You or your loved ones have come to the realization that it is time to start thinking of downsizing, but where to begin? Moving is stressful enough, but it’s even more stressful the longer you’ve been in your home. So, we are counting down the top 10 tips to downsize and de-stress your move. Hi, I’m Danielle Abraham with the RE/MAX NC Coastal Team, and I specialize in helping you downsize your home without downsizing your lifestyle on the coast of North Carolina. Let’s get to it!
#10: It’s Never too early to start the downsizing process. Start with the areas of the house that are often the biggest challenge – furniture, garage, attic, filing cabinets.
#9: Start donating and gifting items. Your generosity will be appreciated by others – whether it is family members, or charities. Clearing out your items and knowing that they will get put to good use will feel great and start getting you excited for your new chapter.
#8: What to do with those boxes of old photos and videos. The best answer? Digitize them! You can do this yourself or have a family member help. There are also companies that specialize in nthis service. Digitizing your photos and old videos is the best way of preserving and sharing them with family members.
#7: OK…let’s tackle the books. I’m a sucker for a home with a library. That tends to be my favorite room in the home. If you are a collector of books it will probably take some time for you to pare down your collection. The books you plan on parting with can be donated to libraries, senior centers, or places like the Salvation Army. You may want to contact a Book Dealer for books of value.
#6: Use it, don’t move it. Meaning if you have a supply of canned goods, frozen foods, paper items start using these things up. If you have lot of these types of items, you may want to consider donating to the local Food Bank if the items are not expired.
#5: Old cans of paint and chemicals in the home will need to be dealt with. You can’t leave these items for the new homeowner. If you’ve been in your house for a long time, chances are you have numerous old paint cans and chemicals around the home. A great website for finding local resources for hazardous collections is earth911.org
#4 Keep a list of people, places, utilities and services that will need to be notified of your upcoming change of address. You don’t want to lose touch with your friends!
#3: Plan your space ahead of time. A floor plan will help you determine which pieces of furniture will fit and the best position for them. This will cut down on surprises on your moving day.
#2: This is good advice for anyone moving – pack a survival box or bag. Moving day can be hectic. Pack a box with your essentials such as medications including any pet meds, eyeglasses, toiletries, any important papers, snacks, water, small tool kit, toilet paper, paper towels, soap. Also, make sure you know what type of payment your movers take and have that available.
#1: Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Moving is not easy and you shouldn’t do it by yourself.
Call us to talk more about how to best prepare for your move. We’re here to help! I’m Danielle Abraham with the RE/MAX NC Coastal Team. Real Estate with a Purpose. Where we put our clients and community first!
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