How to Decide What to Take with You When You Move and Downsize

Making the decision to move out of your long-term home to embark on the next chapter of your life in retirement can feel overwhelming and a bit daunting at first thought. After all, you’ve probably lived in your current home for years and accumulated a lot of belongings, so the idea of downsizing into a smaller space may seem like a near impossible task to complete.
However, deciding what you do and don’t take with you when you move can be easier than you think. While downsizing may seem like a huge undertaking, there are some simple tips to get you started on the process and help you determine what items to keep and which to get rid of.

3 Steps for Deciding What to Take with You

Once you’ve made the decision to move, it is highly likely you will need to sort through your belongings to decide what you will keep, store, sell, donate and throw away. Below are a few steps you should follow:

1. 1. Sort and Organize Belongings. Your first step to deciding what to take with you when you move and what to leave behind is to simply sort your items. It’s easier said than done, but you should systematically go through each room of your home and sort items into categories that make sense for you. 

2. 2. Decide What Needs to be Donated or Thrown Away. If you come across items that are unopened, old or out of date, are unfinished, won’t fit in your new home or hold no sentimental value to you, you should donate or get rid of these items. It can be difficult to get rid of some of your belongings, but in the end, you will feel relieved and your new home won’t be as cluttered. 

3. 3. Decide Which Items to Keep. When sorting through your items, you’re going to want to make sure you hold on to the items that are most important to you. Make sure you’re keeping sentimental items that you want to see regularly, items that have high value and clothing items that are important for special occasions.

4 Ways to Get Rid of Items Before Moving

After you’ve decided which items you will bring with you on the move and which ones you’ll eliminate, you’re probably wondering how to properly get rid of your unwanted items. Below are four different outlets you can use to efficiently eliminate your items:

1. 1. Consignment Shops. These types of shops typically specialize in vintage clothing but will also accept some of your higher quality clothing items. It depends on the shop, but sometimes you will receive money or a discount in the store for the exchange of your clothing items.

2. 2. Thrift Stores and Non-Profit Stores. These types of stores include charities like Goodwill and the Salvation Army. Many of these non-profit agencies donate their profits to give back to the community. It’s also common for these types of places to work with the local shelters and help ensure people in the community receive proper clothing and supplies. You can check your local directory for listings of nearby donation locations. 

3. 3. Shelters and Support Agencies. A large amount of unwanted household items, including clothing, bedding and electronics, can be donated to a local shelter in your area or other support agencies that help individuals get back on their feet. Make sure to check your local area for organizations that could use the donation.

4. 4. Schools and Community Centers. Items like used computers, electronics and office supplies are desirable at your local schools and community centers. These items can always be used and benefit students who need help obtaining school supplies.

Experience Stress-Free Downsizing with Fellowship’s Moving Resources

At Fellowship Senior Living, we provide all of our residents with professional moving resources to help make your move easier and stress-free.

According to Nick Bottaro, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Fellowship Senior Living, the professional moving resources we provide can help with tasks like downsizing and simply being there to answer questions before, during and after your move.

“Our moving groups that we work with will come in and assist residents with downsizing, but the biggest role they have is answering questions for those seniors that are in their homes and are overwhelmed with boxes and the moving process in general, Nick said.

The goal of our moving resources is to help make the downsizing and moving process as simple as possible and reduce the amount of stress you experience during it.

“Our moving services really come in to help simplify, advise and de-stress the downsizing process for seniors,” Nick said. “Many residents have expressed how much easier the downsizing process was because of our moving resources, and how much less stress they experienced with their help.”

Offering these services doesn’t just make the transition to senior living easier; rather, it oftentimes makes this move possible when it may not have been before.

There are many seniors who would never move if it wasn’t for these services coming in and helping them out, and that’s why we offer our professional services to everyone when they move in, Nick said.

Start Your Next Chapter at Fellowship Senior Living

At Fellowship Senior Living, we understand that moving out of your long-term home can be an emotional and difficult process. That’s why we provide empathetic, professional moving resources to help you with this transition and to find your next home.

Our premier senior living Life Plan Community offers you a variety of living options, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing, all right on campus. We welcome you to start your next chapter with us, in any of our vibrant senior living communities. Contact us today at 908-580-3840 to learn more about our different living options and our professional moving resources.