Downsizing doesn’t have to mean downgrading. Here are a few key points to keep in mind when you’re getting ready to move.
• Don’t throw away everything. Don’t get rid of all your belongings. Only dispose of items you know you will not use once you move. Look carefully at the floor plan of your new space or do a walk-through with a tape measure to get a feel for where things will fit. If it won’t fit, get rid of it before the move.
• Have a garage sale. Items to include in your garage sale are objects you haven’t used in more that one year, or if you see no immediate use for it in the next six months.
• Make it digital. Transfer DVDs, CDs, documents and other items to your computer to avoid clutter.
• Must-Keep vs. Maybe-Keep. Separate items into piles of must-keep and maybe-keep. Go through them until you are happy with the outcome.
• Think storage. If your closet, attic or basement is becoming nonexistent, come up with a plan on where items will go in your new home that are stored in your present home. Assess and plan your storage. Decide where and how to organize your things. Use the same formula to separate and organize tech gear, tools, books, kitchenware and fitness equipment. By planning your storage first, then filing your must-haves into the storage second, you should be able to keep the most important items.
• Set accumulation limits. Limit the amount of items you buy that may be unnecessary or not able to fit.
The key to downsizing is to purge your life of the things you don’t need without getting rid of the things you do need. Sounds simple, but in most cases, it’s not. To downsize effectively, don’t do it if you’re short on time or if you’re not thinking about the end result. You’ll end up making mistakes and getting rid of things you shouldn’t. And remember, it’s all just “stuff,” except when it’s not. It’s easy to go overboard when you are in the de-cluttering groove. When paring down your life, get rid of as much as you can, but don’t get rid of things that are especially important—the things that you’d like to share with your children or grandchildren someday.
Memories are important, and they make a house your home. So don’t wipe your slate clean. Bring some of the old and blend it with the new. Here’s to you, until next week….
Jill Santandrea, Broker Manager, EXIT Homestead Realty Professionals LLC, 1070 E Chestnut Ave, Vineland, NJ 08360; 856-692-EXIT; Cell: 856-362-0967; Direct: 888-856-5455; TheJillTeam.com; E-mail: [email protected]; Text JillS to 85377 for my mobile business card. Listen to Jill on POP 99.9FM. Source: 2019 Buffini & Company
