When you’re downsizing from a larger house to a smaller one it can be challenging to figure out what you need to take with you – including what will actually fit. Whether you’re heading into your retirement years or just aiming to live life a little smaller, downsizing your house usually means you have to downsize everything you own as well.

Concerned about how you’re going to do it? Here are some tips to make the process a little easier:

Consider what you really need

Make an inventory or list of all the items you have and then work out what you really need. Chances are you’ll have more than one of some items, or you’ll still be holding onto to things you haven’t used in years. These will be the first to go.

Once you’ve worked through your items in this way, next consider what you actually need and use out of the rest of your list. Try to stay as objective as possible about this process. Keep the items you use every day and then decide if you really need to hold onto the items you use only occasionally. Do you really need that surfboard that has been collecting dust for years? Will you ever actually use those golf clubs again? Sometimes it’s better to let things go and instead just borrow or hire the items on the rare occasion you actually need to use it.

Sell what you don’t need

There’s no need to send your unwanted items to landfill in order to make space. Help cover the cost of your move by selling some of the items you no longer need. Hold a garage sale at your house before you move or list them on sites such as Gumtree, eBay or Facebook to make some extra money. Otherwise, consider giving your items away to a charity organisation who can redistribute items to those who need it. If your items are no longer usable make sure you dispose of them mindfully, opting for organisations who will recycle your items rather than adding them to landfill.

Make use of your space

Just because you have a smaller house, doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily have less storage space. There are many ways you can utilise even small spaces to store items in a convenient way – you just have to be a little more creative about it. Use under stair cavities, floating shelves and vertical wall space to keep your items organised and out of the way. Invest in quality shelving and cabinetry in the areas you can to maximise the space you have. Look for inspiration for organising small spaces on Pinterest and home improvements sites and use some of the ideas to help design your new space.

Hire storage

If you can’t bear to part with all of your excess items, consider hiring some storage space to keep them safe and out of the way. You can choose short or long term facilities depending on your needs. This can be ideal for large items or even for keeping your out of season or bulky clothing somewhere more spacious. Our friendly removalists will take your goods to storage for you to make the whole process simple.

Hire Storage offer modern facilities with 24/7 CCTV, on-site security personnel and alarms so you can rest assured your belongings are safe and secure. Our facilities are conveniently located centrally in each capital city. You can access your items anytime between Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm by only providing us with 24 hours’ notice. Our rates start from a low $160 per module per month. we offer secure 10 cubic metre storage modules and also have storage options available for oversized items so you only pay for the storage you use.

When it comes to downsizing your house, you’ll also need to downsize your items to fit into your new space. Follow these tips to help you with your downsizing move. Need some more help? Our team at Hire A Packer can safely pack and unpack your items, Hire A Mover can get your items to your new place, and Hire A Box can supply you with all the packing materials you’ll need. Not moving straight into your new place? Hire Storage can now help with your short or long term storage needs too.

Are you about to move to a smaller place in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane or Gold Coast? We can help get you there. For more information on how we can help you with your move, call us today on 1300 358 700 or request a quote via our website.