For many people, the thought of downsizing and moving to a new house can be pretty daunting, especially if you’ve lived in the family home for the last 20 to 30 years. But if you take the plunge, it can open the door for you to truly expand your life.
Get solid advice on home improvements
There are two things to consider when you’ve decided to sell up – how to present your home so it’s appealing to buyers and packing up your home for the physical move.
Before you jump into renovations to make the place look shiny and new, think carefully about the value they will add to the house and whether you’ll recover that cost in the sale price. Renovations can be costly, stressful and time-consuming, so they’re only worth making if they’ll add significant value to your house sale.
A good real estate agent will give you sound advice on what changes, if any, to make. Sometimes just decluttering, a deep clean and a little light maintenance around the property is all that’s needed. And don’t forget street appeal. Ensure trees are trimmed, gutters are clear, and lawns and gardens are tidy.
How to pack when you’re downsizing
When you’re downsizing, the size of your new home will dictate what you need to pack and what you should consider giving away or selling.
The good news is that decluttering for sale makes the packing process much easier. Our advice is to start packing early because it’ll probably take longer than you think it will.
Re-home items you haven’t used for a while or that simply won’t fit into the new home. Peter Walsh has some great tips for decluttering and downsizing so you can live a right-sized life.
Then, pack what you can into boxes that you can store out of sight until you’re ready to move into your new home. Either way, be careful not to leave the house too bare – it should still feel homey enough that buyers can envisage themselves living there.
Many hands make light work
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Family and friends will sometimes offer to help with packing boxes, extra muscle for moving heavy items and some good old-fashioned elbow grease.
Alternatively, you can enlist the help of the experts. Traditional moving companies will cost the most but will get the job done the most efficiently. Companies that specialise in decluttering and rubbish removal will also save you time.
If your budget allows, consider a professional cleaning company – they’ll have the skills and equipment to make every surface shine – or a staging company to furnish and style your home in the most buyer-friendly way so you can secure the best sale price.
Moving to a Ryman village
If you’re considering moving to a Ryman village, we have a wealth of experience and resources to help you through the process, so feel free to get in touch by calling 0800 588 222 or filling in our enquiry form.
