Downsizing can be a stressful process. However, there are a couple of things which can make the process of moving into a smaller home a little less stressful. Read on to find out what these things are.
De-cluttering gradually
If you're downsizing, you will have to get rid of a substantial amount of your belongings before you move. If, like most people, you own a huge number of items, this could be a very challenging task.
Trying to de-clutter your home in one fell swoop, only a few days before you're due to move, will only serve to increase your stress levels. If you take this approach, you'll end up feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. In your frazzled state, you could also end up throwing away items that you later wish you had kept.
As such, it is much better to de-clutter your current home gradually, over the course of several weeks (or even months). This will take the pressure off and ensure that you have plenty of time to decide which items you should keep and which ones you should sell or dispose of.
Storing your bulkier items in a safe place
One of the biggest issues people have when downsizing is trying to decide what to do with their larger pieces of furniture that they don't want to sell, but which won't fit into their new, modestly-sized homes.
A lot of individuals in this situation store their furniture in a relative's or friend's garage. However, this can be problematic, as garages often lack insulation and are usually very easy for burglars to break into. This means that, if you choose to stow your valuable pieces of furniture in a family member's garage, there is a good chance that it will either be damaged by the damp environment it is being housed in or stolen by a thief.
If you don't want to spend your time worrying about the condition and safety of your furniture items, it's better to put them into a local furniture storage facility. The storage units at this type of facility are usually climate-controlled and, as such, there will be no risk of your items being damaged by dampness. Additionally, these facilities are extremely secure; in most cases, people cannot gain access to a specific storage unit without an alarm code and a key. The facilities themselves are also usually monitored by on-site security guards and security cameras.