3 QUICK TIPS ON HOW TO DOWNSIZE

Our company has been working with downsizing families for the past 5-6 years. As more and more baby boomers retire, there will be a larger increase in downsizing. There are several things to consider when thinking about how to downsize. Here are 3 quick tips on how to downsize.

• START EARLY

One mistake that is often made by homeowners who need to downsize is that they wait until their home is sold. 30-45 days is not enough time, usually, to properly sort and downsize the home they have been in for many years. It is best to begin downsizing as soon as the homeowner considers selling the family home.

• GET FAMILY INTERVENTION

Getting family members to the house to pick out what they want to save, if anything, is paramount in the process of downsizing.  Many baby boomers end up paying movers to pack, move and, sometimes store, things that they saved for their children to have “someday” but, the children have no desire to keep the,. This is expensive and can be very time-consuming.

• WORK IN CONCENTRIC CIRCLES

Once the homeowner has had the family intervention and they now are faced with trying to figure out what they are going to keep, the third tip I recommend is to begin sorting in the areas of the house which are farthest from the main living areas, which are: living room, kitchen, family room and master bedroom. All other areas of the home tend to collect things which have little or no value…that’s why they are not in the main parts of the house. These “other areas” are the ones farthest from the living areas; basement, attic, sheds, closets and spare bedrooms. Follow these 3 quick tips for "how to downsize" and you will have a much easier time moving, when the time comes to do so. Oh, and when hiring a moving and storage company, make sure you work with one that has a lot of experience assisting homeowners in downsizing their homes. This will make the transition much less stressful and easier to manage. -Jim