7 Tips For Downsizing Your Home or Apartment

Moving can be stressful. There is so much to pack, plan, and declutter, not to mention the big adjustments a new city or neighborhood can bring. The stress increases when you move to a smaller home or apartment. Downsizing is challenging, especially if you’ve lived in a family home for years or are moving to a city where a larger apartment is too expensive or hard to find.

However, starting fresh in a smaller space doesn’t have to be daunting. With thoughtful planning, it can be a positive change that improves life. Here are the top tips from Market Apartments for downsizing your home or apartment.

1 – Start Early and Plan Well

One of the biggest challenges for those moving to a smaller place is finding the time to go through their things and decide what to keep and what their new place will need. If you know you’ll be downsizing soon, start planning right away. Plan for new expenses, as you may be responsible for different utilities. Decide when you need to go through your things and when the actual move will happen.

Start decluttering and packing as soon as possible. This gives you time to decide what matters to you, what you need, and what you may need to donate, sell, gift, trash, or store. The process isn’t quick; the more time you allocate, the smoother it will go.

1. The average cost of downsizing ranges from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on factors like moving services and storage units.
2. About 12% of Americans move annually, and downsizing is a significant reason.
3. The cost of living can decrease by up to 30% when downsizing, depending on location and lifestyle changes.

2 – Evaluate Your Values 

Jumping into decluttering without considering the life you want to build in your new home can lead to frustration. You may hold onto things you haven’t needed in years or won’t need in the future. You’ll move things that don’t need to be moved. Figure out which items and hobbies you truly value.

Create an outline or vision board of the lifestyle you want to have to keep that in mind as you sort through your belongings for the move. Ask yourself, “Will this fit the life I want?” as often as you consider whether you have space for the item.

3 – Assess Your Items Realistically

We often lose track of what we have, misplace things in junk drawers, or forget about old clothes in the closet. Create a detailed list of all your belongings and be as accurate and honest as you can. Knowing what you have will help you be realistic about what can come with you to your new home.

This avoids surprises later, like running out of room in the moving truck or at your new house, or finding things you thought you got rid of because you weren’t aware of what you had. Be realistic about your new space and what you actually need, not just what would be nice to have.

1. Consider using a digital home inventory app to track items, especially valuables.
2. Look into tiny home communities as an alternative downsizing option.
3. Research local recycling programs for responsible disposal of electronics and hazardous materials.
4. Use floor plan software to visualize your new space and decide what to keep.

Consider The Following: 

• Plan for things you may need to swap or get smaller versions of, like couches, beds, or dining tables.
• Consider the available amenities. For example, if your new place has a gym, you may not need to bring your treadmill.
• Think about your new neighborhood. Will you have the same hobbies or take up new ones? Is it walkable? Are there things you need to live there happily?
• Don’t forget about kitchen space when thinking about small appliances or storage space for clothes, craft supplies, or outdoor gear.
• Be smart about using containers to keep things organized as you declutter and move, and be realistic about what may need to go into storage. Seasonal items like winter tires, snowboards, hiking gear, or kiddie pools may not be things you need to keep at home. Decide what to do with them.

4 – Declutter

Decluttering is the biggest part of downsizing, and it can be challenging, especially if you’ve raised children in your home or never had to declutter significantly before. There are several decluttering strategies you can find online or in books, but here are the best tips we’ve found:

• Get rid of things you haven’t used in ages. This is an easy place to start because there is little chance of regret.
• Start in areas with little emotional attachment or smaller areas like the bathroom. Don’t get overwhelmed at the beginning.
• Save big rooms or projects for last, especially those with more sentimental items. Sentimental items are hard to go through, whether you decide to declutter them or not. Wait until you’ve had some practice and a good idea of what you actually need and want.

1. According to a study, 67% of people said they could eliminate 20% of their possessions without any impact.
2. The average American home contains 300,000 items, from paperclips to ironing boards.
3. About 54% of Americans are overwhelmed by their clutter but don’t know what to do with it.
4. One in seven Americans has a room in their home they cannot use because it is filled with things they rarely use.

5 – What To Do About Maybes

If you start early and have months to plan, you could put together a box of “maybes” that you will revisit a few weeks before the move to make a final decision. If you haven’t thought about it or touched it, let it go. With less time, it’s important to stick to “yes” or “no.” You may have to be very strict with yourself to get through, but if you don’t have room for it, you have to let it go.

It’s challenging when you think you might need something in the future or fear you’ll regret getting rid of it. If you have the money for a storage unit, you could put your “maybe” items there and see if you need any of them within a specified time (e.g., 6 months), and then declutter those you haven’t needed. But often, a storage unit is an added luxury, or you risk forgetting about those items entirely. Take inventory of what you have, revisit any undecided items, and stick to a “yes or no” process as much as possible.

6 – Deal With It Emotionally

Be prepared for many emotions to come up during the process. Nostalgia can be a strong emotion, and you will likely encounter many sentimental items during the process. If you’re struggling to get rid of gifts or are downsizing collections, consider photographing items you can’t take with you. This way, you can remember who gave it to you without the added burden of keeping the item itself.

