Downsizing for a Move

Are you planning to relocate to a new place? This comes with mixed emotions, knowing that you’re leaving your usual neighborhood and friends. It may also be exciting moving to a new neighborhood. No matter the feeling, moving involves multiple tasks, and proper planning is key. One of the major steps to a successful move is packing. If you have lots of stuff, I presume you understand what this means. You may be forced to downsize to ease the process and lower transportation costs.

 Here’s how to go about it:

1. Use a checklist

A checklist will determine when planning the move. It helps determine what to pack and what to leave behind. Divide it into two or three categories and use it to list all your belongings. On one side, have the items you use often and the ones you rarely use on a different section. 

It will be easy to determine what to let go of and what to retain. Evaluate every room and only keep what you’ll need in your new home.

Examples of things to leave behind include;

• Old beddings
•  Books 
• Torn clothes
•  Faulty appliances 
• Toys
• Kids clothes etc.

2. Sort things per room

The experts from the moving company will tell you that being organized pays a lot when packing for a move. There are various ways to do this, and sorting things per room avoids duplicates and saves time. A common method to consider is the 3- box trick. Have three empty boxes, and label them accordingly.

Use one for what you want to keep, another for what you don’t need. Similarly, use the last one for items that you want to store. For items you don’t need, put them aside and consider donating to charity. You can also plan a yard sale, which allows you to make some cash from your old toys, furniture, clothes, books, and decor pieces.

3. 3. Don’t forget bulky furniture

 You may have the best furniture, but this doesn’t mean that it will fit in your new space. Therefore, visit your new home and take the necessary measurements. Ensure that they match the available space before moving your items. Otherwise, you’ll pay for things that you don’t need. If the space is limited, consider selling or donating your furniture and acquire a new set upon arrival.

4. Transform documents into digital copies

Paper documents make up a significant percentage of clutter in your home. But, you may not want to get rid of them completely. Why not convert them into digital copies that you can access when needed? This will help eliminate the clutter but still retain important information in the documents. Don’t just throw them away, though! Shred or burn them to prevent others from accessing your information. 

In summary, downsizing helps save a lot of space in your new home. It will also save on moving costs and make it easy to unpack after arrival. If unsure how to dispose of the unwanted items, donate, sell or ask for ideas from the movers. However, do this early enough to avoid delays on the moving day.