Are you one of the millions of baby boomers who are starting to think about retirement and planning the shape of their future? If so, you may realise that your current home is larger than your needs and you may be considering a downsize so you can make ends meet more effectively. As you do this, you may be working out how much you can save in terms of utility costs, maintenance and other factors, giving you money to spend on a nice holiday to celebrate. However, when you downsize like this, you need to figure out what you're going to do with accumulated possessions and other items that you rarely use. How can you plan carefully?
It's a Challenge
You should prepare for a culture shock when you move from a large home into a condo or apartment. Everything seems to be smaller, and you may not have as much room for some of your favourite items of furniture. Certainly, you may need to think about having a garage sale or putting some of your unwanted items online, while you'll have to consolidate in other areas if everything is going to fit.
Making the Most of It
Be creative during this planning phase and don't be afraid to install extra cupboards or shelving if need be. Just make sure that they are not in the way or may encroach into your headspace when you are trying to cook a family meal, for example. If you go too far, you may make the entire place too claustrophobic, and this certainly would not be a good idea. Remember, if you feel that you are going just a little bit too far in trying to squeeze everything in, you're probably right.
Self-Store the Rest
Once you have run out of options, you have made a home for many of your fixtures and fittings but you still have a lot leftover, then you will probably have to rent a self-storage facility. Once again, be efficient at packing everything into neat boxes so you make the most of the room here as well. This way, you'll be able to hang on to a lot of your keepsakes while still consolidating your overall living space.
If you're not looking forward to the whole project, see if you can get some storage and consolidation tips from the experts. Ask the people at the self-storage facility for their advice.