There comes a time in most people’s lives when they want to downsize and move to a smaller home that is much easier to manage and afford.
If your children have gone to university or flown the nest, or you want to move closer to your family so you can see your grandchildren more often, you may no longer need the extra bedrooms you now have. Many people will also choose to retire to a smaller, low-maintenance home that they can manage better as they get older.
There are so many benefits to downsizing, including having a smaller place to keep clean and hopefully fewer DIY jobs to do. Some people choose to move to a flat as it’s more accessible or so they no longer need to take care of a large garden or move to a place with a communal outdoor space that is maintained for them.
No matter what reason you have to downsize your home, there will always be the problem of having too many pieces of furniture, and too much clothing, bedding, ornaments and nick-nacks to fit into your new home.
Let’s take a look at some ways to make downsizing easier as you decide what to take with you when you move home.
Putting your home on the market
Selling up and moving home starts with listing your property on the market. You will need a reliable estate agent with an excellent reputation to do a home valuation for you. This will give you an idea of what your property will sell for and what you can afford when looking for your next property.
Once you have an idea of the price bracket for your next home, you can now enjoy looking at all the different types of property that you can buy and arrange a viewing if you like the look of any particular place.
Having a look around a smaller property will also give you a better idea of how much space you will have to play with. This can help you visualise what your own furniture would look like in each property you view and help you decide which pieces of furniture you want to keep and which to let go of.
Declutter, declutter, declutter
There is no getting away from the fact that you will have to be brutal when decluttering and organising what bits and pieces you wish to take with you. You may have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years, but there won’t be room for everything in your new home.
If you have any large pieces of furniture that have some family history and attachment for you, such as a large dressing table, sideboard, or china cabinet, then maybe it is time for you to pass on these treasures to the next generation.
Ask around your family to see who would like to take any furniture you cannot take with you. Your family members may be grateful to have something beautiful, well made with a lot of history attached to it.
Streamline your wardrobe and soft furnishings
It may be the case that you have cupboards and storage boxes full of spare pillows, duvets, blankets, and sheets that you don’t need to keep anymore. If they are still in good condition, you can donate them to a local charity, such as a women’s refuge, that can make good use of them.
If you have bedding and blankets that are too worn out to donate, then instead of throwing them away, check with your local dogs and cats shelter. Rescue centres are always looking for pet bedding and will be very grateful for your donation.
You may also have wardrobes full to bursting with clothing that won’t fit your new cupboards. This is where you need to be really strong. Go through your wardrobe, take out any outfits you haven’t worn in the past three months, and donate them to a local charity shop where they will find a second home.
Focus on your garage and garden shed
We always pack stuff in the garage or garden shed that we think we may need one day. Quite often, that day never comes, so it makes no sense to move all this clutter to your new home.
You may have many useful gardening and DIY tools and equipment stored away that you won’t need in your new place. How about holding a car boot sale or giving any unwanted items to a local charity?
People love a bargain, so make sure you get up early and set out your stall, as you may find a lot of early birds waiting for your sale to start!
You can either keep the money you make from your garage sale to spend on your new home, or you could donate the money you raise to your favourite charity.
Moving to a new home is an exciting time. We hope these tips help your downsizing plans go more smoothly.
If you are looking to downsize and need advice, we will be happy to help.
Please feel free to contact us here.
