Do’s and Don’ts of Downsizing Your Home

Living

Bigger isn’t always better. At various life stages, there comes a time when downsizing to a smaller home may be a better choice for you. Whether you’re retired, have an empty nest or are just looking to simplify your life, downsizing can be a little intimidating. Here are some do’s and don’ts to downsizing your home.

Downsizing Your Home: What to Do

1. Set a Realistic Timeline

Downsizing to a smaller home isn’t as easy as it may sound. Just as you wouldn’t rush into buying your first home, you should take your time choosing the right home to downsize to, even more so if you are moving with someone. Setting a realistic timeline helps avoid dragging out the process.

2. Begin Early

If, like most people, you’ve accumulated many belongings over the years, it’s going to take more than a weekend to sort through everything and decide what you’re going to keep. Downsizing means you can’t take everything with you, because it probably won’t all fit into your new, smaller home. You’ll have to get rid of some things. Perhaps you’ll sell them or opt to put them in storage. Whatever the case may be, getting rid of personal items can be difficult, so you will need to allow yourself ample time to sort through them without feeling rushed.

3. Hire a Realtor

Hiring a professional is often a good idea. While buying a home can be an emotional decision, there are also other factors to be considered. A realtor can help you find a home that is financially a good decision while keeping your needs in mind.

Downsizing Your Home: What Not to Do

1. Don’t Underestimate Your Space Needs

Even though you’re downsizing, it is important that you don’t go too small. Sure, you may not need a 5-bedroom mansion, but at the same time a studio apartment might be too small to house you and your stuff, which means you’ll have to move again.

To help choose the right sized space, measure the furniture you intend to take with you. Keep functionality in mind as well.

2. Don’t Take Everything With You

If you’re not too keen to get rid of your belongings, you may want to consider a storage unit. If you move with all your stuff from a bigger home to a smaller one, you probably won’t have space to move around. Downsizing offers an opportunity to de-clutter your life, so seize the moment and get rid of all the stuff you probably won’t use again.

Take It Easy

The key to downsizing is to take your time. Try not to rush it, or you may end up choosing the wrong home. Your home is your castle, no matter how big or small. When downsizing your home, sufficient planning and a professional realtor who has your best interests at heart are very important. Keep your finances and needs in mind and you should be able to de-clutter your life with relative ease.