Decluttering before downsizing is something best started at least a year before you plan to make a move, but even if you you need to move quickly, these steps will apply. Read on for the 10 Steps to Decluttering before downsizing.
10 Steps to Decluttering before Downsizing
1. Get prepared for decluttering.
The first step in getting prepared is mindset. Be aware of your goals for moving and write them down if that is helpful. Is it a change in lifestyle? Do you want to spend more time traveling and less time maintaining a home? Do you want a cozy nest to welcome friends and family? Envisioning your next home and how you want to feel in that home will make it easier to declutter your current home.
When you are ready to physically get started decluttering, collect packing boxes or plastic bins and newspapers to wrap fragile items, labels and markers, and garbage bags so you have everything you need to start.
It’s nice to have a “staging area” – maybe one rarely used room in the house or a space in the garage where you can temporarily store items. In this area you will want to separate items to donate or trash, and pack any of the items you are keeping but don’t need for staging your home for sale.
2. Choose a room or small area to start with.
For most people decluttering can be very overwhelming. We want this to be a calm and organized process for you. Pick one room at a time to focus on, or even just pick one drawer or cabinet to start with. If you are easily overwhelmed, set a timer for 15 minutes and work until the timer goes off then stop.
Which room should you declutter first? It really does not matter, however if you want to gain momentum, start with a room that probably won’t exist in your next home – and you know the things in that room can go. Decluttering closets and cabinets may not give you visual satisfaction, but it will give you space to store the items you want to keep but don’t want to leave out while you home is on the market.
3. Decide which items you want to keep for your new home.
Instead of deciding what to throw away when downsizing, first decide which items you DO want to keep for your new home. Even if you haven’t found your next home yet, you probably have an idea of what you want in a home as far as number of bedrooms and will you have a basement or not. Consider the lifestyle you want in your new home, and choose the items you love and want to take with you. Any items that don’t fit that vision should be given away or trashed.
If you have boxes that are still packed from your last move years ago – we already know those can go.
4. Start with the floor and work your way up.
When you are working on clearing a room or closet, it will look cleaner and larger with the floor free from clutter. Throw away or recycle the pile of newspapers or magazines in the corner. Clearing the floors and opening up space will quickly give you a feeling of momentum. When the floor is decluttered, work your way up to the surfaces of the tables, fireplace mantles, shelving, etc.
5. Ask for help.
It’s easier for someone without emotional attachment to your belongings to be able to work through and give advice on what you should keep and what you should let go of. Ask a friend or family member and be open to listening to feedback. There are also many professional organizers who can be hired to help with decluttering your home and organizing your new home, especially if you are working on a short time line on your move.
6. Follow the 20/20 rule of decluttering.
If you have an item that you think you should keep because you may need it for the future – think of the 20/20 rule. If it has a value of less than $20 and will take less than 20 minutes to replace it (or you haven’t used it in 20 years!), let it go.
7. Skip the garage sale.
If you have a lot of time on your hands by all means have a garage sale. But in my experience this is usually not worth the extensive time and effort. If you have a lot of larger quality items to sell, there are services that will hold an estate sale or help sell your items. If you have the time, you can sell items on Facebook Marketplace, and many areas have local “Buy Nothing” groups where you can list items to give away for free. Ask us for recommendations on services.
8. Only keep the things that make you happy.
Imagine having a home where you always feel calm and happy! This is easier than you think. We all have items in our home that stress us out when we look at them, maybe it’s something that’s always in the way, difficult to clean, or it was given to you as a gift and you just don’t really like it. It’s time to let those things go.
Sentimental items that we have held onto for a long time are usually the most difficult to release. A lot of times we feel obligated to keep something out of guilt or devotion to the person that gave it to us. But guilt is no reason to have something in your home. Use the Kon Mari question of “does this spark joy?” and only keep the things that make you feel happy.
9. Stay organized when packing.
When packing the items you want to keep and take to your new home, make sure that you have sturdy bins or boxes. I have actually had a client that I had to rescue during his move because his boxes where not taped up and the movers were refusing to move them! Tape up the boxes with packing tape, and use a marker to label which room they should go to and what items are in the box. This will make it easier for the movers, and make unpacking and organizing your new home go smoothly.
10. Contact us to get started
We have a list of professionals that can help with decluttering, moving, packing and organizing your home and can give you guidance when getting ready to sell – contact Myra Jensen at BRIX Real Estate today to get started.
