How to Downsize Before a Move

This guide is for people moving to a smaller home, such as a condo, apartment or retirement community, and the family members helping them. You will get a practical plan for deciding what to keep, how to pass items to family, and how to sell or donate the rest without being overwhelmed.

Start earlier than you think

Downsizing usually takes longer than people expect, because every item calls for a decision. If you can, begin a few months before the move. Starting early lets you work in short sessions, avoid rushed choices and take advantage of selling options that need lead time, such as an estate sale or auction.

Know your new space

The new home decides how much you can keep. Get a floor plan with room measurements, or measure the rooms yourself. Note closet space, kitchen cabinets and any storage that comes with the unit.

• Measure the furniture you hope to bring and sketch where it will go.
• Count how many dishes, linens and clothes you actually use, and plan for that, not for what you own.
• Ask whether the new home has rules on items like rugs, large appliances or certain furniture.

Decide what goes with you first

Instead of starting with what to get rid of, start with what you will keep. Walk through the house with your floor plan and tag the items that will fit and that you use or love. Everything else becomes part of the downsizing plan. This approach feels more positive and moves faster.

Work room by room

Pick the easiest rooms first, such as a guest room or linen closet, to build momentum. Save rooms full of memories, like a study or a closet of photographs, for later when decisions come more easily.

• Use four groups: keep, give to family, sell, and donate or discard.
• Limit sessions to a couple of hours to avoid decision fatigue.
• Handle each item once if you can, placing it directly into its group.

Offer items to family early

Ask children, grandchildren and other relatives what they would like, and give them a firm deadline to pick up. Be prepared for the fact that younger family members may not want large furniture, formal china or collections. That is common and not a reflection on the items or on you. Photographs of meaningful pieces can be a way to keep the memory without keeping the object.

Choose how to sell

The best method depends on what you have and how much time you have.

• Estate or moving sale: useful when you are selling many household items at once. A company can run it after you have moved out what you are keeping.
• Auction: may suit collectibles, art, antiques and quality furniture.
• Consignment shop: can work for good furniture, decor and clothing if you are willing to wait for items to sell.
• Selling directly: online local marketplaces work for individual items but take time to manage.

To find help near you, browse a directory of auction, estate sale and antique businesses. Some areas also have senior move managers who coordinate the entire process.

Donate and discard responsibly

Call charities ahead to learn what they accept and whether they offer pickups. Shred personal papers, take old medications to a take-back program, and use local hazardous waste programs for paint and chemicals.

Plan the move itself

Pack only what is going to the new home and label boxes by room. Set up the new space with the most-used items first, such as the bed, kitchen basics and toiletries. If anything does not fit after the move, decide on it quickly rather than storing it indefinitely, since storage costs add up.

Quick checklist

• Start a few months ahead if possible.
• Get measurements and a floor plan of the new home.
• Choose what to keep first, then sort the rest.
• Give family a deadline to claim items.
• Pick the right selling method for your items and timeline.
• Donate, shred and dispose of the rest properly.