12 Month Plan for Downsizing

One of the most daunting decisions for many of our clients is to downsize - whether it’s because of an unexpected life event or a retirement plan that has been in the works for years. How do you even begin to pare down from a lifetime of accumulating what is needed to run a busy household, into a space that is typically just one-third of its size? Our experience is that success begins with a plan that, taken in smaller chunks, is completely achievable.

Here is a 12-month plan to gently guide you through this huge transition into an easy move.

Month 1

Transparency and Communication with your loved ones. What is sentimental to them? Once they know you are serious about downsizing, ask them to be specific about what is important to them. More importantly, give them a deadline to have it removed. Chances are very high that you’ll be a little heartbroken to learn no one really covets your travel collection, your cherished Hummels, or the antique chest, but they’ll fisticuff over a special baking pan that reminds them of holidays or a kitschy lamp in the guest bedroom that goes with their modern retro decor. Don’t assume what is valuable to your loved ones. Ask and then truly listen.

Month 2

Have a heart-to-heart with yourself about your New Lifestyle as you begin the tedious process of editing (donating, trashing, or keeping) your belongings. Here are some questions or thoughts to consider. “Am I holding onto this item because I still love it, or just because there was no prior reason to give it away? If I bought this 25 years ago, have I already gotten its “value” out of it? I am likely not hosting the big family gatherings any longer in my limited space, so do I need all of those platters and multiple tablecloths? What items have I been storing for others out of habit, and it’s time for them to retrieve them? Do I need all of those holiday decorations, or can I downsize to just one small box?” More importantly, you need to begin the heart-pulling exercise of emotionally detaching from items. I actually recommend walking from room to room and taking an inventory of what you’d be devastated never to see again. Surprisingly, you may find you are emotionally complete with many items. You bought it. You loved it. You are over it!

Month 3

Start by sorting Room by Room so you aren’t overwhelmed and can effectively focus on smaller sections. I think it’s easiest to start with these three non-sentimental areas first: the linen closet, coat closet, and guest bedrooms. It is simple to throw away expired medication, that collection of hotel travel-sized bottles you snuck, extra king sheet sets that won’t be needed in a two-bedroom, tablecloths that are yellowed with age, winter jackets not worn for years. Then, move on to the closets and shelves in the guest bedrooms that are used as excess storage. Remember that any closet in your new home will likely be needed for more immediate needs and not this type of accumulated excess.

Month 4

The Attic. Your new property will not have an attic and so all of these items will need to be re-homed. Chances are you have no idea what’s even up there, so when was the last time you truly needed it? It is most likely a repository for items that realistically need to be claimed by the family members or items that can be donated.

Month 5

The Basement comes next. As with the attic, it is doubtful you will have a basement space in your next property and it likely holds items you have not needed in a very long time. You will still need (some) tools, but there is a good chance that you can easily detach from old books, children’s toys, outdated ski equipment, stored but now musty clothing, landscaping or lawn maintenance items.

Month 6

Now that we are in the swing of things, we can move to the Primary Bedroom. The closets in your next home will need to serve more than just storing clothes, so you will need to be honestly judicious about what you really wear in your day-to-day. Blazers, evening dresses, that collection of skirts, holiday-wear, men’s suits. The top drawer of your dresser will take longer than you think. Remember this, any spare bedroom closet in the new property will be needed for items typically stored in your attic/basement, like keepsakes or hobbies, so you won’t be able to spread your own clothing into the spare rooms as you may do now.

Interfaith Works in Rockville [www.iworksmc.org] has a whole faux-shop set up for budding careerists in need of donated business clothes!

Month 7

Oddly, the Kitchen takes the longest to sort and clear. I can only postulate that it seems careless to give away perfectly useful items, still in good condition, and kitchen items do last a very long time. But you will find that your cabinets are bursting at the seams with cooking small appliances and tools you do not use any longer. Donate the bread maker, the George Foreman grill, the three blenders, the multiple food processors, the very chipped set of everyday dishes. Take just one of any given category and fewer if possible - do you need that Mickey Mouse waffle maker? One of my dearest friends recently texted, “Why do I have six cake plates when I don’t even bake anymore?”

A Wider Circle [www.awidercircle.org] is a terrific repository for kitchen or household items that are dedicated for those who need assistance to set up a new home.

Month 8 and Month 9

The Keepsakes and The Papers. Don’t make the mistake of leaving this to the end of the list - these will take time to emotionally process and often will create their own ‘to do” list as you discover buried items. Also, many keepsakes may need to be passed onto a relative who needs some time to travel. However impossible, make a clear mental distinction between what’s a keepsake and what’s just paperwork; they aren’t the same to heirs. Discerning a true memory from an old receipt takes some training, and it may be helpful if you do this with a friend or family member who can help discern that difference for you through their more removed position. As you uncover truly important documents, file them together in a separate brightly colored plastic tub to make later estate planning that much easier. For your children, consider one plastic tub per each as a good way to just toss keepsakes into their tub without much extra thought and then quickly move onto the next item. No matter how difficult, stick to this two-month deadline - working against this short deadline is the only way to be decisive. Experience says you will take up every minute that you allow yourself for this specific task.

Month 10

Make that phone call for arranging your donation. Especially because of Covid, the typical organizations in our area who will take your furniture items are backlogged. You will need to give them 6-8 weeks’ notice before your move-out date. Remind your family members that their items will be disposed of this month. Tag the furniture you are keeping with a removable dot. There should be more furniture going than staying. Prioritize saving furniture that can discreetly store things: armoires, cupboards, and sideboards are multi-purpose and can be used stylishly in several different rooms equally. And, a smaller place won’t absorb large pieces so select one big piece per room. Last, assign any giveaways/keepsakes with a tag on the back with the recipient’s name.

Month 11

By now, you may have a specific property under contract. If you are able to have a home inspection, while you are walking the property, invite a secondary person (friend or family member) to take measurements of the rooms and mark where the windows/doors are positioned. You’ll be happy to know in advance how some of your bigger furniture pieces may or may not fit, before you pay dearly to have them moved!

Month 12

If you’ve spent the last 11 months in due diligence, the sorting is done and the eventual packing will not be nearly as difficult. Nonetheless, this last month can be spent doing yet another round of editing. Now that you know your space constraints, you may feel differently about a box of books, an extra dresser, your aunt’s sewing machine, a painting you bought while traveling in your 30s. Have that last heart-to-heart with yourself about truly Changing Your Habits. You are no longer in a life stage of accumulation, rather you should adopt a new life policy of one-in and thus one-out. For those who have any spare energy for philosophizing this experience, try googling “Norwegian Death Clean” for a whole culture built around exactly what you’ve just accomplished - congratulations!

Our Team has assisted dozens of clients who have had this same, seemingly monumental task. We know it can’t be done overnight, but we can share our built-in confidence that it can be done strategically and incrementally so that you have a sense of closure and are ready to truly enjoy the next part of your life!