Are you planning on downsizing to a smaller home and don’t know where to start? Though downsizing is exciting, it will be a significant life transition.
Once you downsize your home, you will have less space for your belongings. Ensure you’re financially prepared and ready for the impact downsizing will have on your lifestyle.
You might have to part with some of your stuff, which is never easy. There are many decluttering methods and organization tips out there.
For the process to be successful, you must know how to downsize your home.
Keep reading to know the do’s and don’ts of downsizing to a smaller home.
The Do’s of Downsizing to a Smaller Home
You might want to move into a condo, townhome, or a smaller house. Here are a few tips for downsizing to help you settle effectively in a smaller space.
1. Know Why You’re Downsizing
Why do you want to downsize your home? Some of the reasons to downsize include saving money, retirement, moving to another state, and wanting a minimalistic lifestyle.
Moving into a smaller home won’t be easy regardless of your reasons. Always keep your motivation to downsize in mind all time. That way, you will make your life transition a little easier. Know the home design you want to downsize into first.
2. Draft a Budget
Downsizing means you will also reduce your spending. Moving into a smaller home will help you save on property tax, mortgage payments, utility expenses, insurance costs, etc.
Ensure you review your living expenses and make adjustments and cuts where necessary.
3. Declutter Your Home
Before downsizing, it’s a great idea to declutter your home. Get rid of a few items in your current home to make everything fit perfectly in your smaller home.
Go through all your belongings before moving out. You can use the Four-Container Method to sort items in the right boxes.
Go through the cabinets, closets, and storage spaces to remove all clutter from the rooms.
4. Go Digital When Possible
Paper clutter can add up over the years. Ensure you categorize all your old documents, receipts, and bills – recycle the things you don’t need.
Store the older paper files like taxes in plastic bags. Then, scan the receipts and records you might need in the future to have a digital copy and shred the hard copy papers.
You can also convert your music, photos, and movies into digital files. You will make much living room in your new space without having to part with valuable items.
5. Measure Your Current Furniture
You might not have enough space to fit your current furniture in your new home. Measure your furniture when taking inventory of your belongings to know whether it will fit in your smaller home.
You might have to part ways with most of your furniture when downsizing your home. It’s better to know the furniture you won’t move with ahead of time, instead of moving a couch only to find it won’t fit.
That’s why you should buy new items after knowing the space in your new home.
The Don’ts of Downsizing to a Smaller Home
Among the many home downsizing tips is knowing what not to do! The things you should avoid doing include:
1. Don’t Assume You Have Limited Housing Options
Whether you want to move into assisted living or a 55-and-up community, choose a home that meets your needs and comfort. Now, baby boomers are moving into condominiums and mobile homes, which are part of the “tiny home” movement.
There is a massive tiny home movement as baby boomers are trying to get into the smallest place possible. Before moving, consider your financing option.
A mortgage late in life may seem like a bad idea, but it might be the only solution you’ve got when downsizing.
2. Don’t Set an Unrealistic Timeline
You wouldn’t want to rush into buying a new home. The same applies to downsizing into a smaller home.
Note that the downsizing process might take longer than you imagine. You won’t find an appropriate home within one or two weekends.
The downsizing process can take up to 8-weeks, so establish a timeline to avoid dragging out the process. You must select what you need to trash, sell, and give away.
You also need time to sell your home and purchase your new home.
3. Don’t Put Anything in Storage
The reason behind your downsizing plan is to have less and not to store things away from your living space. Once you rent out a storage unit, you will add to your clutter problem and cost you more.
One option is to take a few items from your collection and auction out the rest of your unneeded belongings. That way, you will have less clutter and receive some money in return.
An excellent place to offload your belongings is during an estate sale. First, decide what you want to move with before calling out an estate sale.
Get Help Downsizing to a Smaller Home
Start now if you’re planning on downsizing to a smaller home. Even though you don’t plan on moving soon, start getting rid of unwanted stuff.
Preparing to move takes a lot of planning, time, and effort. Preparing to downsize takes even more effort – but it can be made easier with a design team that can walk you through the process. If you’re planning to move into a smaller home and don’t know where to start, we can help!
At MJS Designers Group, our custom home designs are truly works of art, regardless of the size! We have designed many houses for clients looking to downsize. We commit ourselves to exceptional customer service, and we walk every client through the entire process of their custom home design – from the preliminary sketch to the finalized product.
Contact us now to design your perfect “downsized” home!