Guide to Moving: Helpful Tips When Downsizing

Have you noticed there is an increased fascination with tiny living and decluttering? That is because downsizing is all the rage.

Whether you are a new empty-nester or a family looking to save money, more and more people are making the move towards living more compact. And to be honest, why not? You will find freedom in clearing junk from your life. There is no better feeling than a clean and tidy space, which leads to less stress and happier living. While the benefits of downsizing or plentiful, getting started can be hard.

And that is entirely normal. To combat the headache that comes with revamping your entire living space, break the task into smaller steps. By having a guide, you will be comfortable and confident through the whole moving experience. To help, we've got some easy tips to help make downsizing as smooth as possible.

5 Tips for Downsizing

Tip 1: Plan, Plan, Plan

Your first step when downsizing is creating a plan before you pack a single box. When creating this plan, ask yourself the following two questions:

• How much space is the new home? Look at the square footage and room measurements. Determine how much furniture you need for each space and get rid of items that won't fit.
• How are we moving our items? When using a car to move, you can only take the necessary items, since the space is much smaller. On the other hand, if you use a moving company, you can take big furniture items.

Creating a plan around these two questions will save yourself a lot of time and headaches when moving. You'll know exactly how much room you have and can and can't fit in that space. Anything that won't fit can get sold or donated before worrying about the packing stage.

The average individual will keep a third to a half of their belongings with downsizing. That all depends on the amount of space you currently have and what the new home looks like. To get a feel for the space different, try to find an area in your home with similar square footage to the new location. Maybe your new living room is the size of your current spare bedroom. By looking at that space, you will have a better idea of what items will fit and what won't.

Tip 2: Organize

Now that you have an idea of the amount of items you can take, it's time to determine which items will come with you. This is the perfect time to practice decluttering and go through areas of your home that haven't been touched in years. Go into each room and create three piles: keep, trash, donate. As you put items into each pile, ask yourself: how often do I use this, and does this have meaning? The only items that should go with you are items that you regularly use or have sentimental value. All other items get trashed or donated.

By having that question in mind, you will be able to quickly go through each room in the house more efficiently. Don't be afraid to get rid of or sell items that you are on the fence about. Once you move into your new home, if you have extra space, you can think about finding items to fill those areas. Be strict with yourself and stick to these three piles.

Many companies will now come to your home and take away old clothes, furniture, etc., so don't be afraid to donate bigger items.

Tip 3: Remember Why

This process won't be easy. You will likely get overwhelmed or feel as though it's impossible to sort through everything. So, when this point hits: stop and think.

Think about the 'why' behind your move. Are you moving to be closer to your family? Trying to save money on a smaller space? An empty nester looking to find a permeant home? These are all important questions that will redirect your focus back on the positives of downsizing.

From saving money to doing less cleaning, there are a ton of perks to downsizing and living a smaller home. Moving to a new place can be an exciting time. Take a look a just of few of the perks of living in a smaller house:

• Easier to keep clean
• Forces you to be organized
• Saves you money
• Live simply

These are just a few of the reasons why a smaller home is great. By focusing on the positives, you can continue going through these tips and stay on track with your downsizing plan.

Tip 4: Focus on Essentials

We can easily get caught up in giving each item in our home, sentimental value, but you need to focus on keeping only the essentials. Don't be afraid to throw away that extra pair of reading glasses or the pot you've never used. Consider how much you are using each and every item before placing them in the correct pile.

This is the hardest part of the process for most people as it requires a level of honesty and introspection. Don't try to convince yourself to keep something that will just take up space in your new home. The best way to do this is by focusing on the joy of rehoming this item and how happy you will be to have less clutter. By focusing on the positive part of this activity, you won't feel so overwhelmed.

Tip 5: Ask for Help

Call up a friend, neighbor, or a professional mover to help you with this process. Having a second pair of hands will help the process go faster and will help you stay on track. If you know that you are someone who gets overly attached to certain items, having someone else make that final decision. This is a major move, and as such, you need to make sure that everything is staying on track.

Think of the areas in your home that have boxes collecting dust such as garages, storage rooms, sheds, and attics. Most of us are collectors by nature, and as you move to your smaller home, you will begin to realize the actual amount of stuff you have. A helper can make this process quicker and help you decide what is important enough to bring and what should be sold or donated.

Hire a Moving Company

If you are in the middle of decluttering or downsizing your home, a moving company can help. Three Movers offers full-service moves that will safely get your items from one place to the next. Take the hassle of downsizing and contact us today for a free quote!