10 Tips to Make Downsizing Easier

Most seniors know that there will come a day when they’ll have to downsize, either to simplify their lifestyle, to cut costs, to be closer to grandchildren, or to address medical needs.

It’s often a stressful process — both emotionally and physically. But it doesn’t have to get overwhelming. Here are 10 tips to make downsizing easier.

Tips to make downsizing easier

1. Start early.

Give yourself plenty of time for this process, because it will inevitably take longer than you expect. Take your time, and don’t try to sort through your entire house in one day or one weekend. A couple of weeks to a month is a more realistic timeline. Take it one room at a time, and take breaks throughout.

If you aren’t rushed, you’ll find downsizing to be much less stressful.

2. Start small.

You probably already know of things you want to get rid of in the kitchen or garage, but avoid diving into such a big room at the very beginning. You have years and years of things to sort through. Start in an area with little emotional attachment. The laundry room or linen closet are good places to start.

3. Eliminate rooms you won’t have in your new home.

If you’re moving to a smaller home, you might not have a garage or office space. Nearly everything in those spaces will need to be sold, donated, tossed, or relocated to other rooms. These areas might also be good items for consignment or a garage sale; nice office furniture and outdoor tools are more valuable than old sofas or mattresses.

4. Get rid of duplicates.

You’ll find this is especially true in your kitchen. You have two or three spatulas, a couple of oversized stockpots, and four different sized cookie sheets. Now’s the time to reduce the clutter.

5. Only make Yes or No piles — no Maybes.

When you’re going through years of belongings, some things are going to tug at your heartstrings, and you’ll be tempted to make a third pile of things to keep if you have space. Don’t fall for it. You’ll end up with a Maybe pile that’s bigger than either of the other two. When that happens, you haven’t made any progress in sorting, just moved it across the room.

And remember -- moving isn’t cheap! Do you want to pay extra to move stuff you don’t even want?

6. Reduce collections creatively.

It can be hard to let go of a lifetime collection of porcelain dolls or snow globes from all your vacations, but they will eat up a lot of space or end up stored in a box where you’ll never see them. Go back to #5 above!

Instead, pick a couple to keep and take high-resolution photos of the rest, then have them made into a photo book that can sit on your coffee table or mantle. You will be able to enjoy them without the clutter. There are also tech tools or websites such as Fotobridge.com that will convert those boxes of photo negatives to digital.

7. Don’t be afraid to sell things.

With Craigslist, eBay, numerous smartphone apps, yard sales, and an abundance of consignment shops, selling your belongings has never been easier. You probably won’t make a ton of money on most items, so consider how much time you want to invest.

Yard sales are usually faster, but items won’t sell for as much. Craigslist has its drawbacks, but you’ll have a much wider audience and can probably get more for your stuff. A consignment is a good option for high-end furniture, handbags, and other accessories; prices are reasonable, and they’ll sometimes pick up heavy furniture for you.

8. Consider legacy gifts early.

Is there an antique clock in your foyer that you plan to one day leave for your son? Maybe a china collection your granddaughter adores? If there are certain heirlooms or pieces you plan to leave to your family in your Will, consider giving those gifts now.

This has two benefits: you’ll get the items out of our way, and you’ll be able to enjoy the feeling of giving those items to your loved ones now. While you’re at it, find out if there are any items your children want that you don’t know about — you might find an easy way to make them happy and lighten your load.

9. Allow some time to reminisce.

While you’re cleaning and sorting, there will be some days when you want to stop emptying the kids’ bedrooms and just look through the kindergarten drawings and soccer trophies. It’s OK to pause and let the nostalgia take over for a bit. Cry if you need to, or move on to another room and come back. This is why you started early — just don’t let it prevent you from eventually getting the job done.

10. Use this as a chance to bond.

Invite the kids and grandkids over for the weekend. Talk to the young ones about where you bought your favorite trinkets. Tell them about your family’s heirlooms. Let them help pack, ask questions, and spend time with you. Get help posting items for sale online.

It can be one more moment your family shares together in the house you’ve loved — before you start making those memories together in your next home. Remember that it’s your family that’s important for the memories you cherish, not the stuff around you.

Making the move after you pack

Now that you’ve downsized your belongings, how are you going to make your move? You’ll want to have an answer in mind from the beginning of your downsizing process.

Will you be rounding up family members to help pack and drive a moving truck? Will you pay for a full-service moving company to pack, ship, and unpack your things? Perhaps something in-between, with a mobile storage option in which you pack a container, and then the storage company does the shipping?

It’s important to keep these options in mind as you downsize because it might change your opinion on whether to keep or sell certain items. If you’re moving everything yourself, a 300-pound china cabinet might be better suited for the consignment shop to avoid the hassle and risk of injury. If you’re paying for full-service, you might be more inclined to keep it, but know that such heavy items add onto the price tag.

If you’re undecided about what type of move is best for you, let Tender Transitions help you compare moving options and costs.

Dealing with the emotional side of downsizing

Most people will struggle a bit with nostalgia when they’ve reached a point where it’s time to downsize. Change is hard for everyone, but the older we get, the more accustomed we are to our surroundings and our ‘stuff’.

A lot of these negative feelings come from both sadness and fear, which is why Tender Transitions recommends making a downsize as early as possible when it’s easier to adjust to a new environment.

Don’t let the apprehension get you down. Focus on the positives and appreciate how much simpler life will be with fewer surfaces to dust, rooms to vacuum, or towels to wash.

Your downsize doesn't have to be stressful, sad, or scary. Stay positive and get excited about a simpler life in a new place with less clutter.

Tender Transitions is here to help make moving easier.