Whether your impending house move is nearly upon you or else you are currently simply looking into downsizing your home to a smaller one in the future, then you have come to the right place.
Downsizing can be as challenging and rewarding in equal measure and with this in mind, continue reading for a comprehensive guide to downsizing from a larger home to a smaller one.
Give Yourself Time
Preparation, as in most other areas of modern life, is essential when it comes to downsizing from a larger home to a smaller property.
It would be entirely unrealistic to say that you are going to be able to pack up and sort through the entirety of your worldly belongings in just a few days, so make sure you give yourself ample time to do things properly and thoroughly. A fantastic idea to help ensure you don’t make any rash decisions is to look into climate-controlled self-storage options from reputable and renowned companies such as www.storagearea.com.
Don’t Do Everything on Your Own
Another important thing to remember when downsizing your home is to not place all the pressure on yourself.
Instead, treat the unpacking, sorting, and cleaning as a chance to bond with your proverbial nearest and dearest, and if you are moving to a smaller home quite a way away, you could even turn it into a packing party for your local friends.
Carefully Consider Your New Lifestyle When Deciding What to Keep
No one can stop the passage of time and, regardless of your reasons for downsizing your larger property to a smaller and more manageable one, there will inevitably be differences in terms of the position you are in now versus where you were when you moved into your current property.
Some questions to ask yourself whilst deciding what to keep, what to place in storage, and what to donate or throw away, and if you are living with a significant other or other family members, to these people as well, could include the following:
- What aspects of moving to the new property are you most excited about and what do you hope to do for leisure and recreation there?
- Are there any activities or hobbies you used to love and are looking forward to taking up once more?
- What new opportunities will moving to the new neighborhood and property create for both you and other members of your household?
- What are the very first things you would like to do as soon as you are settled in your new home?
Treasure Sentimental Items
If the property you are moving into is substantially smaller and more compact than your current one and you are someone with a great deal of belongings, then one way to ensure sentimental and treasured family heirlooms are kept safe is to gift them ceremoniously to other members of your family.
Additionally, make the most of the technologies available that simply weren’t at the time by taking careful photographs of any important handwritten cards and notes, scanning, uploading and saving playbills, tickets, and other paper souvenirs, and scanning after photographing artwork from your children when they were young.