Downsizing Tips And Advice
Moving to a new home is one of the most stressful things we do. If you are moving into a garden annexe then you are also probably looking at a smaller space than what you are used to. You may have to downsize and only take with you what is truly necessary. Don’t worry, downsizing may feel like a daunting task but it can actually be very simple with our downsizing tips and advice.
Get A Feel For The Space
It can help if you have floorplans of your new home or can visit a showroom to help you get a feel for the size of the place you will be living in. Try and visualize yourself living in the space.
You might see the perfect spot for your favourite vase or know exactly where you want to keep all your cookbooks. You may also find that some of your stuff just won’t go in your new home and it’s always better to know that before you start packing rather than after.
Separate Your Belongings Into Categories
It’s good to separate your things up into groups such as by rooms or function i.e. kitchen and bathroom. You can also make boxes for books or DVDs. Sometimes it helps to limit the number of boxes you are planning to take with you so you can limit how many books you bring.
Separate Your Stuff Into Essentials And Non Essentials
Some stuff will be necessary and you will have to keep them whereas some stuff might be non-essential and you may find you don’t actually need it. Sometimes deciding what is essential and what is not can be hard, so don’t feel discouraged if you have to reevaluate every now and then
Decide What Is Really Necessary And What Is Excess
Yes, you need plates, but you probably don’t need 20 plates from 5 different diner sets you’ve acquired over the years. Plan for the future as you pack and try to realistically see if you need some of the things you’ve been clinging on to. Clothes that don’t fit or a craft project you started but never finished don’t need to make the journey to the new home to just go unloved.
Be Reasonable With Sentimental Items
Getting rid of sentimental items can be hard. You’ve lived a rich, full life and you have a lot of memories tied to so many of your belongings. Photographs and children’s drawings can be difficult to sort, as can belongings from those who are no longer with us.
Remember that it’s not the object that has the memory, but you.
Don’t Do It Alone
Make sure to have someone with you when you go through your things, especially if it’s sentimental. It can help to reminisce with someone else and share the memory.
It’s good to have a second opinion on some things. Something you may have thought was an important memento to someone else, might not be when you ask them and you might not need to keep it.
It’s Ok To Keep Things
Downsizing doesn’t have to mean throwing away everything you own. It simply means cutting down on what you have so you are left with only the essentials and things that mean something to you. It’s ok to keep something you may not necessarily need in the future if it brings you happiness or if it’s a keepsake you don’t want to part with.
Assess How Much Stuff You Have
Once you’ve got decided how much stuff you want to take with you step back and assess how much stuff it actually is. You may find that you still need to cut down a little or that you’ve been a little too ruthless. Once you know exactly how much stuff you are planning to take, it should relieve some of the stress that comes with moving. Now you can relax and enjoy starting the next chapter of your life.
Don’t Just Throw Things Away
Not everything has to be thrown away just because you’re not using it anymore. Clothes, books and decorations can go to charity shops so your old things and can be loved again and help out a good cause. There are websites and apps like musicmagpie and webuybooks that can help you get money for old CDs and books with no fuss. If you weren’t sure about keeping that old book on the shelf, sometimes seeing how much you could get for it can be the push you need to let it go.
Take Your Time And Have Fun
Moving house and downsizing doesn’t have to be a bad thing. You are moving on to the next chapter in your life. This is a great time to reminisce and re-live all the great memories you have. Get someone to help you and make a fun day out of it. Make sure to thank every item you let go of, this will help you part with the item and move on to the next step.
Get In Touch
If you would like to find out more about granny annexes, get in touch with Family Annexe. We have six unique annexe models available, each providing a safe and cost-effective solution to elderly care.
Family Annexe has an efficient seven-step process, designed to make your annexe experience stress-free and enjoyable. This starts with a free, no-obligation consultation!
