10 Easy Steps to Downsize for Your New Location

“Downsizing your home takes careful planning. Use these ten steps to make it easy.”  

Moving is a significant undertaking. You will need some careful logistical planning, and this is even more true when you’re downsizing. Moving to a new house is stressful. Moving to a small house is even more so. 
It forces you to reassess everything you have. The question is, where would your items go in your new home, and what are you prepared to let go?   

Good Reasons for Downsizing–What are Yours? 

You might get a smaller place for economic reasons. You might find your children have all grown up and you are now an empty nester. Or that your partner has passed away, leaving a large house full of memories. The reasons for downsizing can vary, as everyone’s needs are different. 

Or you might need to live a simpler, less cluttered existence. Downsizing means you’re forced to look at everything you own. You will need to decide what has earned its place in your new home and what you need to let go of. 

10 Ways to Make Downsizing Easier 

Whatever your reasons are, downsizing doesn’t have to be difficult. Use these tips to make the transition easier. 

1. Do You Have a Vision for Your New Place? 

Going smaller is a positive move in the right direction. You get to clean out your environment and start fresh. Take only what you need or like, and the rest you can cut loose. Once you have lived without all the things you thought you could never do without, you will never look back. See yourself living unencumbered by stuff, free and more alive than ever. 

2. Why a Plan Will Help Steer You Forward in the Right Direction. 

Downsizing, when planned well, should not be difficult. Draw a floor plan of the home you are currently living in and do a comparable plan for your new place. By comparing apples with apples, you will soon get a simple idea of what kind of space you will be using in your new home. This will also help you envision what stuff you have space for, and what stuff just won’t fit. 

3. Don’t Let Sentimentality Get in the Way of Progress. 

Sentimental items can take up a lot of space. Scan your keepsakes and make photo books as references to the things you are reluctant to get rid of. Nowadays, you can save a digital photo album on the cloud, saving tons of room, and hose sentimental items will always be with you without taking up all that space. 

4. What Would You Miss the Most? 

Make a list of what you absolutely cannot live without in your new home. You will get clarity if you write it down. 

5. How to Make the Most of Your New Space with Smaller Furniture Items. 

Bulky furniture could make your smaller space feel cramped. This might be a good time to trade in the old for newer, slimmer items. Your floor plans will come in handy when resizing your furniture. 

6. How to Declutter with Smart Storage. 

Ensure everything has a home. You can watch Marie Kondo videos to get clever ideas on how best to declutter and store assorted items. In a small space, clutter is all but inevitable if we don’t plan well and get rid of everything that needs to go. 

7. How You Can Free Up Space by Thinking Out of the Box. 

Invest in furniture items that can do two jobs in one. Sleeper couches can be both a bed and a couch. A kist used for storage can double as the perfect coffee table. This is a brilliant example of how best to free up space you never thought you had. Stairwells offer a splendid solution for creating that extra bit of space. You can create a little work-from-home nook under a staircase. 

8. Good Reasons for Keeping Your Clutter to the Minimum. 

Hobbies and sports can add to the clutter in our homes. Keep these to a minimum by borrowing equipment or leasing a space to store your hobby gear. That way, items you only use on certain occasions won’t clutter your space. 

9. How You Can Make Cash from Your Unwanted Items. 

You can turn your unwanted items into hard cash. Sell your items on Gumtree, eBay, Facebook, or on your local neighbourhood group. You can also donate items you cannot sell to a good cause. One man’s trash is another’s treasure. 

10. Good Reasons for Sharing Your Treasures with Others. 

Now is a great time to give your treasures to your family and friends. Find suitable homes for items that others would appreciate and that you no longer need. This will only apply if they want an item. That set of glasses your friend has admired, or that tea set your daughter loved. Gift these items. 

The Easy Store Difference 

We are making a difference in assisting with downsizing. You might find that you still want to hang onto certain items once you have downsized your space. We store extra items either long or short term. We won’t lock you into lengthy leases. You can take more storage space or a smaller unit anytime you choose. We help store your items in a safe, dry space for your peace of mind. The best part of all is that we come to you and will help with packing if you want.