How To Downsize Your House

May 15, 2019 | Buying a Home

Are you looking to sell your home to purchase a smaller living space? If so, you’re in good company.

Some downsizers put their houses on the market because their kids are all grown up, and they no longer need as much square footage as they used to. Others are simply at a stage where they’re ready to consolidate their belongings and embark on a fresh start. One thing they all share is a desire to get a great return on their home investments—and find the perfect new space to call their own! If this sound familiar, we have good news. You can achieve your downsizing goals, and the transition doesn’t have to be painful. If you’re wondering how to downsize your house, buy and move into a smaller home, here are five tips to simplify the process…

1) Get out the measuring tape

It’s easy to forget, but you should know the dimensions of your new home—and any furniture or major appliances you’ll be taking with you. There are two reasons for this. The first is that you want to ensure that your new living space will be visually appealing and easy to move around in once its all set up. The second is that you’ll need to consider the logistics of actually getting your stuff inside. Trust us: a bit of forethought could mean the difference between a smooth move and a major headache.

Start by measuring everything—your new space, the passageways into it, and all of the larger items you’ll be bringing along. Remember that moving can be especially tricky when there are staircases involved. When it comes to visualizing your layout, you might also want to consider creating a floor plan. You can do this with graph paper, or by using an app developed specifically for this purpose.

2) Go on a decluttering binge

Few feelings compare to the one you get when you part with belongings you no longer need. It’s little wonder there are so many reality shows devoted to decluttering. Of course, when it comes time to downsize your house, cutting down on your possessions isn’t just a way to simplify your life—it’s an absolute necessity.

The truth is, you can’t take everything with you. So why not see downsizing as an opportunity to live less chaotically? Start by sorting out the items you want to keep, those you want to donate, and those you want to throw away. You should give yourself at least a few weeks to complete this process. Be sure to call local donation centres ahead of time to see what kind of pickup and drop-off options are available.

3) Hold a garage sale

If you have a lot of clutter, downsizing your house can feel like a monumental task. Fortunately, there’s a way to get rid of a large volume of stuff all at once—and make some extra cash in the process. We’re talking about holding a good old fashioned garage sale!

Start by setting a date (don’t forget to check the weather first). As the big day approaches, decide which belongings are fit to sell. Then, delve into pricing. A bit of online research will give you an idea of what buyers are willing to pay for different types of items. Once the sale is done, all you have to do is donate your remaining inventory to a local charity (and start figuring out how to spend your pocket money to decorate your new home).

4) Work with a fantastic agent

If you’re like most downsizers, you have two major goals. The first is selling your home for the highest price possible. The second is finding the ideal smaller space to meet your needs. A real estate professional can help with both, but not just any agent will do.

Downsizing can be complicated. Perhaps you’re not sure how to find a new home that will fit your retirement budget. Maybe you’re struggling to pare down your belongings before you put your existing house on the market. Whatever challenge you’re facing, an agent with downsizing experience can guide you seamlessly through the process.

5) Make the most of your new space

Decluttering is an important step in downsizing, but what about all those treasured possessions you want to hang on to? If you’re like most sellers, you’ll have a lot of them—even after a thorough decluttering.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to ensure that your belongings fit comfortably into your new abode. First off, think about how you might use your wall space. We love floating shelves because you can get them in a variety of sizes, which means they be added almost anywhere. You can also get creative with storage baskets and containers that mount stylishly on your walls. While you’re shopping for home decor, don’t forget to keep an eye out for furniture containing built-in storage (like ottomans that open up or beds with drawers inside).

Downsizing your house doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the advice of a great agent and a bit of careful planning, you’ll be living smaller (and loving it) in no time!

Looking for Ottawa Realtors with downsizing experience? Reach out today to learn how we can help in selling your home and make this major life transition!