Downsizing to a smaller apartment is not a simple task when you decide to buy a smaller home than the one you already have you will need to make a lot of adjustments. If you own a lot of stuff you will need to organize them and decide what will you take with you and what will you give away, the organization is the key to a successful downsizing process. The downsizing practice started because of the “The Less Is More” concept, and most of the people that decide to downsize are doing so for money related reasons, but of course, the reason can vary. If you decide to downsize you will experience numerous advantages, but you need to be prepared for disadvantages too.
While most of the people are trying to reach the goal of upsizing, downsizing keeps offering so many different options.
When should you downsize:
The perfect time to downsize can be at any time, and it depends on your current situation. Maybe your current home is too big and related costs are hard to deal with, maybe your kids have moved out and you have too much space and the house feels empty or maybe you simply have the need to change your lifestyle and you want to save more money for traveling or other costs that are not related to housekeeping.
Whenever you decide to take this step you should do a lot of research first, you need to be sure that you will be happy in your new place, and you need to lookup downsizing tips and tricks. Our advice is to be realistic about how many personal belongings you own, and start thinking about what will you keep. Most of the people get shocked by the amount of stuff they own when the moving process starts, so you need to make an inventory list before you contact your movers, because you won’t be moving everything. Selling, donating or throwing away the things you don’t need will be the most important step in the process of downsizing. Selling your belongings is even more important if you are moving because of your financial circumstances.
Downsizing Pros:
1. Increased Money Flow:
Spending less on a mortgage payment and other housekeeping costs means that you will have more money to allocate to your other needs. You will finally be able to spend money on things you want and desire rather than on the things you need.
2. More Free Time:
A smaller home means fewer rooms, fewer rooms means less time will be spent on cleaning. Downsizing can extremely reduce the time that you send on household tasks which will leave you with more free time to do something you actually enjoy, you may even pick up a new hobby. This is one of the main reasons for downsizing among younger generations.
3. Traveling Lifestyle Opportunites:
Traveling often can be a big burden if you own a big home, not only because of the amount of money and time it requires but also because of the security. If you decide to downsize from a standalone house to an apartment or a condo not only that you will be able to travel more it will also be less stressful.
4. Less Consumption:
A smaller home means that you will have less storage space so it is highly likely that you will go shopping less often. You will acquire fewer consumer goods, and you will spend less time and money on shopping.
5. Lower Utility Bills:
Your utility bills will be smaller, it costs less to heat or cool a smaller home without wasted spaces. Typically there is no wasted space, such as vaulted ceilings, in a smaller home.
6. Saving Energy:
Less square footage decreases the amount of energy expended. A smaller home will reduce your family’s carbon footprint meaning that smaller homes are more energy-efficient.
7. Family Bonding:
Smaller houses will create a special environment where you will need to make more compromises and work with your family as a team. Opposed to spread out floor plans small homes will create a cozy, warm atmosphere.
Downsizing Cons:
1. Space Restrictions:
Sometimes it will be hard to find your own peace in smaller homes. You will probably miss having lots of space to escape and your new home may look too crowded at first until you get used to it and find ways to organize your belongings.
2. Guest Space:
If you have a lot of out of town friends they will need to forget haveing their own room when they come to visit, they may even have to stay at a hotel. Also, hosting big family or holiday dinner parties will be tricky.
3. Change of Lifestyle:
Some people will need more time to get used to a new lifestyle. Adapting to changes can vary from person to person but you will definitely need to forget some old habits and make new ones.
4. Fewer Belongings:
Moving to a smaller home would probably result in selling, giving away, or throwing out multiple personal items. If you are one of those people who form an emotional attachment to your belongings this may be quite a challenge.
There are numerous things that you will need to do before moving to a smaller place. You should always start with making a home inventory, this is the first step that will help you decide what to bring with you and what to leave behind. You will definitively keep your valuables and our professional movers can help you with art handling during the move. Sort out all your items, find and sell or donate duplicates. Make a garage sale or sell your items online, there are numerous apps that can help you with this step. You can also use “Free Books” tactics and put all the things that aren’t worth selling in one box label as “FREE”. You will need to organize your closets and storage spaces carefully.
One of the most important steps will be measuring your new space and your furniture. You need to be extremely precise while doing so. You don’t want to move your heavy furniture across town or state only to find out that it can not fit properly.
Downsizing will save you a lot of things, including time and money, it will teach you how to organize your belongings, it will help you have more control over your possessions and it will make you a more efficient person.
