12 Essential Downsizing Tips from People Who’ve Been There

Downsizing Tip #4: Use a set of evaluation questions to help you declutter

Start by writing a list of questions to help you evaluate what stays and what goes. In Marie Kondo’s best-selling decluttering book The Magic of Tidying Up, she encourages readers to evaluate their belongings with one simple question, “does it spark joy?”

While the question is a thought-provoking challenge, you may need a few more questions to really hone in on your belongings’ value.

We love the below question list that blogger June of This Simple Balance (a detailed blog dedicated to simplifying the home, home business, and parenting) created after she regretted tossing too much under the Kondo creed:

• Have I used this in the last six months?
• Is it something that I actually use or something that I want to use?
• Can I replace this item easily and inexpensively if I change my mind?
• Is the time I spend maintaining this item and the space it takes up worth the joy it brings me?
• Does this item propel me to my goals?

Question list in hand, start decluttering from the least-used to the most-used areas of your home. It will be easier to get rid of items in your excess storage spaces since you use them less frequently. If you’re feeling reluctant to get rid of your stuff, try starting with areas of little emotional attachment such as the linen cabinets to ease into the process.

Downsizing Tip #5: Sell your furniture to the new buyers

The easiest way to get rid of existing furniture you don’t want to haul to your next place is to sell it to the future owners of your home. Moore sold his workout equipment, pool table, and shuffleboard table to the buyers inheriting his home gym and game room.

In most cases, it’s better to offer furniture after negotiations for the home have finished. Guy shares that “buyers will negotiate to a certain price within their budget for the house first and if we include the furniture or extra appliances in that negotiation, the seller won’t necessarily get any more money.”

Downsizing Tip #6: Declutter your digital life

Downsizing isn’t just about physical belongings — digital clutter can also take up space and cause stress. It’s amazing how much space paper-thin documents and photos can take up once accumulated. Emails, old files, and unused apps can slow down devices and make it harder to find important information. Here’s how to streamline your digital life:

1. Clean out your email inbox

• Unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read using services like Unroll.Me.
• Delete old or unnecessary emails and empty your spam/trash folders.
• Create folders or labels to organize important messages.

2. Organize and backup important files

• Go through documents, photos, and downloads — delete anything you no longer need.
• Move essential files to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud) for easy access.
• Use an external hard drive for backups to prevent data loss.

3. Delete unused apps and accounts

• Uninstall apps you don’t use to free up storage on your phone or computer.
• Close old social media accounts or services you no longer need.
• Turn off notifications for non-essential apps to reduce distractions.

4. Streamline your photos and videos

• Delete duplicate or blurry pictures.
• Use Google Photos or Apple Photos to back up and organize albums.
• Consider creating a yearly digital photo book to keep only the best memories.

5. Reduce your paper clutter with digital copies

• Scan important documents (tax records, medical files) and save them securely.
• Digitize documents using Docufree or scan the documents yourself following these best digital archiving practices.
• Opt for paperless billing and statements to reduce mail.
• Use note-taking apps like Evernote or OneNote to replace sticky notes and notepads.
• Convert your photos, carousel slides, and negatives to digital copies using a digitizing service, then display your memories on digital picture frames.

If you need help, reach out to a digital native; young relatives and local college students are great candidates to tackle this project for some cash-in-hand.

Hold onto hard copies of these important documents, including birth certificates, medical records, and social security cards.

Downsizing Tip #7: Pare down clothes and linens

“Why have I held onto this so long?” Crocker asked herself when sorting through winter coats and purses she bought in London before moving to California 20 years ago. She advises to take a deep breath and get rid of anything you haven’t worn in the past two years.

If you’re saying farewell to designer items, sell them on Poshmark, an apparel focused Ebay which boasts 5 million users. Take good photos and price items competitively for your best sale. Poshmark will take 20% commission, but you’re still likely to make more than you would by taking them to a local consignment store.

When tackling the linen cabinet, keep two sets of sheets per bed and four towels per person. Compact your seasonal duvets and blankets with Space Bags (yes, these are still a thing!) so you can store them under the beds in your new place. You can donate the rest to a charity like Goodwill, DonationTown.org, which offers a pickup service, or a local animal shelter.

Downsizing Tip #8: Keep your favorite sentimental items and give the rest to family

One of the hardest parts of downsizing is deciding what to do with sentimental items.

Instead of dreading it, embrace it as a time for reflection you can share with your loved ones. Go through your daughter’s old school projects and baby shoes with her. You’ll share a laugh when you find the macaroni decorated popsicle frame she made for you in kindergarten, but neither of you need to keep it.

Remember, you can ditch the item without ditching the memory; just snap a picture for future reminiscing and let it go.

When it comes to family heirlooms, go through your evaluation questions again: do you truly love this item? Will you display it in your new house, or will it end up in a tucked-away box again? Hold on to the dearest and pass down the rest to family — maybe you can still enjoy seeing the object at a family member’s home during the holidays.

Downsizing Tip #9: Get free moving boxes from almost anywhere

“I was able to get all my boxes for free from my restoration company,” Moore shares, suggesting you ask your workplace if they have any boxes first.

You can easily source additional free boxes online from the free section of Craigslist and Freecycle, an entire website for people giving away free stuff. Asking retailers for boxes is another great option, as most stores have a regular supply from weekly shipments. Bookstores, grocery stores, liquor shops, and large retailers like Costco, Target, Office Depot, Petsmart, and Ulta are safe bets.

Downsizing Tip #10: Do a test run to truly know if you can live without it

Tucking away the “maybes” is the best way to try if you truly can go without them. Before you move, pack up any items you’re unsure about keeping in a labeled box and only take out what you discover you need.

If your maybe pile is still stacked when the moving process commences, Guy recommends renting a storage unit for the remaining items and following the same rule.

You can use Move.org’s guide to compare the big self-storage companies. You can save money by skipping out on insurance for the unit if your homeowners insurance covers off-premise possessions. Set a strict deadline for emptying the unit so it doesn’t turn into a costly second garage; take everything out for reevaluation in six months’ time.

Downsizing Tip #11: Partner up with a real estate agent who’s well-versed in the downsizing process

Working with an agent who has proven success helping clients downsize will make the entire process smoother. To start, a top agent will ensure you get the most money out of your current house by suggesting effective home improvements, assisting with staging, and targeting the best listing price for the market. When it’s time to buy, your agent can help you find and negotiate a win for a home you love so your downsize doesn’t feel like a downgrade. Find the agent with the strongest downsizing background in your area with HomeLight’s agent finder.

If you’re a senior, you may benefit from hiring a certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist. These agents are specially trained to help with both the physical and psychological challenges of downsizing and can help demystify relevant concerns like affording household costs post-retirement, choosing a home with improved accessibility, and exploring retirement communities.

Downsizing Tip #12: Focus on the positives of moving

It’s OK to feel emotional during the downsizing process. Letting go of excess belongings and extra rooms is difficult, but remember you’ll still hold the memories associated with them.

Instead of focusing on loss, focus on what you are gaining from the move: a more accessible floor plan, lower utility bills, disposable income for travel, or in Crocker and Moore’s case, a better location and lifestyle.

A year into her downsized home, Crocker encourages, “I feel so much lighter and happier with less stuff and have appreciated the things we kept more. I love living in our smaller home. It’s more intimate, easy to clean, and feels so homely. It’s well worth it!”

Header Image Source: (Lesly Juarez/ Unsplash)