Downsizing—an opportunity to lighten your load, simplify your life, and make home living just plain easier.

Most adults don’t downsize until kids have grown up and left to make their own homes. Big homes for a single couple can be arduous and a single story, easy-to-manage home can become more and more appealing as time goes by. Wanting lower expenses, less house work, and a better fit are valid reasons to downsize your home. But, as an experienced Realtor, I’ve seen that waiting too long makes it a more difficult process. Sure you want to procrastinate going through all the memories and belongings you’ve saved along the years, but the earlier you begin, the better off you’ll be physically, socially, and financially.

The first step to downsizing is to identify what your initial downsizing goal is. What are you looking for in your fresh start? What do you want your new life, and home, to hold?

Planning ahead is also key. Inventory your belongings first and foremost. What do you no longer need? What things hiding in closets and other storage spaces are unnecessarily taking up space? If you find things you never remembered having, and haven’t touched in ages, that may be a good sign that you don’t need to continue holding on to it. You may even consider getting an appraisal for your possessions. There’s even professional help for downsizing, since it can be hard to pare down beloved memories. Don’t feel you have to throw everything out—balance here is key.

You can even try holding on to things you have trouble getting rid of for a trial period. If you haven’t worn a particular shirt in a couple months or decide you won’t actually ever use that old sewing machine again after watching it sit in the corner for a couple weeks, you can get rid of it later down the line. Once you’ve gone through your inventory, I can help you list your house and start looking for that new, fresh start.

The goal of downsizing is to make your physical home life easier. That may mean getting rid of some possessions to clean out the clutter, or keeping others because of their emotional value. Overall, you want to find a lifestyle that makes you happier!

Article Citation: Edleson, Harriet. (November 14, 2015.) “Out with the old when downsizing”. The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 18, 2015 from: http://www.seattletimes.com/business/out-with-the-old-when-downsizing/.
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