Our home usually holds a special place in our hearts – it’s where we wake up, enjoy our meals, laugh with family, and relax at night. However, sometimes the house that used to meet our needs ideally begins to feel too large or hard to manage. When this happens, it may be time to downsize your home.
Determine If It’s Time to Downsize Your Home
Are you on the fence about downsizing? You should consider scaling down your living space if any of the following apply to you:
1. Your house is cluttered.
Side note: Did you know clutter can have a negative impact on your mental health?
2. You find it challenging to keep up with your large home’s maintenance duties.
3. You have unused space like a vacant second-story bedroom or empty office.
4. You live far away from loved ones and want to move closer to them.
5. Your house has excessive monthly expenses, like significant tax burdens and sizable maintenance costs, which have become too much for your budget.
6. Your property no longer meets your physical needs.
7. Your home has heartbreaking emotional reminders attached to it, and you want a fresh start.
8. You want to simplify your life.
Assess Your Current Living Space
Once you have established that you need to downsize your home, the next step is to assess your current living space. The best action is to inventory all your belongings and consider which ones you should keep. Look at everything, from furniture to clothing to office supplies.
Have you used the item(s) in the last 6-12 months, or is it collecting dust? When you determine the things you need vs. the items that should be donated, sold, or trashed, you can figure out how much space you will need in your new home.
Prioritize Functionality Over Sentimentality
While keeping items with sentimental value is important, prioritizing functionality is crucial. Think about whether you need that old bookshelf or decorative vase. If you don’t, consider replacing it with something more functional.
At first, you may feel overwhelmed when considering tossing things that hold sentimental value. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself regarding these things:
1. Do I truly love this item, and does it bring me comfort?
2. Do I want this to be in my life as I move forward?
3. If I don’t have space for this in my downsized home, do I have a way to store it properly?
4. Am I keeping this to pass down to my child or grandchild? Do they actually want the item?
If you don’t answer “yes” to these questions when thinking about the item, consider throwing it away, selling it, or donating it.
Evaluate Your Storage Options
If you are downsizing and have things you don’t use regularly but have decided to keep, that’s okay. Here are a few creative ways to organize and maximize your space while keeping items accessible:
· Install built-in shelving units, wall shelves, or floating shelves
· Utilize under-the-bed storage containers
· Store items in vertical organizers or stackable containers
· Use storage chests, ottomans, or benches throughout your home
· Want more unique storage options? Check out a few here!
Get Rid of Duplicate Items
Do you have five spatulas or three sets of dishes? Most people don’t need multiples of the same item. Getting rid of these duplicates can free up much-needed space in your home.
Your kitchen is an excellent place to start. Check out your dishware, utensils, serving platters, and gadgets to see if you have extras. Choose your favorite and consider donating or selling the rest to reduce clutter and make your smaller space more enjoyable.
Duplicates also hide in your closet, bathroom, craft supplies, and other places. Check every area of your home for these extra, unused items.
Be Mindful of Your Future Needs
When you downsize your home, it’s vital to consider your future needs. For example, if you plan on having your children over often or hosting guests frequently, you may need more space than you think.
Don’t forget to think about your physical needs. Do you need a home without stairs or perhaps with a handicap-accessible shower? Consider your long-term goals and needs and plan accordingly.
The Next Steps in Downsizing
Downsizing isn’t just for retirees. Various life stages may provide reasons to downsize, like empty-nesters, young couples, recently divorced individuals, and people seeking more simplicity.
My website provides valuable information, resources, and articles to help you during this transition. I am also excited to answer questions about downsizing and eager to help you through the process.
Let’s downsize your home together – contact me anytime for a full-time, full-service real estate experience!