For keepsakes, you could make a keepsake box and decide that if it doesn’t fit in the box, it doesn’t come to the new house. If those methods don’t work, remember the values you set at the beginning and stick to them when making your decision.

1. Use the “One Year Rule”—if you haven’t used it in a year, you probably don’t need it.
2. Consider a “packing party” where friends help you decide what to keep and what to discard.
3. Look into multifunctional furniture that can save space in your new home.
4. Use vertical space effectively with wall-mounted storage solutions.
5. Consider digitizing sentimental items like photos and children’s artwork to save physical space.

7 – Pass On Items Responsibly 

When letting go of items, decide what needs to be done with them and pass them on responsibly. Consider what needs to be donated, recycled, thrown away, or sold, and don’t be afraid to sell things yourself. Don’t pawn items off on family or friends. It can be difficult to let go, but don’t burden them with things you are afraid to part with unless you know they will actually use and love them. Be smart about what can be reused or recycled, and contact local recycling and donation centers so your things are appropriately saved or disposed of.

If you have things that still belong to your children, consult with them. Ask them if there is anything they would like, but give them a timeline because you have one too. You may not be able to continue holding onto things for them during the move. It’s challenging with so many memories tied to items, but photos or notes in a journal can bring back those memories just as well.

Uncommon Downsizing Hacks

Downsizing often has a stigma of being a strenuous, emotionally charged ordeal. What if we flip the script and turn it into an exciting adventure? Let’s dive into unconventional hacks that elevate downsizing from a chore to an art. These aren’t typical tips; they’re inventive strategies rooted in psychology, tech-savviness, and a touch of creativity.

• Virtual Reality Space Planning: Before the boxes come out, put on a VR headset and pre-arrange your furniture in your new home. It’s a practical way to see what fits and what needs to go, offering a realistic blueprint for decision-making.

• Reverse Advent Calendar Technique: Shift from adding to subtracting. Remove one item from your space daily for a month, put it in a box, and then donate it. This turns downsizing into a playful experience while reducing emotional attachment to belongings.

• Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: Condense your attire to essential, versatile pieces that pair well together. This not only declutters your wardrobe but also streamlines your daily dressing ritual.

• Digital Keepsake Vault: Scan or 3D-image photos, letters, and sentimental objects. Store them in a secure digital cloud, retaining their emotional essence without physical bulk.

• One In, Two Out Rule: Each new acquisition in your newly organized space must be accompanied by the departure of two existing items. This sustains the clutter-free environment you’ve achieved.

By using these clever downsizing hacks, you’re not just minimizing stuff, you’re elevating your lifestyle. Each tactic blends practical utility with emotional savvy, ensuring your downsizing journey is as efficient as it is enriching.

Did You Know?

• The Psychology of Letting Go: While downsizing, you’re not just parting with material items but also emotional attachments. Studies show that taking photos of sentimental items before donating or selling them can ease the emotional toll.
• Tax Benefits: If you’re 65 or older and have lived in your home for at least two of the last five years, you could exclude up to $250,000 of gain from your income, or up to $500,000 if you’re married and file a joint return. This can provide significant financial relief.
• Virtual Staging: Technology has made it easier to visualize a smaller space before moving. Virtual staging software can help you decide where each piece of furniture will go, reducing the stress of moving.
• The 20/20 Rule: The minimalism movement suggests the 20/20 rule: if you can replace an item in 20 minutes for less than 20 dollars, it might not be worth keeping. This rule can be a lifesaver when you’re on the fence about certain items.

Hidden Challenges in Downsizing Your Home or Apartment

The Emotional Toll of Letting Go

Downsizing often involves parting with items that have sentimental value. This emotional toll can be overwhelming and lead to decision paralysis.
Solution: Create a digital memory bank. Photograph sentimental items and write a short note about their significance. This approach allows you to keep cherished memories without amassing physical clutter.

The Cost of Storage Units

People often resort to storage units for items they can’t part with but don’t have space for. However, the cost can add up.
Solution: Choose a temporary storage solution. Set a time limit and periodically evaluate the necessity of stored items to avoid indefinite costs.

Overestimating New Space

People often overestimate the storage capacity of their new, smaller homes, leading to last-minute chaos.
Solution: Use a tape measure and layout software to arrange your items in the new space. This will give you a realistic idea of what fits.

Underestimating Time for Sale or Donation

Selling or donating items can take longer than expected, causing delays in the moving schedule.
Solution: Start the process early and set deadlines for each item. If an item doesn’t sell or get donated by the deadline, consider alternative options.

Legal Restrictions on Item Disposal

Certain items, like electronics and hazardous materials, have legal restrictions on how they can be disposed of.
Solution: Research local laws and facilities that can properly dispose of or recycle these items. Plan well in advance to avoid legal complications.

We all know moving, especially downsizing, can be overwhelming and difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these simple tips, plan ahead, and be realistic about the lifestyle you will have after the move, and things will get easier. There’s always enough space for what really matters to you.