The new year brings a fresh perspective with it. New Year's resolutions are a common way to face the new year head-on and with clear goals in mind. You may be thinking of cleaning up your home and starting the downsizing process, which is a bit more involved than you would think. You may also be helping a senior family member or friend move to a new location and downsize along the way. According to the US Census, 3 million senior citizens move to a new location each year, on average. To help you reach your goals, we’ve compiled a list of tips to get the process moving smoothly.
Home Organization Systems Mean Categories
If you aren’t a professional home organizer, the process can appear daunting. Depending on how many items you have, there may be a lot to sort through and store. The first step is to create an effective home organization system by categorizing.Â
This will require you to take inventory of what you have. Go room by room and choose what items are essential and which can be put in storage or thrown out. Put them into categories based on the most conventional method for you, such as color, season, use, or simply the room they came from. Have plenty of tubs or boxes on hand and make sure you have enough room for everything you intend to store. Donation is a great option if you have items that won’t fit, you don’t need, and still fulfill a purpose.Â
Once you’ve gone through each room and determined the essentials, you can get a look at the flow of your new space and what more you want to take away or add to make it fresh and vibrant. You also have less stuff to worry about if you decide to reorganize in the future or move to a new location.
A Big Move Means A Big Checklist
If one of your new year plans is moving into a new house, you may want to pack a little lighter. Moving usually involves taking stock of what you have and packing everything you need, which is the perfect time to create a moving checklist.Â
Start with the essentials. You need to bring your bed, your couch, and the dining room table, but what about the smaller stuff? Do you need all of your pots and pans? Does every seasonal decoration need to come with you or can some of them get donated? Once you know which items absolutely have to come with you on the move, you can start going down the list of optional items and either choose to keep them or discard them.Â
An easy organizational tip is to label boxes with similar items so that the unpacking process is
easier. Kitchen appliances, books, clothes; whatever makes the most sense for you is going to be the best approach. On top of that, downsizing as you go will ease the transition process since you don’t need to bring as many items with you. More room in the moving truck is always better than not enough.
Finding Your Home Organizer
If the process is overwhelming and you have too much to sort through or don’t know where to start, it’s never a bad idea to consult a professional. Whether you’re planning a senior move and need someone to help from senior move management professionals or want assistance with your downsizing and organizing efforts, a professional service will have the experience to sort and organize your home effectively.Â
Look for a company that emphasizes simplifying your space and organizing your items. A professional can lay everything out in an easily-digestible way that won’t confuse or stress you out further while explaining why they are doing the process this way and how it benefits you. Downsizing for seniors can be especially hard as they often have many items in their possession that have important sentimental value. A professional can help distinguish between what is necessary and what can be donated, stored, or thrown out.
Downsize and Declutter with Ease
If you’re looking for a home organizer, senior move manager, or combination of the two that has the experience to handle any type of project, Senior Moves has you covered. When you feel it’s time to move your loved ones to a new home and want to downsize along the way, we help make the process simple and stress-free. If you need specialized organization and decluttering services, we can handle that too. Start the new year off right with a team that has your best interests at heart and contact Senior Moves today.
