For home sellers, downsizing from an estate to something the size of a two-bedroom condo is going to take some deep decluttering.
This process can be very taxing.
“Typically, when downsizing, we are trying to declutter homes with decades of family memories,” said Mindy Godding, certified professional organizer based in Richmond, Virginia, and founder of Abundance Organizing. “The longer it’s been since a move, the volume can be overwhelming since more items seem to accumulate in the nooks and crannies. Items that have been collected over years or passed down from previous generations tend to hold a lot of sentimental attachment.”
However, not decluttering before moving will make the process harder when selling. You don’t want to bring items you won’t have space for.
“Usually when people try to downsize on their own, they fixate on what is not needed,” said Godding, who also served as president of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. “This is the exact opposite approach from what we recommend to our clients. Keep a focus on what must move to the new space. Once you’ve identified the essentials moving with you, identifying what must be released becomes easier.”
Start decluttering now
The process of decluttering is best when it’s not rushed. If you are thinking about one day downsizing, start decluttering well ahead of time.
“Ideally, you want to be able to go through items at a pace that’s comfortable for you, without feeling any added pressure or stress from looming deadlines,” Godding said. “Even if you are uncertain about your exact timeline or even available space in your next chapter, I recommend that you start early by identifying at least one space every month to declutter.”
The act of consistently cleaning out your belongings and not letting clutter build up is a helpful skill to learn.
“Decluttering and decision-making is a muscle that can be built,” Godding said. “I recommend starting the decluttering process by reviewing small, contained areas that have low risk of sentimental attachment, for example: under the sink, medicine cabinet, food pantry, linen closet, junk drawer or entry closet.”
The more you regularly clear out areas that collect clutter, the better off you will be when a deadline comes around.
Downsize your large belongings
When downsizing, there are some things that need to be done differently than people moving to bigger or equal-sized homes.
“I recommend getting as much information as possible about the new space and its storage capacity,” Godding said. “Be realistic about how and where items will be stored in the new home. The size of your current furniture items may not work in a space with reduced square footage; just because you already own a dining room table doesn’t mean it will work in your new home.”
You don’t want to waste time, money and energy packing and moving something that ultimately won’t fit in your new home. While decluttering, you will sort items into categories: keep, donate or sell. By selling large furniture pieces, you will be able to get them out of the way while the home is on the market and earn a bit of extra money that can be used on moving costs.
“Manage your expectations,” Godding said. “In my experience, people get hung up on the value of their goods to the detriment of their transition. The reality is that values on the resale market have plummeted in recent years. Do not expect to earn significant money off the secondhand sale of your household possessions.”
It is fairly easy to sell furniture and other items on online marketplaces or to antique stores, but when shopping secondhand, most buyers expect deep discounts compared to the original cost. While you might have bought something for $1,000, it could only go for $100 online.
“There are many options if you are looking to sell household items: specialty consignment boutiques, which are usually extremely selective and will only take a small number of items; local auction houses or estate sale companies; online auction services; and local online DIY selling platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor, which can be labor-intensive for the seller,” Godding said.
Offer some meaningful items to offspring
Belongings that hold emotional value are harder to part with. You do not need to get rid of all your sentimental items when decluttering. But take the time to weigh their importance before packing them.
“Sentimental items are tricky because they all feel important, but not all sentimental items carry the same weight,” said Katy Wells, an Asheville, North Carolina-based decluttering expert and author of the forthcoming "Making Home Your Happy Place: A Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm."
“Some make you smile. Some make you feel heavy," Wells said. "Some items honor the memory, and some just remind you of loss, guilt or obligation.”
“We are often reluctant to let go of the items because we fear we will lose the memory,” she said. “I recommend finding ways to separate the story from the item. If you can capture and preserve the story, you’ll find it easier to release the item itself.”
Taking pictures of items is a compact way to keep the memory alive. If you have a large collection of photo albums, consider getting a digital scanner to preserve the photos online. Even if you keep the originals, scanning photos and creating an archive is good for sharing images and keeping them from fading. For extra storage, look into getting an external hard drive.
If you have adult children, invite them to come collect sentimental items that are important to them, but don't expect them to want every keepsake.
“I often hear that, while they want to be supportive of the downsizing process, adult children often feel stressed by the idea of all the stuff that might be coming their way,” Godding said. “The key to success is finding a way to be supportive while still maintaining boundaries.”