to experience these items.
This process might not be an easy one, and it’s certainly not one that should be taken lightly. However, now that you’ve done it, think of all the benefits that you are about to reap! You’re going to save time, energy, and money. Ultimately you will wind up with more time to travel, less maintenance to think about, and fewer expenses. Now you have this beautiful new space to make your home!
Remember to check back in at Rayfarmexeter.com or our Facebook Page for updates and news. Keep your eyes peeled for a Downsizing Seminar hosted by Proulx Real Estate coming soon.