Downsizing Your Home

Moving from your current home into a smaller one can be a daunting, as well as an emotional task. Regardless of your reason or situation, the move can be made easier with some careful planning and preparation.



Create a Solid Plan
When you're looking to move into a smaller home, take into account your future needs. Look at what options or features you actually use and what is relevant to your lifestyle right now, or will be in the future. Is it important for you to be close to the CBD for work, is public transport an option, how much proximity to shops, cafes and community services is necessary?

Are you looking to move closer to family or friends and will your move be convenient for your new lifestyle.

Think About Your New Space
Reducing your living environment will force you to consider your belongings and furnishings. Get a feel for your new space and try and measure out a floor plan as a guide of where your furnishings will go in the new home. This will allow you to quickly identify which furnishings you'll need to keep and what you can get rid of or put into storage.



Simplify The Bulk
Moving into a smaller home gives you the perfect opportunity to simplify. Take time to look around your home and think about what items hold value to you, which are sentimental and or practical to keep.

So often people keep items under the guise that it could be useful one day.

If it hasn't been useful in the last 2 years, you can do without it.

Pay close attention to items that get put back into the back corners of cupboards, stuck high on shelves or stuck into boxes in the garage as you might be surprised at what you find.

When you sort through everything, try and be decisive and ruthless so that you don't hang on to excess belongings. Be particularly ruthless in areas of your home where less emotional items would have less pull such as the kitchen, bathroom, shed and garage.

Dispose of anything that is damaged or not worth fixing and donate or sell other items.

It can also be a worthwhile experience to get family members help you with the process as you can gift treasured items to family members and friends during that time. You can also let go of items that you're holding onto in hopes that one day someone might want them.



Be Sentimental But Smart
Photos, family memorabilia and collectibles are always the hardest things to cull back as each piece has a memory or a story attached to it. If possible, preserve them in a journal, or organise a photo box, scan old newspaper articles and throw away the newspaper, etc.

You'll not only save space, but you can more easily share your memories this way.

Consider Getting a Professional
If the thoughts of de-cluttering, sorting and packing seems too much, consider hiring help. Many removalists offer packing assistance to ensure you move is stress free.

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