Downsizing Your Home - Written Especially for Retiring Seniors

If you are a senior in your retirement years you may need to go through the process of downsizing your home(eliminate items you currently own) in order to relocate. Whether you need to relocate due to a need for help with physical tasks or just to save on living costs and to simplify your life your new living quarters will ultimately be smaller.

One advantage of downsizing can be time savings because there will be less space to clean and maintain. You will spend less time and money on maintenance as well. There will also be cost savings due to lower tax and insurance payments and you will pay less on utilities like heating and air conditioning.

Regardless of the reason the task of downsizing can be overwhelming. If you are a family member helping a senior, be mindful of the emotions involved with this task and the uprooting process.

If you are a senior and need help with downsizing there are professionals who can be hired to help make the process an easier transition.

Decluttering and Sorting

You will want to give yourself plenty of time to declutter and pack, so plan your move well in advance. A good starting point to help you sort through items is to decide what you want to do with them and where they will go.

Storage places and spaces like the attic tend to be good places to begin your decluttering process. We tend to have fewer emotions attached to items that are not as readily available to us and hence the decision process as to what should be done with these items can be less taxing.

Aside from the items you want to keep other sorting categories will be what to trash, what to donate, and what to sell. You will likely want to give family and relatives first consideration before you donate or sell items. Consider an estate sale as a possibility rather than a garage sale.

Going through this downsizing and decluttering process simplifies moving and lowers moving costs which is an added advantage.

Planning for Your New Space

Measure your new area including storage space and get the dimensions of your furniture to help you determine what you can keep based on available space. A floorplan of the new living area will help your decision process. You can use the floorplan as a guide when planning where your furniture should be placed. It will also facilitate the job of your movers.

Photographs of the new place can help you visualize your new arrangement. By the same token photographs of your current place can be a reminder of its layout should you want to mimic it as much as possible in the new place.

Helpful Questions

As you go through each room and closet or storage area ask yourself some questions about the items.

• If you have two or more of the same items ask: Do I need more than one of these?
• Can another item serve the same purpose?
• When was the last time I used this?
• Would I have to replace it if I got rid of it?
• Does this item have sentimental value I feel I cannot depart with?
• Does this need repair? If so, is it cost worthy to repair or should I buy a new one?
• Could someone else benefit from this more than I could?
• Am I likely to use this again? If not and I changed my mind later would I regret the decision?
• Can I really do without this?(the breadmaker I use once a year)
• Do I have room for this item in the new place?
• Is this item practical in the new place?(that 52 inch screen TV)
• Will this item serve a purpose at my new place or does it fit within my new lifestyle?
• Can I even perform the tasks necessary to use this item anymore?

Two Additional Tips

• Consider selling your home furnished. Buy new furniture to fit and match the interior of your new place. That can also reduce moving costs.
• Consider digitizing photographs and place them on a CD for space saving.

Allow extra time if there are several photographs to go through. If you are assisting someone, like a senior parent for instance, be considerate due to the additional time it may take for this task since there may be reflective moments when viewing the photos and deciding whether to keep a photo or not.

If the idea of moving is very emotional perhaps it is worth taking some pictures of the house and yard as a way to preserve some memories. Even taking time and going through each room and reminiscing about past cherished memories that are evoked can be a way of coping with the transition.

authored by Lon Britton

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