How to Plan a Downsizing and Build a Downsizing Timeline

We’ve all experienced those times when things just don’t fit anymore – either because our style or needs have changed, or things have become too small or too big.

While it’s easier to change your wardrobe or even your car, moving to a new residence because your current one no longer fits your needs can feel a bit more complicated. We’re here to help with suggestions on how to downsize your home.

The Benefits of Downsizing

It’s a fresh start: Downsizing allows you to reimagine your living space by ensuring your home is filled with items that truly matter to you.

It makes moving easier: After decluttering, you’ll have less to pack, unpack and organize in your new space.

Homelife becomes easier: A smaller or less cluttered space requires less maintenance and upkeep, freeing you up to do activities you enjoy.

Simplifies your life: Letting go of items you no longer need or want can create a more organized and peaceful environment in your new home.

How to Plan a Downsizing Move

Create a plan: Measure your new space and then take inventory of your furniture. If you realize something won’t fit, donate it, gift it, sell it, or throw it away. One easy way to start is by eliminating rooms you won’t have in your new home. For example, if you’re moving to an apartment, you might not have a garage or office space.

Break it down: Break large tasks down into smaller steps that you can tackle a little bit at a time each day until the job is done.

Start simple: Eliminate those items that you know you don’t want or need. For example, toss out any expired medicines, pantry items and food from your fridge and freezer. Recycle old magazines, newspapers, and obsolete technology like old phones and computers.

Start small: Avoid diving into the rooms with the most sentimental stuff like your kitchen or bedrooms at the very beginning. Start in an area that holds little emotional attachment like the laundry room or linen closet.

Dealing with unwanted items: If they’re in good condition, you can sell things at a garage sale or online or donate them.

Dump the duplicates: This is especially true in your kitchen where you might have two or three spatulas and ladles, a couple of oversized stock pots and four different sized cookie sheets.

Make only “yes” or “no” piles: Take a hard look at every item you pick up. If you use it regularly, keep it. It’s time to let something go if it’s been sitting in a closet or on a shelf for a year or more. Don’t fall for creating a “maybe” or “if I have space” pile. You’ll end up with a pile that’s bigger than either of the other two.

Creatively reduce collections: It can be hard to thin out a collection you’ve spent a lot of time building. Pick a couple of key items to keep and take high-resolution photos of the rest. You can then have them made into a photo book for your coffee table.

Take your time: Don’t try to downsize every room all in one day. Instead, create a timeline based on the size of your home and how much stuff you have.

Build Your Downsizing Timetable

To figure out how long it’ll take to declutter and organize each area of the house, start with something like a small room or bathroom. You can then get a general feel for how long it takes you (like one day or one weekend) and use that as your baseline.

Next, look at the other rooms in your house and guesstimate how big they are and how much stuff they contain. For example, if you have a guest bedroom with large closets it’s safe to assume it has three times the stuff of your bathroom. You can then guess it’ll take three times as long to go through. You can use this method to estimate all the rooms in your house and build your downsizing timeline.

Remember, some rooms will go faster than expected and other may take longer. To avoid downsizing burnout, make sure you take breaks and don’t try and do it all in a weekend or week. A couple of weeks to a month is  more realistic.

Downsize into a Better Way of Living at South Port Square

Ready to find something that fits you and your lifestyle better? Check out our spacious floor plans. When you find something that interests you, use our Community Assistant chat feature or contacting us here to schedule your visit.