After your retirement, you may be considering downsizing for various reasons. Perhaps you are thinking of moving into a retirement community and you are required to let go of some of your possessions. You may also be moving into a more suitable house that has the amenities that you require to live safely. Regardless of the reasons why you are downsizing, the way you approach the process is critical. Following these simple steps, through a downsizing checklist, will help make the move much easier and more effective.
Planning Is Critical
The first thing that you should do is to plan the process very carefully. For example, it helps to understand the floor plan of the space that you are moving into. If possible, it is way more effective to visit the new apartment and draw a floor plan. This helps you to understand how much space is actually available. This in turn makes it easier to figure out what can be carried to the new place and what should be disposed of. In this vein, it is equally important to do an inventory of your possessions so that you know exactly what you have. Do not forget to include items that may be in storage unless you intend to leave them there.
Secure Valuables
During the process of moving, it is common for valuables such as jewelry to get lost. To safeguard against this, the first thing you ought to do is to take an inventory of the items and secure them in a safe place. Ideally, you should secure them in a friend’s house or even better, in a bank storage vault. This offers you the peace of mind that your valuables are safe and you can always retrieve them if need be when you are ready to process them. We recommended leaving them in safe storage until you are all settled down so that you can focus on what you want to do with them.
Get Help with Moving
Many senior living communities offer a host of amenities including help in relocating. You should take full advantage of such amenities to help you make the move. Such assistance often includes property disposal, itemizing, and actual physical movement. Do not forget to ask any questions that you may have during the move as this will help you prepare better for where you are going.
Consider Donations
When you are downsizing, this offers a great opportunity to make some changes in your life. Inevitably this may result in the need to donate some items to the community. Such donations could include books, furniture, and much more. If you are going to a retirement community that handles housekeeping chores and laundry, you may find that you do not need appliances such as washing machines and ovens. You may consider donating these to a local shelter or soup kitchen. Not only does this help such organizations but they save you the hassle of disposing of them in the second-hand market.
