At Next Move Homes we want to help you downsize successfully and make the process as stress-free as possible. Downsizing isn't always easy, but it doesn't have to be scary either.
We are here to help at Next Move Homes, Norfolk, and just like our other blog posts, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about downsizing in order to make the process less overwhelming.
What exactly does downsizing mean?
It's exactly what it sounds like: moving from a large home into something smaller. You might be moving from a big house into something similar after years of living in one place with lots of bedrooms and bathrooms and extra space for entertaining guests. Or maybe your family has grown up over time and no longer needs so much space in your home; maybe you're moving into an urban area where properties are more expensive than where you currently live outside the city limits. Regardless of why it's happening, downsizing comes with many benefits – fewer maintenance costs and lower energy bills because there is less upkeep required with fewer rooms overall; less stress on yourself because there's less cleaning involved each day.
Downsizing your home can be a daunting prospect, especially
if you've been living in it for a while. But downsizing your possessions is easier than you think—and it has nothing to do with throwing things away. Instead, downsizing your possessions means getting rid of the things that don't add value to your life and making room for the things that do.
It starts with decluttering:-
Removing clutter from your cupboards, drawers and wardrobes so that you can see everything at once and decide what stays and what goes. The goal is to keep only the items that you actually use and love—and as much as possible, those items should be things that can be used in any room of the house.
Then comes deciding what furniture you want to keep. You might have an extra room or two in your house with furniture that's just collecting dust: instead of letting them go to waste (and taking up space), why not give them away or sell on marketplace or Gumtree. That way they'll get used again by someone else and you'll be able to make some extra money. We suggest using the one-year rule when deciding what to keep and what to throw away. If you haven’t used an item in one year, chances are you don’t need it anymore.
For items that you no longer need, there are four options: give them away, sell them, give them to charity or bin them. Often family members, friends and relatives may feel disinclined to accept your possessions. But it’s always worth asking beforehand! More likely than not they will be sold off or given to charity.
Consider Your New Lifestyle When Downsizing:-
You’re downsizing your home for a reason, so consider your new lifestyle when reducing your possessions. Be sensible and only keep what you need—the downsizing process becomes much easier this way.
Begin Downsizing Before You Move Home, Not After:-
We know how difficult it can be to let go of possessions. But we'd suggest downsizing before you move.
Could this be the last time to plan to move?
Another important factor to consider is whether or not this is your last potential move.
If so, you’ll need to plan ahead. What do you really need, and what can you give away or dispose of?
We’re not saying you should throw away family photographs, but there are definitely things you no longer need that you can get rid of to free up more space.
Here at Next Move Homes we are passionate about helping buyers and sellers throughout the journey so if we can be of any help and support, or you might have a question that this article hasn’t covered, contact us on 01953 550317 or email info@nextmovehomes.co.uk
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