How to Downsize Your Home
When life’s circumstances change, it’s time to downsize your home. Whether you have loved ones moving out or just want to simplify your life, getting a new home with less square footage may be exactly what you need.
This process is more daunting than it seems, as it involves decluttering, selling belongings, applying minimalism to your lifestyle, and even perhaps some compromise among family members. The larger your current home is, the harder the process is to move into a smaller space.
But with enough effort, anything is possible. So, if you’re one of the Americans who want to simplify life and transition to a smaller living space, this article is for you.
- Tip: Need extra help? A professional organizer can help you get rid of unused items, duplicate possessions, and strategize storage solutions.
Moving from a Larger Space into Less Space
Homeowners deciding to downsize figure out quickly that they must let go of a lot of belongings. The downsizing process is easier when you employ some key methods. By getting rid of enough clutter, you’ll be ready to move into your smaller home with minimal stress.
Downsizing Tips
Whether you’re an empty nester looking to make life more affordable after retirement or a young family, people downsize all the time to make a beneficial life change. Here are some tips on how to get it done.
1. Start with one room at a time.
When you have been accustomed to a maximalist lifestyle, every drawer and closet is going to have a lot of “stuff” to sort through. That’s okay though — because you can still tackle these areas by taking them down room by room.
Don’t try to do it all in a day or you’ll be worn out! Decide what you want to keep for your new space as you sort through each room and put your unwanted items in a temporary area like a basement for sorting.
As you collect more unwanted items, you can determine which of them are worthy of donating, selling, or what must be thrown away. Typically, you can sell valuable collectibles, like-new clothing, and gently used baby and toddler gear with little difficulty. Anything that is dirty, worn down, or not functional should be disposed of safely.
2. Use storage space for items you don’t need often.
Storage units are excellent for people who want to downsize but not let go of certain belongings, like furniture they can sell, or heirlooms to pass on. Sentimental items are hard to throw away, and these spaces are here so you don’t have to make that hard choice. Yes, you can have it all — just not in your new house!
3. Have a garage sale!
Don’t have any storage options in your area? Well, you can free space while getting some money back. Selling unneeded furniture or belongings at a yard sale can help you transition to your new small space much more easily. Though this can be time-consuming, you can get a lot of money to move.
4. Sell your things online.
Garage sales can be a lot, which makes us thankful there is a way to sell items without as much social interaction. People are always looking for deals online in places like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. If you have some belongings that you don’t want the movers to take, list them online!
5. Research the basics of minimalism.
Living a minimalist lifestyle is crucial for downsizing, as you will need to get rid of a lot of extra items. If you’ve always lived with plenty, then adjusting to this can be challenging without doing research and practice. Need some inspiration? Check out this blog by “be more with less.”
6. Donate to shelters and thrift stores.
If you are short on time, then thrift stores and charities like goodwill can pick up your furniture and large boxes of donations that are in good condition. Remember to not treat these charities like a dump, but to donate things that you could picture someone else using.
The Benefits of Downsizing
Now that you know how to downsize a home, it’s time to appreciate its benefits. Whether you become a homebuyer of a smaller single-family home or prefer to rent, decreasing your future living space offers a variety of benefits.
1. It’s easier for mature adults.
A smaller single-family home comes with fewer upkeep needs, smaller yards, and less space to clean. Alternatively, a rental in an adult living community comes with zero repair and yardwork responsibilities. This is important for adults who can’t keep up with maintenance like they used to.
2. You can sell your home and build a smaller house
What if you could get a brand-new home with all the upgrades you wanted without the extra space of your current home? That’s exactly what you can do when you buy a new construction home with your first home’s equity! Since a smaller house is cheaper than a bigger house, you can also pay down a lot of your new home’s loan!
3. You’ll enjoy smaller energy bills.
When you sell your home and move into a smaller house, you can dramatically reduce everyday expenses like utility bills. Less space requires less energy to heat and cool.
4. Property taxes are usually lower.
If you move to a smaller home in a similar market, then it will usually have lower property taxes. This is helpful if you need to minimize expenses.
How to Downsize Your Home
Are you interested in downsizing your home? Contact a real estate agent today to start your journey on moving from a larger home to a smaller one. If you want to purchase a new construction home, we’ll be glad to help you too!
