Downsizing isn’t a simple process, but it can be made much simpler by following these five tips.
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On this episode of Monday Morning Coffee, we’re talking about downsizing. In order to help you transition your smaller home as smoothly as possible, I put together five top tips to help you with your downsize:
1. Be realistic about the spaces you need and don’t need. It’s important to consider the spaces in your home that are used the most versus the spaces that just aren’t necessary for your lifestyle anymore. Remember to not only think about everyday use, but also the use during the holiday season. You may not use your dining room for every meal, but is it a must-have for Thanksgiving? What about an extra bedroom when the kids come home for a weekend visit with friends? Being realistic about the spaces that are must-haves for your family year-round will help you narrow down the spaces that aren’t.
2. Ensure your new home still has your favorite features. Before downsizing, look around your home and make a list of all the features that you love. Whether it’s the open floor plan, high ceilings, wide hallways, or natural light, losing square footage doesn’t mean you have to lose your favorite features. When looking for a smaller home, consult your favorites list to ensure it has those special touches that you’ll love as soon as you move in.
3. Decide on storage. It’s likely that not everything you have will fit into your smaller home even after donating and selling the items you don’t use anymore. It’s important to make a plan for where you’ll store the items you don’t use daily, as well as ensure there’s enough room in the house for the bigger items you want to keep close. Making sure there’s adequate garage space for your cars, lawnmower, and landscaping tools, as well as attic space for your holiday decorations and family keepsakes, is necessary to keep downsizing stress to a minimum. It’s also a good idea to consider how your current furniture will fit in your smaller space and if you’ll want to store or sell the furniture that won’t make the cut.
4. Consider your lot size. While you may want to downsize your square footage, you may not be ready to downsize your yard. Deciding on whether or not to downsize your yard along with your home is a great way to prepare for your home search. Making this decision early will help you and your buyer specialist understand your specific needs and wants both inside and outside of the home.
5. Potential to add space back. Going overboard on downsizing has happened before, and life may bring unexpected changes that require more space. It might be a smart idea to consider whether or not the home your purchasing has space and structural ability for addition, should you want to have more room in the future.
If you are going through the process of downsizing, here is a list of local charities that I know would appreciate your drop-offs:
Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Accepts gently used appliances, furniture, and home accessories)
256.533.326
400 Pratt Ave NW
Huntsville, AL 35801
(Open Mon – Sat 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Downtown Huntsville Rescue Mission Thrift Stores
Huntsville:
256.532.0381
1407 North Memorial Parkway (Suite A)
Huntsville, AL 35801
Huntsville-West:
256.722.5922
930 Old Monrovia Rd NW
Huntsville, AL 35806
Madison:
256.258.0441
8006 Old Madison Pike (Suite 10)
Huntsville, AL 35758
A New Leash on Life
Market Place:
707 Andrew Jackson Way
Huntsville, AL 35801
(Open Wed – Sat 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
ReTails:
5588 Highway 431 S
Brownsboro, AL 35741
(Open Wed – Sat 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Salvation Army (Offers pick up for furniture and appliances)
256.533.5838
2112 Oakwood Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35810
(Open Mon-Sat 8:30am – 5:30pm)
If you have any questions for us in the meantime or need any help buying or selling a home in the near future, don’t hesitate to reach out to myself and my team. We would love to help you.
This Week’s Closings, Congratulations!
Mr. Robert Thomas
Mr. Cameron Bradley
Ms. Elizabeth Patterson
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas and Jane Walker
Mr. and Mrs. Jarod and Emily Tanksley
Mr. and Mrs. Derec and Donna Roby
Ms. Brenda Jarke
Ms. Sandra Carpenter
Mr. David Howell
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin and Jonna Leedy
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy and Coretta Siler
Mr. and Mrs. Mike and Becky Hamilton
Mr. Manuel Becerra II
Mr. Jonathan Casey
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy and Brandi Rainey
Mr. Corey Clifton
Mr. Ethan Taylor
Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Lora McGowan
Mr. and Mrs. Ronda and Chris Williams
Ms. Stephanie Coldwell
Mr. and Mrs. John and Sandra Gaines
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy and Jean Nibert
Hot New Listings for sale in these areas!
Huntsville
Madison County
2906 Eastern Shore Drive $309,000
4700 Sparkman Drive $90,000 (SOLD)
113 Stony Crossing Road $312,890
114 Stony Crossing Road $327,000