Home downsizing is often an ideal solution for empty-nesters and others to effectively cut down on monthly living expenses. It’s also a great way to reduce the amount of maintenance needed to keep a big home up. But, it doesn’t come without its own set of challenges. After all, you’re going from a large space to a smaller one. So, not everything can realistically go with you. The biggest obstacle to overcome is yourself, as you’ll soon plainly see.
How to Downsize a Home
Downsizing a home is not only a logistical challenge but an emotional ride. You took the time to update your current home over the years. From the little changes to the really big home improvement remodeling, you’ve managed to pull-off quite a bit. It’s a tribute to the work you’ve put into the property, from converting the garage into a wonderful workshop to redoing the bathrooms, it’s been worthwhile.
Housing is a major expense ripe for trimming. The AARP Public Policy Institute reports that 29 percent of middle-class households over age 50 were spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing in 2009, up from 20 percent as recently as 2000. The portion of households spending 50 percent or more of their income on housing nearly doubled during that period, to 9 percent. --CNBC News
Whether you’re retiring and empty nesting or just don’t want to be bothered with the heavy upkeep of a large home, downsizing is a great solution. Of course, this change will come with its own set of challenges. The biggest (not surprisingly) will be dealing with all your possessions. From clothing to appliances to furniture, you’ll have much to deal with over the course of your downsize move.
Most Effective Home Downsizing Tips Brooksville Residents can Use
When you’re ready to start your home downsizing, you should do it with an actionable path. In other words, it’s got to be a way to move forward without creating more stress. Here are some helpful ways to do home downsizing:
- Plan in advance. The necessity of planning simply cannot be understated. Even in a reverse scenario, moving from a small to a large space, there are tons of items you just will not need. In addition, it’s not all about how much you’ll move, but how the move will be executed. Start planning as early as possible for the best results.
- Clear out clutter. Remember the last time you moved from one location to another? Do you recall how shocked you were to discover all the clutter that piled up without noticing? It happens time and again over the years. So, start to pare down on the clutter as soon as possible.
- Determine what’s necessary. Next, determine what’s really needed and what can go. Now, this is probably the most difficult part of home downsizing because it’s easy to rationalize. If you do, you’ll have to deal with the problem of storing more in less space.
When you need help with getting rid of junk for home downsizing, just phone 800-433-1094 or visit AAA Rousse Services.