Downsizing can be a challenging life event, especially if you have a long history of filling your home with memory-making treasures. Increased freedom with less to manage and having a space that better fits your next chapter, is the end goal. You can shift your belongings to best suit your personal path by planning a cleanout properly and using a seasoned vanishing team.
Although there will be some work involved in clearing what is of non-use to you and what will aid your next chapter, you don’t have to do it entirely on your own. Consider professional removal services to assist with the heavy lifting – leaving you to concentrate on making decisions.
Deciding What to Keep
Before getting started, take an instant to consider what your daily life will look like in the new space. Think about how you will cook, relax, entertain, and sleep. Visualize your daily tasks as you sort through your belongings and use that vision to determine whether any given item will serve you on your next journey.
If the task is too large, start thinking of this process as an easy estate cleanout, done in stages. Tackle one space or room at a time and add breaks into your schedule to make the job feel possible!
To help you function quickly and without second guessing, try to have a few simple rules:
- Keep frequently used items, beloved items, and safety/hygiene items.
- Let go of duplicates and items that you have not touched in one year that belong to the “someday” category.
- Use measurements to access if you are keeping your treasured belongings (sofa, dining set, etc.) in accordance with your new layout.
- Give your family members a date to claim keepsakes, then move on, regardless of their decision.
Donating vs. Selling Items
Now that you have made a decision regarding your keepers, you can make precise decisions on what to sell, donate, or haul away (https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/haul%20away). Selling items can often leave you short on cash, but it does take a lot of time to deal with; pictures, postings and meet ups. Donating your items is a much simpler way to shift items in a timely and often fulfilling way; especially if those items land with a local charity, veterans’ group or thrift store.
Most professional teams can provide receipts for tax purposes and can pick up heavy pieces, or they can also usually avoid appliance removal. Ask what they can recycle such as mattresses and electronics, and scrap metal so less is landfill.
If you’re looking for junk removal Philadelphia, and you’re in or around Philly, the search is over. There are crews and companies that coordinate donation drop-offs, recycling, and appropriate disposal for you with no heavy lifting.
Pro tip: Senior move managers can set up a timeline, schedule haulers, and even set-up your new home as to be “finished” on day one. Senior move managers can arrange for the disposal of your unwanted items and then supervise the packing and unpacking aspect of the transition, taking a huge weight off your mind.
If your project is an entire house, the property clean-outs are awesome–an included service to clear without maintaining each area in the basement, garage, and the attic in coordination.
Preparing for a Smaller Space
Right-sizing belongings makes for an easier transition and mornings! Measure how rooms, doorways, and elevators are before moving day. If your favorite pieces don’t get into the new home, professional crews can remove the furniture safely and can even potentially donate it. If you need an old shed or built-in desk removed, insured teams can do light demolitions (see here for more), and cart away the scraps, all while save you from frustrating DIY. Get in writing to confirm pick-up windows due to the building rules or elevator reservation timeline.
Before choosing a crew be sure you ask for a written estimate, proof of insurance, and a simple plan for donation and recycling. Most crews will text to tell you they are on the way, and sweep when they leave, so you can end the day with a clean, safe place. If lifting is difficult, request “full service” to include packing, carrying, and a final walk-through. Most important is to set a date today- deadlines turn good intent into momentum.
Emotional Side of Downsizing
Letting go of things is not just a logistics exercise, it’s an emotional exercise as well. You might feel waves of grief, relief, or both. Nothing wrong with that! Try talking about the item’s story out loud, at the end you can decide whether the memory is contained in the item or in you. Take a picture, write a note about why the item was important, and release the item with gratitude.
If you are clearing your loved one’s home give yourself extra care and time during the process, progress is the goal, not perfection. Consider inviting a trusted friend to sit with you while you sort; that companionship makes decision-making less heavy. With every trunkload that exits your life given a walk, a cup of tea or a call to someone who is cheering for you is in order.
Moving In and Organizing
Congratulations! Now set yourself up for days of calm and well-deserved ease. Unpack with intention and purpose; make sure everything earns its spot, then give yourself at least a few days to breathe and adjust the organization until it feels natural.
A focused plan will keep the momentum of relocating:
- Start with an “everyday box” (medications, chargers, toiletries, coffee making) so your first morning starts on the right note.
- Unpack one room at a time, and finish with the bedroom and bathroom first; both will help deliver rest.
- Create simple labels- “mail,” “donate,” “to repair,” so you will not have piles.
- Plan for a final pick up of empty boxes or leftovers; and remember many haulers will do tiny load returns quickly.
You deserve to have a home that fits the life you live now. A happier, safer, and easier-to-care-for life. Professional junk and demolition services will help you turn all of the weight into a guided process, so you can focus on the people and plans ahead.
