37% of American homeowners would rather have a small house than a large one. If you’re one of these Americans and are downsizing to a smaller home, it can be a challenge trying to determine what you need to bring along with you.
Moving is a stressful time, so take the time to reduce some stress before the big day. Here are six great tips on downsizing to a smaller home.
1. Start Planning Early
When you leave things until the last second, you won’t make the best decisions. Early on in the moving process, take inventory of everything you have and note which items won’t fit in your new house.
When you have a clear list of what you have and where each item needs to go (either to your next residence or sold to someone else), you won’t be scrambling around trying to put things like oversized furniture into your smaller home.
2. Clear out Your Wardrobe
You may have accumulated a large collection of clothes over the years, but do you really wear every single piece? Go through your drawers and closets to determine which garments you don’t wear anymore. Donate your unused clothing to charity.
3. Get Rid of Old or Large Furniture
You may have an old couch that’s very comfortable, but it may be too large for your new place. Don’t try to make it fit; not only will it make the room look smaller, but it will probably detract from your new environment.
4. Eliminate Duplicates
It’s particularly easy to collect duplicate items in the kitchen. Go through everything from cookware to utensils to eliminate things you don’t need.
If you have numerous spatulas, large spoons, oversized stock pots, multiple sized cookie sheets, this is the time to pare down and only take with you what you need.
5. Reduce Things From Rooms You Won’t Have
If you’re relocating to an apartment or townhome, the chances are you won’t have a garage, basement, or office. Virtually everything in those spaces should be sold or donated unless you know you have space available for them in another room in the new home.
Consider selling these items at a yard sale or online. Outdoor tools and solid office furniture bring in more money than old sofas.
6. Use an Off-Site Storage Unit
When you’ve gone through and determined everything you want to keep and find that you can’t fit them in your new home, then you might want to look into renting an off-site storage unit. This can be a temporary solution while you work out if you’re going to sell them or make more space in your new home.
Use These Tips for Downsizing to a Smaller Home
When you use our tips on downsizing to a smaller home, you won’t have too much difficulty bringing the things you need to your new residence. With proper planning and resource allocation, your move will go quickly and smoothly.
If you’re moving soon and need a professional mover, get a free quote from us today.