Moving from a house to a condo? If your home was significantly larger, this means you’ll be downsizing quite a bit. Translation: you’ll have to get rid of a lot of stuff. What do you do with your belongings? Well, you’ll probably realize quite quickly that much of it you can live without. Yes, you will have to make some difficult decisions about what to keep and what to sell or toss, but it’s a necessary decision.
You simply can’t take everything with you, unless you plan on putting stuff in storage. But as tough as downsizing can be, right before a move is actually the best time to take stock of what you own. This way, you can avoid clutter overload, moving into your new condo without any worries that you won’t have the space you need to feel comfortable. Here are some tips.
Sort Through Your Stuff
The first thing you have to do is sort through your belongings. A good tip to heed? Place four boxes in each room. Label them:
- Keep
- Sell
- Recycle/Donate
- Trash
As you handle each item, place it into the appropriate box.
Only Keep Things You Need and Love
Still having a tough time deciding what to take and what to leave behind? Consider whether you really need it or not, and consider whether it has a high sentimental value. Things you will likely still need in the new place include:
- Tax returns
- Legal documents (wills, titles, powers of attorney, etc.)
- Identification
- Receipts
Things you love and will want to hang onto include:
- Photographs
- Baby albums
- Items, clothing, trinkets, etc. with sentimental value
- Valuable items such as jewelry and heirlooms
- Gifts from family members
This rule also works well with practical items such as clothing. Do you need it? Is it a staple of your wardrobe? Do you love it? Then it’s OK to keep it.
Evaluate Your Storage Options in the New Digs
Assess what storage you will have in your new condo. Only then can you decide what to bring with you and what to place in storage. Because most condos have limited space, you will have to pare down your stuff or put what you don’t immediately need in storage, such as seasonal clothing or decorations. Take note of how many closets or dedicated storage spaces you will have access to, but be realistic about what you can actually use those for and for what purpose.
Let’s say you have an outdoor closet off the balcony. This is a great place to put outdoor furniture and a grill, for instance. But it’s not ideal for documents or items that can easily get damaged by heat or moisture.
Be on the Lookout for Outside Storage Options
If you still don’t have enough storage options in your new place, you may consider investing in an off-site storage unit. This is where you can place anything you don’t need on a daily basis and won’t need for a while, such as off-season clothing or extra furniture. Before storing sensitive documents in storage, though, ask whether it’s climate-controlled. Even then, your unit could be at risk of infestation by rodents or insects, or security on site may be lackluster.
That’s why it’s important to thoroughly research your storage provider. Here at Olde World Movers, we offer safe, secure climate-controlled storage for your peace of mind.
Make a Commitment to Declutter Regularly After the Move
Even after you move, don’t throw out everything you’ve learned about de-cluttering! Do a seasonal or at least yearly de-cluttering of your home. If you don’t, things can quickly pile up and before you know it, you’re tripping over junk again. The best way to ensure things don’t get out of control is to perform regular sorting to help you decide what you should keep and what should stay.
Ongoing organization keeps your smaller living space open and roomy. You don’t always need a ton of space to live in if you stay on top of weeding out what you don’t need. Make a commitment now to a regular cleaning and de-cluttering schedule, marking it on the calendar so you don’t forget.
Contact Olde World Movers
Looking to downsize from a home to a condo? We have a lot of experience moving people out of larger homes and into smaller condos and apartments. Contact us today for a free quote on our moving and storage services.
