Downsizing a home is rarely an easy decision. Sometimes people decide that they don’t require as much room, and simply go for a smaller, cheaper home. But, sometimes, they need to sell their home due to divorce and have to move into a smaller apartment. Whatever the case may be, there are certain things to do and mistakes to avoid when downsizing. And, to help you properly plan and execute this difficult project, we are going to go through them.
Before downsizing
The important thing to remember when downsizing your home is that you are not simply moving into a smaller place. Yes, on a surface level, you are. But, if you consider the effects that this brings, you will see that there is much more to it. Downsizing a home is often a change in lifestyle. And if you want to properly adjust to this change, you need to understand what it entails and how to prepare. So, plan your downsizing with due care if you want it to be a positive experience.
Important mistakes to avoid when downsizing
Most of the mistakes we will outline are either due to not thinking things through or rushing. As you will soon learn, downsizing is a complicated and costly project. Therefore, there are certain important mistakes to avoid when downsizing. If you are smart, you will consider them and plan your downsizing as you see fit. But, if you are really smart, you will memorize them and ensure that you are safe from costly consequences.
Not decluttering
Decluttering is easily one of the best ways to make your downsizing easier and straightforward. Not only will you make your new apartment easier to settle into, but you will also make moving cheaper and more efficient. Therefore, it stands to reason that one of the worst downsizing mistakes is to not declutter. A surprising number of people don’t bother with decluttering. They think that they have nothing to get rid of. Therefore, decluttering would only be a waste of time. But, once you actually get down to it, you will learn that there is a whole pile of forgotten, needless items that take up space in your apartment. So, do yourself a favor and declutter.
Overestimating the space that you’ll need
Before you move into a new home, you will have to figure out how much space you’ll need. For this, we recommend that you carefully consider your lifestyle. A lot of people overestimate how much space they’ll need and therefore make downsizing needlessly hard. You, of course, don’t want to live in a cramped up space. But, once you consider the benefits of minimalism and decluttering, you will soon realize just how little space you actually need. The smart thing to do is carefully measure your items and see how they’ll fit in your new house. This is especially important to do if you plan on moving large pieces of furniture and you want them to fit properly.
Rushing
Rushing is easily one of the biggest mistakes to avoid when downsizing. In fact, it is one of the biggest mistakes to avoid in general. Too many people get frustrated and overwhelmed with downsizing and just want to be done with it. This, as you might guess, often leads to a plethora of mistakes and issues. They avoid going through their items and sorting them out. And they try to find a house without carefully considering their mortgage. So, if there is one thing that you will take from this article, it is not to rush.
Moving on a whim
This mistake stems from the prior one. But, it is so important that we cannot go on without mentioning it. Namely, you need to remember that any relocation, be it downsizing or not, requires careful planning and preparation. Once you decide to move, you will have to:
- Prepare your items for moving.
- Find moving boxes.
- Pack.
- Find reliable movers to help you out.
- Plan your relocation.
- Clean your home after moving out.
All of these things take time, which is why you’d be smart to carefully plan your relocation. Last-minute moves are possible. But, unless you absolutely have to tackle them, you shouldn’t. A last-minute move will cost you much more then if you simply started preparing on time. So, do yourself a favor and tackle your relocation with due care.
Hiring a bad real estate agent
Downsizing will require you to find a smaller home to move into. You can try looking for it online, but this is usually arduous, especially so if you are looking for a home in a different city. So, the best thing to do is to hire a real estate agent. Well, that seems pretty straightforward. You simply hop online and find the first realtor that operates in the area you plan on moving to, right? Well, actually, that is another mistake to avoid when downsizing.
With a good agent by your side, you’ll be able to find a decent house with relative ease. They will be able to take your wishes and budget into account and find a home that suits your needs. A bad real estate agent, on the other hand, will only waste your time and money. In most cases, you will have limited time to look for a house, which is more reason why finding a decent realtor is paramount. Make sure that they have good reviews and necessary paperwork. Also, remember to ask them about any prior experience with downsizing.
Final thoughts about downsizing
With luck, the tips we’ve outlined so far should help you downsize safely and with ease. As you can see, there are numerous mistakes to avoid when downsizing. This is why you need to start on time and keep your wits about you through the process.
