10 Tips For How To Downsize Your Home Quickly

7. Decide if you want to hire an estate firm or DIY

Downsizing can be made much easier if you hire an estate firm to price items you’d like to sell and handle the sales transactions. The downside to hiring an estate firm is that it’s recommended to book their services weeks in advance, but that can be challenging if you have to downsize quickly.

However, a seasoned real estate agent should be able to call on their connections to help you find an estate firm that can accommodate your timeline.

Tips for making the most from selling your stuff:

• Take good photographs of the items you’re selling. Show the items from different angles and in good lighting. If possible, use a tripod to ensure your photos aren’t blurry.
• Post your items on more than one website to increase the chances of selling. Sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, Letgo, and VarageSale are easy to use.
• Be honest when describing your items. You might want to describe something as being in “good condition” even if there are clear signs of wear, but by doing that, you’re just wasting the buyer’s and your time. Be honest about the item’s true condition, and ensure you include the item’s measurement details, so the buyer can determine whether or not the item will fit in their home.
• It’s okay to be aggressive with pricing. If a $100 price on a unique mirror would tempt you, but you’re ambivalent at $150, go for the lower price tag. If the item doesn’t sell within a day, consider slashing the price to generate interest.
• Adhere to a strict “no-hold” policy. When someone says they want to buy something, tell them there is a no-hold policy, and if they don’t come to pick it up (and pay you) within a specific time frame, then the item will go to the next interested buyer.
• Be clear about your pick-up or delivery expectations. In your listing, make it clear to the buyer that they must come and pick up large items. “However, if you have a truck and can offer to deliver it, you certainly can do that,” suggests Donna Smallin, author of Clear the Clutter, Find Happiness.

8. Make the most of storage spaces

When moving into a smaller home, you’ll want to maximize any storage space you have. For example, you can use multi-functional furniture like storage ottomans, platform beds, and entertainment centers to organize clutter and give things a “home.”

Depending on the layout of your new home, you may be able to utilize the extra space under the stairs, in closets and even in the crawlspace to store lesser-used, seasonal items. You can use over-the-door hooks for towels and bathrobes, bins under the counter for storing smaller items, and so on.

9. Digitize what you can to reduce space

If you have an extensive library of movies, music, and photo albums, you might want to take the time to digitize them. Of course, you can also digitize essential documents and shred the hard copies. By digitizing whatever you can, you’re reducing how much you have to pack, not to mention saving a lot of space in your new home.

Note: If you are going to digitize important documents, we strongly recommend researching how to protect your digital documents. You can invest in encryption services and an external hard drive. 

10. Repurpose or memorialize sentimental items

There are bound to be items you don’t want to get rid of or sell but won’t have space for in your new home. For those items, you can repurpose them and turn them into something usable. For example, if you have a collection of band t-shirts you don’t want to part with, turn them into a usable quilt or even put them in frames and turn them into wall art.

Keep calm and downsize in peace

Figuring out where to start when you have to downsize your home shouldn’t be stressful, and it doesn’t have to be when you’re working with a top agent.

“It’s very important to interview who you work with and what agent you choose. Having the right agent on your side will simplify the whole process more than you may believe,” Herron advises. “It’s our job as Realtors® to make it as easy as possible for our clients.”

Transitioning to a new beginning

The process of downsizing offers homeowners a unique opportunity to reevaluate and refocus. It isn’t just about letting go of material possessions; it’s also about stepping into a new phase of life with clarity and a lighter load.

Consulting with experts, being strategic with storage solutions, and embracing digital tools can further ease your transition. Taking the time to assess what truly matters, both in terms of belongings and lifestyle choices, can transform the often-daunting task of downsizing into a cathartic experience. Remember, the journey to a simpler, more manageable living space can pave the way for new adventures, opportunities, and peace of mind in your new home.

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