At some point in our lives, we all face the need to downsize, whether it’s to an apartment, condo, ranch house, or even a college dorm room. The task may seem daunting, but just remember that it is an exciting change in your life and an opportunity to decide what items are really important to you and what items you can stand to let go. Keep reading for a few tips from your Columbus moving company E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. to make the whole downsizing process easier:
-Make a list of things you certainly cannot live without. This careful process will make it easier for you to decide which items can be let go without too much heartbreak.
-Start sorting early and do a little bit at a time. Go through one room at a time and decide which items can be donated, thrown away, or even put into storage. 1-800-PACKRAT can help you with this.
-Consider the OHIO rule: Only Handle It Once. Try to avoid having any items that fall under a “maybe” category; pose the question of keeping each item as a “yes” or “no”.
-Have a friend come over to help you make the ultimate decisions about certain items. It may be hard for you to get rid of certain items, as you have memories associated with them, but a friend can give you an honest opinion that may make you realize you’re not going to make good use of the item.
-Try your hand at drawing floor plans of your new home. Figure out the dimensions of your new rooms and your existing furniture to see if all of your furniture can make the cut. If not, consider selling some pieces or donating residential furniture to The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio and office furniture to King Business Interiors’ Connecting the Dots program. Planning ahead and getting rid of some pieces before you move will save you the time and hassle of moving the items.
-Consider taking pictures of some items that have sentimental value but cannot fit in your new home. Remember, the memory is within you, not the item.
-Like Suzy from Suzy’s Helping Hands says: if you haven’t used it or worn it in two years, get rid of it.
-Donate or sell books that you aren’t particularly attached to and ones you know you won’t get around to reading again.
-Go through old magazines and newspapers. Don’t hang on to any that don’t have specific emotional value or relevancy to your life.
-Don’t keep duplicates that you don’t need, such as multiple sets of glassware and dishes.
-Utilize the storage spaces that you do have, specifically closets. Use shoe racks, clear bins, specific hangers for scarves, etc. Make sure any bins are see-through so you can quickly find your items.
With some careful planning and a critical eye, moving to a smaller home doesn’t have to be so stressful. Check out more moving resources from E.E. Ward here.