Whether you’ve recently realized you don’t need so much living space or have been planning to downsize for years, moving into a smaller home can be tough. That’s especially true if you’ve accumulated a lot of belongings over the years and aren’t quite sure where to start.
But moving into a smaller space doesn’t have to be stressful or difficult — in fact, it can be quite liberating when you know how to tackle the process. And our team at Ed’s Moving & Storage in Tacoma is always ready to help!
If you’re getting ready to downsize, here are five tips for moving into a smaller home.
1. Prepare Yourself Mentally for the Change
If you’re used to living in a fairly expansive space, you’ll want to take some time to mentally prepare yourself for the transition to a smaller home. While it can be easy to feel a bit down about downsizing, there’s actually a lot to love about going smaller, and the more you focus on the positives, the more enjoyable the whole process will be.
To get yourself mentally ready, try making a list of all of the advantages you’ll enjoy when you live in a smaller home. Think about things like:
● A smaller space is easier to maintain (and costs less to keep up, too!).
● You can thoroughly clean a smaller space in less time.
● You won’t feel pressure to host large social gatherings at your house (if you’re not really into that sort of thing but have done it for years just because you had the room).
● If you’re relocating to a smaller space in a more urban place, you may be able to reduce your vehicle usage and save on insurance and fuel.
● Your utility bills will likely be cheaper since you won’t have as much space to heat and cool.
2. Decide What You’ll Get Rid Of and Declutter
If you have a ton of stuff, this part might be difficult, but once it’s done, you’ll likely be surprised at just how liberated and relieved you feel. When you own a lot of things, your things may start to own you rather than the other way around. When you offload many of those things, you don’t just free up physical space — you free up mental space, too.
So how do you decide what you’ll keep and what you’ll sell, give away, donate, or toss? First, start by making a list of your must-have items.
Once you have a list of must-keep belongings, take inventory of the rest of your stuff. Do you own duplicates? If so, pick the items you like the most (only keep one) and sell, donate, or gift the rest. Have you hung on to anything that’s broken or damaged? You probably won’t miss that stuff. Do you have clothing that you haven’t worn in years? Chances are you won’t miss that either.
Next, figure out what you can replace for a reasonable cost. It may be easier to move into your new home with less stuff than you need rather than more just so you don’t have to downsize further once you arrive.
For more tips on getting rid of stuff, check out our guide on decluttering before a move and our suggestions on tackling the downsizing process before you relocate.
3. Measure Your Furniture and Decor
If you’d like to hang onto the furniture you already have, make sure you know the dimensions of every room in your new, smaller home. Once you have those dimensions, take some time to draw up a placement plan for the furniture you’d like to bring. Chances are you’ll have to get rid of some of your pieces if you’re coming from a considerably larger space.
The earlier you figure this out, the better you’ll be able to plan, since it makes no sense to move items you’ll ultimately end up getting rid of when you arrive. You’ll also be able to sell some of your pieces to local buyers and make some extra cash to offset the cost of your move.
4. Sell Your Things Online
Want to make some extra cash to offset the cost of your upcoming move? Or perhaps you want some extra money in the bank to buy new items you’ll need to replace? Then you may want to consider downloading free apps like Offerup, Letgo, and Nextdoor, where you can list and sell your things to local buyers.
If you want to reach a larger audience, Facebook Marketplace is a great place to list stuff, and you’ll also have the option of shipping to buyers outside your local area. Poshmark, Mercari, and Tradesy are also excellent places to list used clothing, shoes, and other apparel, so if you’re paring down your closet, consider using those apps, too.
5. Rent a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit
If you can’t bear to part with some things that just won’t fit in your new space, you can put them in climate-controlled storage for as long as you need to. These types of storage units maintain a consistent temperature and humidity to prevent damage that can occur due to moisture or exposure to extreme temperatures.
Climate-controlled units are also located inside a building, so they offer more security than their counterparts with outdoor access points. That means your well-loved belongings will have the highest level of protection possible while you figure out whether you’d like to hang onto them or pass them on to someone else.
Not sure which type of unit you need? Check out the difference between climate-controlled and conventional storage units to determine which type is best for your needs.
Ready to Hire a Moving Company Near Tacoma?
If you’re planning a move to a smaller home and need experienced pros to help you tackle the job, get in touch with our team at Ed’s Moving & Storage in Tacoma! We can handle your entire move, help you with loading and unloading, or provide climate-controlled storage solutions to keep your extra belongings safe. No matter what your move needs may be, our local, interstate, and international movers are ready to help make your relocation as smooth and stress-free as possible!
To learn more about our services or get a moving estimate, call our office at 253-581-2446 or request a fast quote online, and we’ll reach out with more information.