Downsizing for Seniors: What You Need to Consider

A retired couple unpacking moving boxes in their new home.

Downsizing is never easy, especially if you’re moving from a home that holds so many precious memories of life’s biggest moments. To help make this big life transition just a little bit easier, we’re sharing some helpful tips on what to know about downsizing for seniors.

3 things to consider when downsizing as a senior:

1. How will I choose what to get rid of?

How do you decide what to keep and what to get rid of when you cherish those belongings so profoundly? By taking it slowly and tackling items in small quantities to help reduce some of the emotional attachment associated with those items. A couple of other things you could try:

  • Starting with less meaningful items: Decluttering involves getting rid of items that don’t have an emotional attachment but rather take up space without any purpose. If you start with less meaningful items first, it can be easier to transition to the more meaningful ones.

  • Donate items to a good cause: Donating items can help make parting ways with your cherished items a little bit easier. You can pick the charity/donation center of your choice so that you know they’re going to someone who truly needs them.

2. Does my new home have enough storage space?

Even though the point of downsizing is to move to somewhere with less space, it’s still important to choose somewhere that will still fit all of your living and storage needs. The best rule of thumb is to take account for the things you absolutely need in your new space, and then store the rest of your belongings in a trusted storage facility. This way, you always have access to these items should you need to bring them into your new space.

3. How am I going to move everything?

As you get older, lifting and carrying heavy items gets a little bit harder. When downsizing, it’s important to consider how you’re going to get everything moved from point A to point B. One of the best and most efficient ways to do this is by hiring professionals who can ensure that both you and your items stay safe during the transition. Plus, hiring professionals can make the big transition just a little less frightening and stressful.

At Space Shop Self Storage, we know just how difficult moving and starting over in a new space can be. Whether you need a storage solution, moving help, or just someone to give you tips about your new community, we’ve got you covered. Just stop by one of our locations or reach out to us here – we’d be happy to chat with you.

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