Ferny Hills 
So you’re left in a huge home where you’ve brought up your children. There’s so many wonderful memories but the kids have left now and it’s getting harder and harder to manage the home. It’s time to downsize and start enjoying some ‘me time’!
Being an ‘empty nester’ is only one reason to want to move to a smaller property. With ongoing issues with covid requiring many employees to work from home, some people are opting to get out of the city and move into tiny houses or smaller properties.
Conversely, there’s a growing number of people wanting to move from their large country properties or house in the suburbs into a smaller space in the city. Some are even ditching their cars and relying on public transport and Uber to get around.
Choosing to downsize is a major decision in itself. Where to start is another, and just the thought of trying to fit your furniture and life’s belongings into a smaller place can cause a lot of anxiety.
We’re here to offer four smart tips to help alleviate the stress and emotional drain when downsizing:
#1 Plan, Plan, Plan
The best time to downsize is before you move. So once you’ve made the decision to downsize, start planning and set goals. Even if you haven’t found a smaller home yet, it’s a good idea to start culling and talking with your partner about what you both want to keep and what you’re prepared to sell or donate.
Sometimes your furniture needs to be downsized as well. Once you’ve purchased your new home, utilise the floor plan and take measurements and photos of each room. This will help you when choosing which piece of furniture will go where or whether you need to sell it and purchase something more suitable.
Research the myriad of space-saving options. There are so many great ideas which will help you with storage. For example, there are some nifty furniture items with clever storage compartments, and wall shelving can look more spacious and replace the bulky bookcase.
#2 Invite the Kids for the Weekend
Don’t worry, it’s not what you’re thinking!
Sentimental items like photographs, grandma’s tea set, furniture items, trinkets and baby clothes can be extremely difficult to let go.
Consider getting the family together over a weekend and spend quality time together going through old photos. Tell them the stories surrounding your special trinkets and furniture, and ask them if anything gives meaning to them. Offer to pass these items onto them now rather than waiting til the inevitable clean-out (and sometimes disagreements) after you’re gone. Sift through any remaining photos and ask one of your tech-savvy kids to create a collage for one of the walls in your new home.
It can be very rewarding knowing your precious items are being handed down to the child who wants and values them. And of course the bonus is that you don’t have to take them to your new home and try and find a space for them.
#3 Be Conscientously Courageous… with Everything
It’s very important to stay focussed and strong when it comes to downsizing your wardrobe, kitchen cupboards and garage… pretty much every room in the house really!
We can guarantee though that once the fear of letting go is overcome, you will discover it’s an incredibly freeing experience.
The best way is to work on one room at a time. With your bedroom, know how large (or small) your wardrobe will be in your new home. Take all your clothes, bags, shoes and jewellery out of your wardrobe, and pile them on the floor or bed (you might want to do this in sections, eg clothes first, then bags/shoes etc). Pick up each item and place it into one of three piles – ‘Keep’, ‘Recycle/Sell’, or ‘Bin’. As you go through each item, ask yourself if you’ve worn it in the past 6 months. If you’re still hanging onto your wedding dress or that size 8 number from pre-kids, dig deep, be strong, add them to the ‘Recycle/Sell’ pile and feel good knowing someone else will enjoy them.
Do this for each room and cupboard in the house, including the linen press. Tackle the garage and garden shed in the same way.
You don’t want to find yourself overflowing with ‘stuff’ in your new, smaller home. It might take a few attempts to really whittle down the amount of items you’ll eventually pack. The key is to be brutally honest with yourself, sometimes to the point of asking “would it matter if a tsunami came through the house and this was gone?” Of course it would matter, but as they say, “things can always be replaced, people can’t”. If there’s something you really like and don’t want to forget, take a photo. Chances are you won’t miss most of what you have in six months’ time.
#4 When in Doubt, Call a Pro
If it is too overwhelming, there’s family conflict or you’re finding it difficult to let go, consider hiring a professional “Downsizer”. Yes, they exist! Thinking of space availability, safety and future needs, a Downsizer becomes a third party who is completely impartial (but certainly not unsympathetic) to your family’s possessions.
A professional Downsizer understands your predicament and will endeavour to streamline the entire downsizing and moving process within the collective vision and goals that you and your family have.
Stress-free processes with great results are what Professionals Priority are all about. Professionals Priority provide industry-leading knowledge, service and support when you sell, lease or buy a property. Once you’ve purchased your property through Professionals Priority, they don’t want the relationship to stop there. They even want the entire experience of having to downsize to be an easy and pleasurable one. Let the team at Professionals Priority help you find your perfect ‘smaller’ home, then take on these tips to ensure a smooth transition.
