It’s time to move. You’ve bought your new home, perhaps a luxury, ranch-style condominium in Liberty Grand, and the packing has begun. But what should you take with you? Maybe you’re ready to completely start over or maybe you simply need to purge and only keep items that will have purpose. Whatever the case, there are some things to consider when you’re ready to right size to your new home.
Has your furniture seen better days or does the style not fit the vision you have for your new home? Look at your new floor plan and envision what furniture will work well. Don’t take furniture you know won’t have a place in the new home. If you’re moving to a home with less square footage or a different layout, you might need to eliminate some of the bigger items. Will those large comfy chairs from the media room still fit? Are you going from 4+ bedrooms to only 2-3 bedrooms? You may not need all those extra dressers if you now have a walk-in closet.
You may be tempted to dispose of smaller items, including dishes, silverware, knickknacks, cookware, décor, and yard tools although do this with caution. If you aren’t completely sure of the new storage space you’ll have, take the items and see how they fit. You might opt to get rid of your gardening tools because here in Liberty Grand we take care of the yard work. But, if you enjoy planting baskets and pots for your terrace or front patio, or if you want to add your favorite flowers to the surrounding landscape, consider keeping a few tools. On the flip side, if you haven’t used certain items in along time, donate them. Create boxes that are “definitely keep” and “maybe keep” and eliminate what you don’t use or have a place for after you move.
Keep sentimental items you’ll want for the future and seasonal items you know you’ll use again. Do you have a collection you can’t part with? Can you take photos of your collection and then give away most of it? If you’re unable to keep it all, keep just a few of your favorites. A good way to think about it – what would you want to save in case of a fire? These are the items you want to keep because the items you love aren’t just things --they are memories of events, trips, and family.
What can you digitize and save to a computer, hard drive, or the cloud? Scan and save financial and personal documents of which hard copies are no longer needed. Not only will you save space, but you’ll get organized. Also make digital files of photos, DVDs and CDs.
Do you always think you might be able to use an item someday? If so, become a Yes/No person for the move. Why keep something if you aren’t planning to use it in the near future? We are sentimental creatures, and this is hard, but don’t move what you won’t use.
What makes your house a home? The things that give you pleasure, have sentimental value, and are important to you will find a space in your new home. If you’re thinking you have to keep something – not that you want to keep it – now is the time to reevaluate its worth. Let go of guilt by donating an inherited item or a gift you just don’t have any use for.
Remember, before you move into your new home, visualize what furniture and items you will use and where you might put them. Let that help determine what you take. If you bring things you don’t have a space for right away, you might want to store them for a few months until you learn how you live in your new home.
Keep in mind, you aren’t downsizing, you are right sizing. The furniture and household belongings that bring you joy, and you know will be needed and wanted in your new home, are what you should take with you. Letting go of “stuff” can be difficult, but think how freeing it will be to start the next chapter of your life with a new narrative. And when you move into a luxury condominium in Liberty Grand you’ll be impressed with the space and storage you’ll have to right size your home in line with your lifestyle and needs.
