How to Effectively Downsize and Declutter Before Your Move
When it comes to downsizing for a move, sorting through a lifetime’s worth of belongings for a relocation to a smaller living space can be a challenge. How can you decide what to keep and what to toss? Here at Al’s Moving and Storage we have worked with many a ‘downsizer’ and offer some useful advice for downsizing for a move.
Get an early start when downsizing for a move
When downsizing for a move, if you wait until you’ve signed a contract on your new home, you’ll end up getting overwhelmed and tossing everything into boxes to take with you. So start going through your belongings as soon as you decide to move.
Start in the rooms farthest from the heart of the home, such as the attic, basement, and storage rooms. That’s where there are more items that are simply being stored rather than used. Then move into the bedrooms, family room, and kitchen. Pack as you go through these rooms, and make separate piles of items you plan to sell, donate, and give to friends or relatives. Then get those items out of your home right away, so you won’t change your mind.
Involve your family
Items hold different meanings for various family members. You don’t want to save and store that box of toys from your daughter’s childhood only to find out later she doesn’t want them. You also don’t want to toss your son’s old baseball gear if it holds great sentimental value to him.
Envision your new home
Determine which pieces of furniture and other large items will fit in the new space, then sell or give away what you won’t have room for. Storing these large items in a monthly storage facility is costly when downsizing for a move. Items that were custom-made or specially purchased for your old space also may not transition well to your new place.
Determine the cost
When downsizing for a move, weigh the price you can get for selling an item against the cost of moving it. It may be better to buy something more suited to your new home with the money earned from a sale.
Consider context
If you’re selling everything else a particular item fits in with, you might want to let it go. For example, if you’re saying goodbye to the couch, it might be time to part with the matching love seat.
Be kind to yourself
You don’t have to get rid of everything you hold dear when downsizing for a move. If you’re really attached to an item and it would break your heart to let it go, keep it!