Downsizing can be an overwhelming process. Depending on your age and how long you’ve been in your home, there can be, quite literally, a lifetime of “things” you’ve collected over the years. The largest challenge many have is the process of elimination. How do you decide what to keep and what to pass on?
Here are the tips that I convey to my clients when listing a home for those who are downsizing. However, downsizing or not, these tips can be employed any time you are moving or decluttering in general!
When sorting through belongings, create four separate areas or use sticky notes, colored tape, and what have you, to indicate its category: keep, give to family or friends, sell, donate.
As you move through your home, ask yourself, “Does this serve me and my life?”. If not, place it in one of the categories. If you’re unsure about an item, ask yourself whether it is worth the time and expense to pack it up and move it to your new home and/or if there will be enough space for it.
If the answer is no to one or more of these questions, it’s probably time to pass it on.
So now what? First, of course, ask family and friends if they want the items you’d like to pass down. Hopefully, they will receive them. Should they say no, you must decide how to pass it on beyond that?
If there is too much to donate, you might consider selling items. Now that may not be easy, especially if you’re not image and internet/social media savvy. There are other options. Consider employing a friend or relative to catalog and sell items for either a percentage of the total sales or pay them by the hour to handle the process. Of course, there are also estate sale companies that will hold in-person or online auctions. You’ll want to interview a few and choose a company that you are comfortable with.
Items that do not sell can be donated to those in need. Again, do your research. Donate to organizations that align with your values.
This may seem like quite a process, and the truth is told, it is! Try to look at it this way: you’ve lived a full life and have accumulated things that have meant something to you along the way. Life changes, people change, transformations take place and when it’s time to release belongings, you should feel good about the time that they spent with you.
A quick side note, those sentimental items, you know the ones, the pieces that you really don’t want but feel obligated to keep. Only pass them down if your family wants them. The burden of holding onto what you cannot release out of duty becomes a burden for many generations. Unfortunately, we must let some things go, as difficult as it is.
Good luck and happy downsizing!
Written by:
Rachel Belgiorno - Realtor®
Ayre Rhinehart Realtors®
4809 Jefferson Ave.
Midland, MI 48640
