Ah, spring makes me think of spring cleaning. How are you gearing up for it? I like to begin spring cleaning my home by downsizing things I no longer use or need. Here at Home Again Transitions we work with clients who are downsizing to a new, smaller home and stress 10 tips on how to accomplish this as a recipe for success.
We call it a Downsizing Decathlon because downsizing is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It took each of us decades to accumulate all of our things and it’s going to take a lot of time to rid ourselves of them too.
It does not have to be a dreadful task if you follow these tips:
Develop a move plan by assessing what you need to do and your timeline for getting it done.
Think strategically by sequencing a plan that maximizes the marketability of your home if you plan to sell.
Create a scaled-floor plan to remove the guesswork and avoid costly, stress-producing errors on move day.
Work in smaller chunks of time rather than hours and hours in a given day; 15 minutes a day can accomplish a lot without wearing yourself out.
Sort your things. Don’t pack things you no longer use and move them with you. You can make money from the things you no longer need.
Do a reality check to compare space in the old home to space in the new home by measuring.
Take control of your project and don’t let it control you. Be firm with others about accepting belongings from you on a deadline of when they need to remove them from your home.
Design your move to suit your own needs on a schedule that works for you.
Forgive yourself for what does not get accomplished. Not every plan is perfect and perfect is the enemy of good.
Ask for help from a friend, relative, or neighbor to make it more enjoyable or hire a Move Manager like Home Again Transitions.
We are project managers who plan and implement all of the above tips for you while you remain in control. Downsizing my home each spring actually spring cleans my life because I have a new outlook with freedom from the responsibility of maintaining those things. It’s good feeling! “The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” – Socrates.
Please feel free to contact Dee Mele, at 440-213-1068 or dee@homeagaintransitions.com for your free in-home consultation.