The
downsizing process is time-consuming and challenging. This is
especially true for seniors, who often have a lifetime of possessions
and who often face physical challenges that make sorting and removing
items hard to do. If you're a senior who would like to downsize into
a smaller apartment sometime in the next few years, these tips can
help you through the process.
Start
Early
The
downsizing process can take months or years, depending on how much
stuff you need to downsize and how dedicated you are to the task of
finishing in a certain period of time. Start early to take off some
of the pressure and make the task more manageable.
If
you're a homeowner who knows that you would like to move into a
smaller home sometime in the next year or two, start downsizing as
soon as possible. Begin slowly, going through old items that have
been put into storage. Once this is done, then you can start going
through items stashed in common areas of the house.
Get
Rid of Clutter
One
of the most important parts of downsizing is the removal of clutter.
Clutter can take many forms. Loose papers, bills, magazines, and
knick-knacks are just some of the types of clutter typically found in
a home. Basically, anything that fills the shelves of your home
takes up most of the space in your closets and fills up your storage
space may be called clutter.
In
your new home, where ever that is, you're unlikely to have as much
storage space as you have in your current home. Get rid of the
clutter to help ensure that you'll have space to store what you
really need. Sort through all of your closets, shelves, drawers, and
storage spaces to get rid of extra items you no longer need.
Measure
Storage Space
Once
you know how much storage space can be found in your new home, you
can more easily determine how much stuff you currently own that you
can no longer keep.
Once
you've signed a lease, ask permission from the management company to
measure the length and width of each closet. Multiply the length by
the width of each closet. This will tell you the square footage of
each closet. Add each total together to find out the total square
footage of your new home. Once this is done, follow the same process
at your current home.
Once
you know how much bigger the storage space is in your current home
compared to the home that you'll be moving into, this can help you
decide exactly how much stuff you'll need to get rid of during the
downsizing process.
Get
Help
In
any downsizing or moving process, help is always appreciated. Help is
especially important for seniors who have a medical condition that
could prevent them from downsizing safely. Work with a friend or a
relative to help prevent injury.
Seniors
who feel like they don't have someone they could ask to help with
downsizing can get help from a moving company. Either way, make sure
you have someone who is strong enough to move heavy items out of
storage and put them where ever it is that they need to go.
Find
Creative Ways to Get Rid of Things
Not
everything needs to be thrown away. When you're downsizing, you
can get rid of old items in a number of different ways, including:
- Garage sale
. Hold a garage sale to sell items that people might want (clothes, books, and so on).
- Charity
. Give away useful items (sheets, towels, clothes) that can't be sold.
- Recycle
. Recycle everything you can of the items that you can't give away or sell.
- Landfill
. When all else fails, throw away what's left.
- Give away to family
. If you have sentimental items that you don't want to throw away or sell, consider giving it away to family.
When
throwing away things in the landfill, remember that certain things
can't be legally thrown away. Old tires, electronics, batteries, and
paints are common examples of items that are not supposed to go in
the landfill.
Have
a Plan
Make
sure you have a downsizing plan to help the process go more
smoothly. Make yourself a timeline to decide when you'll be going
through every room of your house. If you plan to have a garage sale,
write that into the plan and give yourself several months in advance
to prepare.
Once
you know where you'll be moving and how much storage space you'll
have, you can make firmer plans to eliminate enough stuff to move
into your new home.
Contact
Us for More Information
Are
you thinking about moving into an apartment? Do you need to downsize?
At Robert Cottingham Company, we're happy to answer your
questions and give you more information about downsizing and
moving into a senior living apartment. To find out more, contact
us today
.
