Ready to Downsize for Your Next Adventure? Start Here.

If the idea of downsizing and decluttering is calling you, you’re not alone. Nearly half of homebuyers between the ages of 45 and 64 were doing just that, according to the 2017 Zillow Group Housing Trends Report. And if you’re downsizing to a sophisticated, single-level home at Altis, even better! But what do you do with all those treasures you’ve amassed? If you’re ready to trade more stuff for more fun, here are some ways to start.

Get organized.Reality check: Not all of your existing home furnishings may work in today’s modern floor plans. For instance, instead of two dining areas, your new home may feature kitchen island seating and a casual dining area. You could be going from five bedrooms to two or three. That said, modern home designs also bring added bonuses for storage, like butler’s pantries, oversized laundry rooms and large walk-in closets.

Cramming too much into your new home will make it seem crowded and smaller, so be selective in choosing the furniture that will stay. Measure your new home’s space, or make copies of your Altis floor plan. Then write the dimensions of your furniture into place in each room. Or, use one of the many available furniture placement apps like Room Creator Interior Design to guide you.

Once you have a good idea of the furniture you plan to use in the new home, sell or donate the rest. Garage sales, online neighborhood marketplaces and local charities are good starting points. If your pieces have sentimental value, the kids, grandkids or other relatives may want those.

Eliminate the clutter.There’s no better time to purge what’s unnecessary than a move to a new home. Now is the time to clear out the clutter. After all, who wants to bring old, past-their-prime belongings with them as they start their New Next? But, be prepared – decluttering can be time consuming, and even emotional. While bestselling author Marie Kondo (“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”) suggests tackling one category at a time throughout the entire home, you may find it easier to devote a day to each room. Start with the easiest, least cluttered areas, like a guest room or the laundry room. Organize items into categories: keep, throw away, donate to charity, sell and save for family members. Resist the urge to re-sort your piles once you’ve made decisions.

Make it a family affair.Invite the kids and grandkids to be part of your downsizing journey. Earmark a day or weekend for the family to help you clear out belongings that aren’t making the move to your new home. Provide boxes and packing supplies for each person’s treasures.

Go digital.Have lots of photo albums but no room to keep them? Consider using a digital scanning service or a free online scanning program. You can do the same with favorite recipes. Downsizing also is a great time to go paperless by turning those overflowing file cabinets of household papers into digital files, which can be saved to the cloud or a hard drive. Share your accumulated books with local schools, libraries or hospitals – and commit to e-readers for your next purchases.

Ah. Now doesn’t it feel great to start fresh with just the things you really love? You’re ready for your next adventure, and we’re here to help you find it.