Tips for a Move when Downsizing
If you have recently decided to downsize, figuring out what will come with you to your new home might seem daunting. You can’t bring all of your current possessions with you, so you’ll have to make some tough decisions especially for long-distance moves. We at Armstrong Relocation – Houston have helped many families in the downsizing process and we are here to help with eight tips to make your moving process stress-free.
Start now.
It’s never too early to start decluttering. Organizing and parting with long-held items can be hard, so you should give yourself plenty of time and space to decide what will come with you to your new home.
When you’re preparing to downsize, experts recommend starting to declutter at least three months in advance of moving day.
Forgo the extra furniture.
Begin the decluttering process by examining the big items in your house, such as furniture and appliances. Is your couch too big for that new home you’re moving to across town? Are you losing an extra bedroom and need to sell the spare bed and mattress?
Develop a plan of action for the bulky items that will require extra care and attention. Goodwill accepts donations of used furniture, or if you have the time, you can sell them on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or eBay.
Clean your closet.
Some people only wear a fraction of their clothes, leaving the rest to collect dust in dark corners of their closets. Go through your closet, and set aside your favorite clothes, shoes and accessories that you regularly wear.
If you haven’t worn something in months or find a shirt with the tag still on it, it’s time to donate it to a local Dress for Success center.
Embrace the digital.
You don’t want to sacrifice valuable space in your new home to filing cabinets full of paperwork and receipts. Keep only the essential documents that require a hardcopy, then scan the rest of your papers to a computer or hard drive.
As a precaution, shred the paper copies before moving them to the trash. You can also digitize your DVDs, CDs, photos and home-video cassettes. Whenever you’re feeling nostalgic, you can easily pull them up for another look without taking up cabinet space.
Multipurpose is key.
In a smaller space, it will be important to have items that you can use in different ways. Maybe your sofa doubles as a pull-out bed, or the can opener also has a bottle opener attached. For each item you’re thinking about keeping, picture how it can function in different ways in your new home. Then sell, donate or give away any duplicates.
Picture items in their new locations.
Every item you keep should have a designated location in your new home. When you’re packing up your belongings, picture where everything will go in your new layout. If you can’t imagine a specific location where an item will go, you should consider donating it.
This will prevent you from bringing along items that you don’t have the space for or turning a closet in your new home into a storage space.
Decide what sparks joy.
Take some clues from Netflix star Marie Kondo and leave behind items that don’t spark joy. A new home is not only a chance to rid yourself of clutter, but also to start fresh in your new home with only your most-cherished items.
Be patient.
Moving can be emotionally taxing, so it’s important to stay compassionate and patient with yourself throughout the process. And remember that you don’t have to do this all alone.
If you’re looking for a moving partner who will provide exceptional service every time, contact Armstrong Relocation – Houston today!
Call 281.897.1118 or request a quote online.
