No matter what type of move you are making, downsizing should be in order. When you are moving from a large home full of your stuff to a smaller space, it can be more than tricky. It is really tough to actually get rid of the extra stuff. You cannot just throw them as trash anywhere. You need to find the suitable means to get them disposed off.
There are many people who have downsized because the housing market crashed. Some simply want to live in a smaller space because it is in a desirable neighborhood that is close to work. The two biggest concerns related to cost are size and location.
Here is our moving guide to downsizing your home:
Create an inventory
Prior to moving, you should know how much space you have to move into. It should be the first thing to do. Make sure to take a close inventory of your belongings. You can take stock of the things that are actually important to you. Also, take those items into account that you could live without. These are the items that could downsize along with your living area.
You can create three lists. Number one is “Must Haves”. These are the items that you cannot live without. The second one is “live without”. These are the things you could sell, donate, or get rid of entirely in the proper manner. The third is “could replace” list that should be reserved for things that you could potentially sell and buy something smaller than you’d like. These include smaller TV or smart furniture that saves space for you etc. You can take a full inventory of your things. It is a great way to make a detailed home inventory.
Make sure to declutter Your Home with a Detailed Inventory
When you have a detailed home inventory, it serves an important purpose. It gives you something to show your insurance.
When you are moving into a smaller space with someone else and combining households, this step is even more important. Make sure to go through your inventories together. Be systematic in your approach.
Consider selling some items
There might be many things that are of no use presently. There is no point in moving all of these along with you, especially when the overall cost is determined by the overall load. You can sell some of these for cash. With the proper tactics, you can sell any unwanted stuff for the most possible money.
Thus, you need to get together with your neighbors and host a yard sale to get rid of those heavy furniture items or appliances. You can craft the perfect listings for your old books, computer accessories, or anything else you want to make some money on. Keep in mind that your aim is to carry minimum goods with you. So try to shred off the excess baggage by selling it, in the most profitable manner. In short, the more money you make, the more you’ll be able to buy things. Make sure to save the money and enjoy your new life in your smaller space.
You can consider some of the things that are just “insurance” items. These are usually that stuff that you keep for no reason. You just keep them out of habit! These are the first things that should pop up in your head at the time of selling items. Keep in mind that the things you’re keeping are only depreciating in value. You will make the right choice if you sell these items at reasonable prices.
Be planned and organized at the time of dealing with the disposable items
Keep in mind that selling things makes it easier for you. It is even better if you get paid for your old items. Of course, you might not get paid well when the item is not in that of a good condition. However, there are some items that are solely useless to you, but might be useful to others. At the same time, most of the things today are recyclable.
Thus, if you need more help though, make sure to check out our guide to kicking your clutter habit for tips to make the whittling process as easy as possible. Keep in mind that if you fail to sell it, doesn’t hesitate to donate it to charity. There are many organizations today that come up to purchase such specialized goods.
Try not to duplicate
At the time of moving into a smaller space with someone, you need to make sure you go over your inventories together is necessary. At the time of moving, try to combine two households is to find out that you’ve both brought two full sets of dishes, flatware, glasses, or worse, large items like chairs, couches, desks, and so on. It is necessary to have a home inventory in-hand before you move.
Make sure to get a solid storage place
You can very well get a storage space. When you are paying rent to someone, keep in mind that you need a good and safe home for your items. Storage units are almost never ever a good deal when you do the math and figure out how much you’ll pay for the unit every year versus the actual value of the items you’re putting into storage. If you are storing things because they’re “just in case” items, just sell them.
Make sure to think about what you can do with the items you have before you go buy a bunch of containers that just adds to the overall clutter. With a good downsizing, you can live a lighter life with a lighter load instead of spending more money shoehorning the things you have into a smaller space.
Downsizing doesn’t have to be a hassle. Parting with certain things definitely is emotional. However, try to think about the life you will get so easily.
