Let’s face it: many of us have more stuff than what we need, items we have accumulated through the years. Likely, we are holding on to things we no longer use or need, what could easily be sold or donated.
Life changes and as you precipitate a major move, that clearly calls for downsizing. Here’s what to keep in mind as you free up your space.
1. One room at a time. Don’t think for a moment that you can handle everything in your home at once when downsizing. Here, you will want to tackle each room individually to separate the things you want from what you no longer need. Indeed, tackling each room individually can give you time to seriously consider what you want to hold on to. Only when you have exhausted separating your goods should you move on to the next room.
2. To keep or not to keep. It isn’t always easy to decide what items should stay and what ones should go. If there is any doubt, simply place those “maybe” items in a pile for later decision making. When the time comes to decide later, then consider how you might use the item. If no good reason comes up, then it should be moved to the “going away” pile advises Smart Box Moving.
3. Look ahead to your new residence. One of the ways to downsize is to consider where you will be living next. For instance, if you currently live in a 2,200-square-foot home and are moving into a 750-square-foot apartment, then about two-thirds of your items will need to go away. Look at what you own and imagine how it will fit in your apartment. If it won’t fit or if the decor is not a good match, then get rid of it.
4. Dealing with treasures. The tough part begins when you are dealing with treasures, special items that have a deep meaning to you. If these items belonged to a departed spouse, know that they no longer have the same value that they once did. To keep this person’s memory alive, you might pick out a few items to keep on hand then donate or sell the rest. One more point: if it is a legacy item, then hand it down to the person in the family who would appreciate it the most.
5. When to throw it out. Not everything you possess can be sold or donated. The condition of the item may be so poor that it should simply be discarded. At the same time, if an item had value and has potential value, it may still be worth something. Here, you will want to employ the services of an appraiser to quantify the item’s worth before deciding whether to fix it or to sell it as is.
6. Get some help. Going through a houseful of memories alone may be too much. There are things in your home that remind you of different stages of your life — when you got married or when you became a parent. Indeed, there may be artifacts that are special to your children, therefore it is important to include them in the process. Don’t do this job alone — there are people that can help you, including professionals who can haul away what you no longer plan to keep.
Downsizing Delights
Once you have completed downsizing, you will have a simpler time keeping track of what you own, which is what you will need at your new residence. Do not hurry the process, but work in steps toward your goal. At some point you will have completed the downsizing and will be ready to move on with your life.