In itself, downsizing is a great way to make your life less stressful. As your current family home no longer suits your needs, transitioning to a more practical space can be your ticket to a cleaner, more simplified lifestyle.
While the thought of moving from a big home to something much smaller can be daunting, the process doesn’t have to be stressful. With some careful planning and organization, you can downsize your home with minimal hassle and make the transition to a simpler lifestyle without the added anxiety.
Downsizing, or as we like to call it – Rightsizing means creating a living space that’s perfect for you, at any stage of life. Click here to download our ultimate rightsizing guide.
Why Downsize?
Although downsizing your home can seem like a monumental undertaking on paper, the perks are well worth it. For instance, moving to a home with less square footage means less time spent on chores like cleaning and maintenance. This freedom gives you extra time to spend on the activities you enjoy most.
Not to mention, downsizing can also come with financial advantages too. Larger homes typically go hand in hand with larger costs, this includes not just your mortgage payments but also things like insurance, maintenance, and more. With that in mind, when you downsize to a smaller home, you’re also managing a smaller financial responsibility. On a similar note, downsizing also allows you to unlock the equity built in your current home. You can then use those funds toward enriching your life in other ways.
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Get the Ball Rolling Early
From decluttering and getting your home on the market to figuring out where you’d like to live next and beyond, there’s a lot that goes into downsizing. One of the keys to downsizing your home with minimal stress is to start early. Trying to rush the process at the last minute will only lead to anxiety.
That said, every downsizer will have their own preferred timelines and definition of “early”. Some people may start working towards their move a few years in advance, others may do it in a few months. At the end of the day, ensuring your downsize doesn’t feel rushed is all about taking a proactive approach and not hesitating on getting started.
Have a Decluttering Plan
Decluttering is one of the biggest steps in the downsizing process. Because you’ll be moving to a smaller home, you’ll need to downsize your belongings too. This includes everything from furniture and certain appliances to small items like clothes or holiday decorations.
Once again, it’s a good idea to start decluttering early. Give yourself plenty of time to go through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, or sell. Begin by tackling one room at a time, starting with the least used areas of your home.
If you have a lot of possessions that hold sentimental value, this process can also be an emotional one. However, you should be honest with yourself about what you really need and use on a regular basis. Take a hard look at your belongings and ask yourself if they are a must-keep. If not, it’s time to let them go.
Looking for outside-of-the-box housing options as a downsizer? Check out these blog posts for unique insights.
- Not Ready For Condo Life? 3 Alternatives For Downsizers
- Downsizing as a Snowbird
- Your Questions About Garden Suites Answered
Work With a Full-Service Real Estate Team
While there are a number of ways to make things easier, the hands-down best way to take the stress out of your journey is to work with a real estate team that specializes in downsizing – like us, Silver Burtnick & Associates.
For decades, we’ve helped countless clients discover their best lives by facilitating a smooth and simple downsize. Although making the move to a smaller home a little more complex than your average sale and purchase, we’ve got the process down to science.
Our approach to rightsizing is end-to-end. We understand both parts of the process – selling and buying inside and out. It’s our goal to not only help you achieve a great result but to also take the weight off your shoulders. We’ll coordinate all the logistics and moving parts on your behalf so you can focus on enjoying your transition.
As an experienced and collaborative real estate team, we can help you navigate the process of rightsizing. When you’re ready to begin your next chapter, get in touch. Click here to send an email or call 416-587-3300.
