Packing up your home and fitting your belongings into a smaller property can be stressful. That’s why we’re here to help.
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Be realistic - but not ruthless!
Downsizing can often mean that you will need to scale down what you take with you to your new home, as there will be less space available for your possessions. This is your chance to have a spring clean and focus on exactly what will make your new house a home. With that said, you don't necessarily need (not want) to be getting rid of everything. You may regret parting with sentimental items, so think carefully about keeping any items that you currently use or use seasonally, as well as items with sentimental value or a practical purpose, even if you don’t use them regularly.
Empty those old boxes
Most of us are guilty of keeping boxes of 'bits and pieces', keepsakes or the dreaded "it might be useful someday" things around the home, but when was the last time you looked through them? Avoid moving them from place to place without a really good hunt through to see what's actually in there - you'll probably find lots of it can be disposed of or rehomed, leaving the rest to be kept safely in just one or two boxes.
The one year rule
Following on from that last tip, if you're prone to the "it might be useful someday" trap you'll probably come across a plethora of stuff while packing that you haven't even seen in years! Old clothes that might fit again one day, old craft supplies from a project you're "definitely going to get to one day", those dumbells you'll get into a routine of using soon... If you haven't used it in a year, do you still need it?
Digitise whatever you can
Did you know that important documents can all be digitised and saved to a cloud or hard drive to free up important space? There are some documents you will want to keep hard copies of such as birth certificates. Other personal or financial documents, you can scan and save. Most documents can be scanned and saved as a PDF file, or uploaded to the cloud using services like DropBox or Google Drive. Just don’t forget to shred any documents that include personal details after you’ve digitised them. If you have boxes and albums full of photographs that you don't want to part with, but don't really need to have in a physical form any more, digitising them can free up a surprising amount of space! Just make sure you keep any really important files in a couple of different places, just in case.
Maximise space
When it comes to the property you are moving into, think carefully about the layout and look at ways to maximise and make the most out of the space available. The furniture and layout you currently have may not be an ideal fit when you downsize, so it’s important to ensure that you have the correct measurements to hand. Ideally, walk-through with a tape measure to really get a feel for where you can place your larger items of furniture such as tables, sofas and beds.
Downsize the Big Stuff
If you’re downsizing on bedrooms you're likely going to need to rehome some larger items like beds, dressers and wardrobes. It’s better to make these big decisions before your move because you don’t want to end up paying to haul or store the excess furniture. Charities such as The British Heart Foundation and Sue Ryder offer free furniture collection services for these bigger household items.
Planning is key
When it comes to moving home, packing all of your belongings into boxes can be a huge chore, so it is beneficial to plan and pack well in advance – think about which room each box will be placed in when you arrive, and ensure that everything is clearly labelled to make unpacking that much quicker.
Clean as you go
As you pack your belongings and prepare to downsize, be sure to clean as you go. It might feel overwhelming to be polishing when you're packing up your entire home - and all the memories that come with it - but you'll feel much more overwhelmed if you leave the job until you're at the other end!
Downsizing to a smaller home means less upkeep, lower bills and more time to do the things you love. So while it might seem like a lot, look forward to the next chapter and all its possibilities!
Could downsizing benefit you? Find out the current value of your property
Why not take a look at some of the recent properties that we've brought to market? Who knows, your next home might just be a click away... View our latest properties for sale