Feeling lost and overwhelmed at the thought of moving to a smaller place? Moving almost always feels difficult, especially after having collected nearly years’ worth of stuff and the memories built up in your current space. However, a more manageable living space has its payoffs. Downsizing saves money as well as time needed for maintenance, which in turn results in a simpler lifestyle. But how would you do it? Downsizing is a process of going through your things and then deciding what would go with you, what you would want to sell, and what you would give away. Whether you are an empty nester looking for a simpler life or one with less expense, the first steps you make towards decreasing the size of your living space will go a long way towards assuring a lot smoother and less stressful time for your move.
Getting You All Prepped For Downsizing, Moving, And Everything Else
Preparing for the Move
Evaluate Your New Space
Start by unpacking and familiarizing yourself with your new space. Take measurements of each room and record the size and placement of storage spaces. This exercise will be critical in determining some of your furniture and big items that will be transported into your new area and will aid in avoiding undue moving day stress. Take pictures of your rooms now so you can see and maybe mirror the same setup in your next residence. For instance, if your living room space will be significantly smaller, you will have to rethink your plan of taking your oversized sectional sofa. Think about how the furniture will fit or might be used for other purposes in the new space.
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Make a Budget
Downsizing, and moving may change your finances in many ways; make a budget that outlines not only the cost of your move but also the cost after moving, such as furniture, utility, and house renovations. You can also not leave out the cost of things like packing supplies, moving services, and temporary storage if you need a place where they can keep the extra stuff. This budget will help prevent any unexpected costs that can potentially bring financial stress to you. For example, if one employs a senior downsizing service, that equates to a likely monthly fee or other service charges.
De-Clutter and Organize
Start with the Least-Emotional
You can start de-cluttering with areas that have things with less emotional attachment, like the attic, basement, or garage. These are bound to include items that can be much easier to purge. Develop four categories: keep, donate, sell, and discard. This can make the process clearer and decision-making more simplified. For instance, begin with where holiday decorations or sporting equipment are. This way you will build up confidence at home when starting with the kitchen or bedrooms.
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Go Through Memories
Sorting through things that carry memories is generally the most painful part of downsizing moving. Go over these items very carefully. Keep the best, and digitalize your photos and documents to save on space. Family treasures or anything that holds sentimental value can be simply divided among the members of your family. That way, your memories are still shared, but you don’t have to keep every single item. For instance, sort through the boxes of old photographs. Copy them to create a digital collection that will need very little physical storage.
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Time To Sort The Remaining Things
Eliminate Duplicates
Empty and discard duplicate items in your living space. We are talking about having two or three quantities of the same item in your living space—for example, cutlery, kitchen appliances, and furniture. You should have only the basics type at your new place—the things that you use, that won’t clutter up your living space. Doing this, you eliminate a lot of your stuff, which is required to be shifted to your new apartment. For instance, you have three sets of mixing bowls—choose the one that you use the most and get rid of the other two. The same goes for when you have two coffee brewers; then you have to decide to keep the one you think will work best in the new kitchen
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Give Away and Sell Unnecessary Things
You can also have a garage sale, and some unwanted goods can be sold on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Local charities will be thankful for any kind of donations. For example, booking services for stuff like furniture and household items that you want to get rid of can be picked up by Goodwill stores or local shelters in your city. So this donation will not only free up your space as you get your senior downsizing service, but it’s also going to help someone in need.
How to Prepare to Move?
Consider Using a Senior Downsizing Service
If the above seems all too daunting for you, consider hiring a Senior Downsizing Service. Dozens of companies specialize in helping seniors transition to smaller living-including packing and moving. They can be invaluable at this point to ensure that items are moved with both care and efficiency. They can help you plan a floor layout for your new place so that your furniture will fit and your new home will be functional and comfortable.
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Pack Strategically
Use good quality packing materials and label boxes thoroughly. Start with packing things that aren’t mandatory, and save the items that you use daily for last. Consider creating a binder specifically for moving with documents, receipts, and to-do lists for your move. For example, pack out-of-season clothes, seldom-used cookware, books, and decorative items first. Make sure to write down the contents of the box and the room to which it belongs. This will make unpacking a lot easier.
Work With LifeCycle Transitions
Downsizing, and moving—it is a life transition and one filled with both emotional and logistical complexities. LifeCycle Transitions can help you make this transition as smooth and stress-free as possible. Let our detailed assessments of your new space, written plans, and actual decluttering and organizing methods make moving forward possible.
Should any questions arise or you wish to learn more about downsizing, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.