Currently, the real estate market is hot, and houses are selling quicker than ever. There are people who would love to sell their house but are overwhelmed by or just don’t know how to go about downsizing, especially a family home that they have lived in for 40 or more years.
If you are thinking of downsizing, here are some questions to ask and some tips for starting the process of downsizing.
What are your reasons for downsizing? What opportunities will downsizing create? What are you most excited about and nervous about in this downsizing process?
Here are several methods that you can use during downsizing.
The 4-box method where everything you want to get rid of goes into one of 4 boxes, keep, donate, trash/recycle and sell.
The KonMari Method: If an item no longer “sparks joy” then it’s time to get rid of it.
When you start going through one room at a time. As you go through items ask yourself, do you use this item? Does it work? Have you used it lately? If you are moving, will it fit into your new home?
If an item is sentimental, consider keeping it in the family. Ask a family member if they would like it and schedule a pickup. Consider taking a photo of those items so you can look at the photos from time to time after you have given them away.
Consider selling or donating non-sentimental items to an organization such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Disabled American Veterans that will put your donation to use.
You should start the downsizing process as soon as possible to give yourself time to sort through your house without feeling overwhelmed. You want to give yourself at least 3 months before the planned move, but honestly, the sooner the better.
Don’t let the process overwhelm you, if all else fails consider turning to professional help – there are professionals who can assist you with the process. They can help you decide what to save and what to keep. Once that is decided they will help arrange movers and even set up your new home so on your first night you are all ready to go and moved in with towels and everything in its place. It certainly can make the whole downsizing and moving process easier.
