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Preparing to move (decluttering)
Making the move

Preparing to move (decluttering)

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Preparing to move (decluttering)

The decision to downsize in retirement can be an exciting one. But it's common for people to feel overwhelmed by the thought of packing everything away to move into a smaller space.  

Decluttering experts like Susie Dash say it’s likely you’ll have lots of possessions to get through and won't know what to do with them. Deciding what to take with you and what to leave behind takes time, and can feel like a monumental task.

Here are some declutting tips for an easier move into a smaller space. 

The earlier the better 

You might look at all those rooms you need to get through and start feeling overwhelmed. It's easy to put things off and procrastinate, but in the long run, this is only going to add to your stress. 

Decluttering experts advise not to leave it to the last minute. Instead, jump on your computer or grab a pen and paper and put together a timeline of what needs to happen and when. 

Their advice is to break up your tasks into smaller, manageable focus areas. This week you might focus on sorting through the living room. Next weekend, you might invite friends over to help sort through the garage. 

A good plan will remind you of what needs to be done. Plus you'll get a great feeling of accomplishment ticking items off your to-do list. 

Create a sorting system 

It's always easier to go into a decluttering project with a system in mind before you start sorting through your possessions. 

Independent decluttering expert Susie Dash recommends creating three piles for treasures, transit, and trash, and even assigning coloured labels to each category to make sorting through your things easier: 

  • The treasures pile is for the possessions you’ll keep. These are the things you need, that you use regularly, or that you love to use. 
  • The transit pile is for the things you can give away to family, sell, or donate to charity. 
  • The trash pile is for things that no longer work properly and aren’t suitable for donation. 

Experts say to run your items through the ‘12-month test’ - if you haven’t used an item in the last 6 months, chances are it may be best in the transit or trash pile. Of course there are exceptions, you’ll have some keepsakes and maybe jewellery you don’t use often that you’ll want to keep and perhaps pass on to others in future. 

Measure your furniture 

Decluttering experts and professional removalists recommend measuring the space of the place you’ll be moving into, or to get the floorplan. Use this to help figure out what will and won’t fit into the space. 

Measure your furniture accurately to help decide what furniture will fit well in your new home and what perhaps should be let go. For example, your family home might have accommodated big couches and large dining suites, but these might not fit your smaller space and you may wish to buy something new. 

Start easy 

Decluttering professionals like Susie Dash say that starting small can be key to providing you with the motivation and headspace you need to tackle the harder decisions about what to keep and what to let go. 

They suggest dealing first with a space that you know is going to be relatively fast to sort through, like a spare bedroom or the laundry - somewhere you may be able to get through in an hour or a few. 

Getting things checked off early in the process can give you the momentum to keep sorting through the rest of the house, particularly the larger rooms and spaces with more items. 

Ask for help 

Keep up the momentum and ask for help when you need it. Friends, family, neighbours, and different types of professionals can all help relieve the burden of decluttering and moving.  

Professional decluttering experts say they can help you with: 

  • Support for deciding what to take and leave 
  • Making arrangements for unwanted items 
  • Changing utilities 
  • Organising removalists and other services 
  • Packing and unpacking. 

In addition to decluttering experts, there are all kinds of service providers out there that can make the move easier on you, including professional removalists, gardeners, cleaners and even IT specialists who can digitise any old photographs. 

 

The information provided is current as at April 2024 and is subject to change. It is general in nature and is not personalised for your unique needs, objectives or financial situation. Some information may be provided by a third party. Aveo encourages you to seek independent legal and financial advice about your particular circumstances before moving to an Aveo retirement village. Any external service provider you engage may charge a fee for services.

The decision to downsize in retirement can be an exciting one. But it's common for people to feel overwhelmed by the thought of packing everything away to move into a smaller space.  

Decluttering experts like Susie Dash say it’s likely you’ll have lots of possessions to get through and won't know what to do with them. Deciding what to take with you and what to leave behind takes time, and can feel like a monumental task.

Here are some declutting tips for an easier move into a smaller space. 

The earlier the better 

You might look at all those rooms you need to get through and start feeling overwhelmed. It's easy to put things off and procrastinate, but in the long run, this is only going to add to your stress. 

Decluttering experts advise not to leave it to the last minute. Instead, jump on your computer or grab a pen and paper and put together a timeline of what needs to happen and when. 

Their advice is to break up your tasks into smaller, manageable focus areas. This week you might focus on sorting through the living room. Next weekend, you might invite friends over to help sort through the garage. 

A good plan will remind you of what needs to be done. Plus you'll get a great feeling of accomplishment ticking items off your to-do list. 

Create a sorting system 

It's always easier to go into a decluttering project with a system in mind before you start sorting through your possessions. 

Independent decluttering expert Susie Dash recommends creating three piles for treasures, transit, and trash, and even assigning coloured labels to each category to make sorting through your things easier: 

  • The treasures pile is for the possessions you’ll keep. These are the things you need, that you use regularly, or that you love to use. 
  • The transit pile is for the things you can give away to family, sell, or donate to charity. 
  • The trash pile is for things that no longer work properly and aren’t suitable for donation. 

Experts say to run your items through the ‘12-month test’ - if you haven’t used an item in the last 6 months, chances are it may be best in the transit or trash pile. Of course there are exceptions, you’ll have some keepsakes and maybe jewellery you don’t use often that you’ll want to keep and perhaps pass on to others in future. 

Measure your furniture 

Decluttering experts and professional removalists recommend measuring the space of the place you’ll be moving into, or to get the floorplan. Use this to help figure out what will and won’t fit into the space. 

Measure your furniture accurately to help decide what furniture will fit well in your new home and what perhaps should be let go. For example, your family home might have accommodated big couches and large dining suites, but these might not fit your smaller space and you may wish to buy something new. 

Start easy 

Decluttering professionals like Susie Dash say that starting small can be key to providing you with the motivation and headspace you need to tackle the harder decisions about what to keep and what to let go. 

They suggest dealing first with a space that you know is going to be relatively fast to sort through, like a spare bedroom or the laundry - somewhere you may be able to get through in an hour or a few. 

Getting things checked off early in the process can give you the momentum to keep sorting through the rest of the house, particularly the larger rooms and spaces with more items. 

Ask for help 

Keep up the momentum and ask for help when you need it. Friends, family, neighbours, and different types of professionals can all help relieve the burden of decluttering and moving.  

Professional decluttering experts say they can help you with: 

  • Support for deciding what to take and leave 
  • Making arrangements for unwanted items 
  • Changing utilities 
  • Organising removalists and other services 
  • Packing and unpacking. 

In addition to decluttering experts, there are all kinds of service providers out there that can make the move easier on you, including professional removalists, gardeners, cleaners and even IT specialists who can digitise any old photographs. 

 

The information provided is current as at April 2024 and is subject to change. It is general in nature and is not personalised for your unique needs, objectives or financial situation. Some information may be provided by a third party. Aveo encourages you to seek independent legal and financial advice about your particular circumstances before moving to an Aveo retirement village. Any external service provider you engage may charge a fee for services.

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