What Not to do While Downsizing

If you’re considering downsizing your home, you’re not alone. In recent years, thousands of families and individuals all across the country have swapped out their lavish digs for simpler and more toned-down accommodations. Unfortunately, many of them have also made mistakes during the process that they’ve come to regret later.

6 Downsizing Mistakes not to Make

Whether you’re downsizing on your own or bringing the whole family with you, it pays to avoid these simple mistakes.

1. Throwing out Important Paperwork

It’s easy to get a little toss-happy when it comes time to downsizing your home. Unfortunately, throwing out critical paperwork can hurt you in the long run. When you go through your files, digitize anything you think you might need and develop a more compressed filing system for things that are still relevant. Accordion folders work well, as do vertical filing boxes that hold a large amount of papers in a small space.

2. Getting Rid of All Your Family Heirlooms

While it’s true that most of us hold on to things we don’t need, some things are truly irreplaceable. To prevent yourself from feeling regretful down the road, keep the family heirlooms you won’t display or use in your new home, but can’t bear letting go entirely. If you need to, opt for an offsite storage shed with enough room to handle your heirlooms. This will keep them handy and in-reach, without cluttering your new living space.

3. Selling Electronics Without Properly Resetting Them

Today, our devices contain a massive amount of personal information. To ensure yours doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, don’t ever sell, give away, or trade an electronic device until you’ve made sure that it’s wiped entirely.

4. Throwing Away Photo Boxes

If you don’t want to keep the thousands of family photos you’ve accumulated over the years, digitize them rather than throw them out. This achieves the same purpose (saving you space), but prevents regret down the road.

5. Getting RID OF Emergency Supplies

No matter how small and compact your new home may be, having a bag of carefully packed emergency supplies is still critical. In most cases, a radio, flashlight, batteries, fire starters, bottled water, a blanket, a medical kit, and some dried food will do. Don’t go overboard and get rid of these things when you leave your larger home, as you’ll likely regret it later.

6. Paring Down Your Kitchen Too Much

Kitchen supplies can multiply to take over all our spare space, but getting rid of too much can damage the room’s functionality. Keep what you need and nothing more, but be sure you’re discerning about what you get rid of.

Downsizing the Smart Way 

If you’re on the verge of downsizing, it pays not to be hasty with the process. When you’re careful about what you give away and what you don’t, you can safeguard the process and ensure you’re happy and satisfied with your transition down the road.