In this little article, we’re going to give you some downsizing tips and tricks to help with the minimisation process. During our lifetimes, we all accumulate lots of stuff. Often, it gets used for a while, then gradually without regular use, it eventually migrates out of our everyday lives and ends up stored in garages, cupboards, wardrobes, sheds, attics, basements, you name it, we’ll store it there.
Usually, once the family has all grown up and left home and after many years, you start to realise that you really don’t need all this additional unnecessary stuff anymore. Here is an article that helps you decide whether or not to downsize
In fact, oftentimes, you get to a stage in life when you take a look at your home and think to yourself when was the last time I actually went into that 3rd bedroom, or 4th bedroom, or used that 2nd or 3rd bathroom? It’s usually at that stage when you think about downsizing, either by getting rid of a lot of unused stuff or possibly deciding to downsize your life totally into a smaller home.
A lot of it the stored stuff you’ve got tucked away in nooks and crannies probably hasn’t even seen the light of day in years, and this can even get you thinking about the spaces in your home that you actually use (or don’t use).
Like a lot of people closing in on their retirement years, or perhaps who are already there, you may come to realise that your current home is far too big for your current needs. There’s all this stuff you’ve gathered over the years, that nobody uses or wants anymore.
There are rooms you probably don’t vacuum or clean anymore, because no one ever goes in to them, and to top it all off, you start thinking about the constant maintenance of your large garden, trees or lawn, not to mention the repairs and maintenance your home needs, painting, cleaning, regular updates, annual maintenance, etc.
Then there’s the difficulty as you get older of having to constantly climb those stairs. This list goes on.
It’s often around this time when people start thinking about exploring the options of trading down or downsizing. This often results in the decision to attend a few Open Homes to explore exactly what you could afford if you did decide to sell your old family home.
If you’re freehold (no mortgage), you might even enjoy the thought of freeing up some capital to enjoy that long-overdue overseas trip you’ve been promising yourself for years. It also usually coincides with a decision to start the clearing out process, reducing the clutter and getting the home ready for putting it on the market. As promises, here are those downsizing tips and tricks.
Start Early and Don’t Rush
Its taken years to get to this point, so take your time. Go through one room or space at a time. Check each item, and allow yourself time to be nostalgic. Ideally, start in a smaller room with more manageable items, so that you get into the process of it all. So don’t start off in a major room like a garage, or kitchen, as it may become overwhelming.
Sell or Giveaway The Unwanted Big Items
If there are a number of large items, beds, bookcases, that you already know you don’t need any longer, or that you wouldn’t take with you when you move, clear the space by offering them to a family member, or if no one wants them, put them up for sale on trademe.co.nz.
Don’t Be Too Ruthless
Don’t make the mistake of being too ruthless in getting rid of things, just because you think you won’t have space in the new house. For things that are used fairly regularly, just package away in labelled boxes and re-assess whether you need them or not when you’re in the new place. Things that haven’t been used in more than 2 years are probably a throw-out, or sell.
Storage, When Downsizing or Disposal Seems Overly Harsh
Some people that just can’t bear to part with some items, will put them in temporary storage, until they know where they are going to and then re-assess what to do then.