As a parent of two kids in their 20s, and having lost my mother-in-law just a year ago, I am firmly in the downsizing stage of life. This helps me understand the many different reasons people need to downsize.
Whether you need to help your parents move into a smaller place, you need to go through someone’s items after they have passed on, you are getting your house into a new order after the kids are moved out, or you are downsizing yourself, here are tips to get started.
- Begin with rooms that are not currently lived in and with items that do not have sentimental value. Go through sentimental items last, especially those from loved ones who have passed on.
- Choose an area of that room and work in sections.
- Separate items into keep, trash, and giveaway piles. After removing the items in the last two categories from the space, separate the remaining items into categories and box them up.
- If you are moving, make sure to label the box by the category of items and the room they will go in at the new home. Then whoever is bringing in boxes can take them directly to that room.
- You may have to think or talk through (if you are helping someone else) things like:
a. Are you going to use it? If not, give it away because someone else could use it.
b. When giving items to family, remember the items they have memories attached to might surprise you. Please don’t guilt children and other family members to take things they do not feel attached to or want. Then it only becomes clutter in their space instead of yours.
c. If you are going to keep something sentimental, find a way to display it. It will not be cherished and will only take up space if it is sitting in a bin in your basement or attic.
d. Be realistic about how much space is in the home. You probably need 1/3 to 1/2 of what you think you do.
e. Give yourself some grace. While you can’t keep everything, if you just can’t let something go, keep it for now. You can always get rid of it later. - While you don’t want to store a bunch of items that you leave in boxes and never see, here are a few categories of items where it makes sense:
a. Off-season clothing. As long as you rotate them at least once a year, then this is appropriate.
b. Holiday decorations. If you (or the person you are helping) likes to decorate for different holidays, and they still use the decorations each year, then these make sense to store. However, if there are a lot, then you should pare them down.
I know this can be an exhausting, and even emotional process. If you need my help in working through it, reach out. It can be helpful to have someone who does not have the same emotional attachment and can be impartial.
Need more help in going through the process? Schedule your FREE consultation.
Contact denise hudak at 330-414-0963 or denise.hudak@gmail.com
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