Downsize With Ease by Avoiding These Mistakes
Downsizing your belongings allows you to move into a smaller property. Tiny homes are trending, and in general more and more Americans are interested in smaller houses. These more compact real estate investments are easier to maintain, requiring less upkeep in terms of effort and finances than larger properties. Before you can make the move to your new nest, however, you have to trim down your material possessions. Make the process a breeze by avoiding these common downsizing mistake
Overestimating Your Current Home’s Value
More than likely you’ve begun to scout listing sites to find the perfect smaller home. You’ve also probably guessed what your current home is worth and what you can expect to make off the sale. This method can be informative, but it can also lead to some difficult surprises. Ultimately, the best way to determine a home’s value is through an appraisal, but your real estate agent will also be a great guide in helping you choose the right price. They base the price on what other comparable homes in your neighborhood are selling for as well as whether you need updates or have made updates. Get a jump start on this information by using a home value estimator tool, which you can find online. The result isn’t a guarantee, but it can help guide you a little bit more when it’s time to talk to your agent.
Rushing the process
Don’t try to downsize overnight. Tackle the project one room of the house at a time. This limits the chaos and allows you to keep living comfortably in most of your home. Start with those rooms that you use less frequently to avoid uprooting your life prematurely. Leave the kitchen and living room for last, which, according to a survey from Ranker, are the most used rooms.
Plan to complete one room of the house at a time. Sort items into two categories: take or leave. Don’t give yourself a “maybe” pile, which you will have to revisit again and again. This will only slow down the process and create emotional stress as you waffle back and forth on items.
Those items you no longer need can be sold or donated depending on their condition. Money Under 30 offers tips to help you choose the right option, including how to assess whether the profit you can make is worth the effort. You’ll also find recommended sites to sell through, including ThredUp for clothing and eBay for electronics.
Failing to make use of digital technology
Don’t underestimate the power of digital tools for easing downsizing. Printed photographs in albums take up a lot of room, for instance. All of these items can be digitized, which not only saves space but also protects them from wear and tear. You can hire a service to scan your photos or you can do it yourself. If you’d prefer to go the latter route, make sure you’re equipped with a scanner for your photos, which you can find on Amazon for less than $100.
You can also digitize books and magazines that you may have collected and are loathe to get rid of. Do-it-yourself tools like DIYBookScanner.org are available to help make the process easier. There are also book scanning services available that allow you to pay per page scanned.
Last but not least, odds are you have some boxes of old DVDs or CDs sitting in a closet somewhere. There’s no need to drag this stuff to your smaller home. You can also digitize music and movies. Millennium Waste Inc. suggests ripping your discs onto your computer and then recycling them to help reduce landfill waste.
Forcing yourself to get rid of items
It may happen that you come across items you simply can’t fit into your new space but also can’t bear to part with. Maybe it’s an old piece of artwork or a sentimental piece of furniture. Whatever the case may be, don’t emotionally torture yourself by getting rid of an item you love—put it into storage instead. You can always come back to the items you put in storage down the line and decide what to do with them at a later date.
Storage units can get expensive, so don’t settle for the first option you find. Shop around and look for deals and discounts. Take note that the prices of storage units usually fluctuate based on size. In Ketchum, a 10’x10’ unit averages $184 a month, but new customer incentives could help bring that price down.
Downsizing can be more enjoyable and less stressful, and you can even reap health benefits that come with decluttering. Steer clear of the above mistakes, and don’t be afraid to bring in some help if needed.
