Ready to Downsize? Take These 10 Tips

Ready to Downsize to Los Alamitos? Take These 10 Tips

Is your next home significantly smaller than the one you’re living in now? Downsizing can be freeing. But it also takes a lot of planning and a lot of work. In order to move into a smaller home and make it work, you’ll need to get rid of a lot of the stuff that’s in your current home. Here are ten tips to help you make it happen.

1. Start with furniture

The best place to begin when deciding what will and will not fit into your new home is with furniture. You may need to get rid of or replace some items so that your furniture works in your new home. You’ll definitely want to do this before the move. The easiest option is to measure the rooms in your new home, and then measure your furniture. Sell anything that won’t fit well before your move, so that you aren’t paying your Los Alamitos movers to move it for you.

2. Pack as you sort

If you’d like to keep things sorted as you’re preparing to move, start packing early. Begin by packing away any non-essential items – like home decor items – that you know for sure you’ll keep. Packing things you want to keep in your new home early in the process gives you an idea of what you still need to get rid of, and helps keep these items out of the way.

3. Begin with sorting out storage areas

Where to even begin when you need to get rid of 25% or even 50% of your worldly goods? Start with storage areas. Attics, garages, and spare rooms tend to collect items that you haven’t used in ages. If this is the case in your home, start by sorting through the stuff in these areas. Remember: if you haven’t used it in over a year, you probably don’t need it any more.

4.  Toss out the clutter

Maybe your current home doesn’t look cluttered. But even if this is the case, the same volume of decorative items, books, and knickknacks in your new home will probably look crowded. So start by tossing items that you no longer want for decorating your new home. This helps you build some momentum, as it’s often an easy area to declutter and get rid of some stuff.

5. Clean out the closets

Does your new home have less closet space than your current home? That may mean you need to sort through your closets and dressers. Try to whittle your wardrobe down to a manageable number of pieces that you truly love. You’ll be happier with your closet, and have an easier time getting your clothing to fit into your new home.

6. Check out a storage unit

If you get to the end of the sorting process and still know you’ve got too much stuff for your new home, rent a storage unit. Some Los Alamitos moving companies even offer portable units, which are super convenient. Put anything that’s not essential to everyday living in storage. Then, take a few months to slowly move more items into your new home. Once you’ve found the sweet spot, get rid of whatever is left in the unit.

7. Offer items to family members

Not sure what to do with sentimental items that you don’t have room for? Start by asking family members if they want to have these items. It can help you get rid of things that have some sentimental value without feeling guilty!

8. Host a whole house sale

When you’re doing a really large downsize, you may need to just host a whole house sale, rather than arranging a garage sale. Have people in your home to make offers on items that are still there. It’s much easier to organize, and can help you make a few bucks while getting rid of things you don’t need. Just be sure to move anything that you do want to keep out of your home well before the sale day.

9. Arrange for donation pickup

Before your house sale, arrange for your local secondhand shop ministry to pick up the leftover items. Get on the schedule, and you won’t even have to worry about loading up whatever is left over to donate. Plus, you’ll get a tax deduction from donating left over items.

10. Hire the professionals

Just getting through the downsizing process can be exhausting, so you may not feel that you’ve got it in you to finish the moving process now. That’s okay. Now that you’ve gotten rid of a lot of your extra stuff, your move could be very affordable. Check with your local Los Alamitos movers to find out just how affordable a stress-free move could be.