Downsizing from a house to an apartment

Moving into a smaller living space can be challenging, especially when moving long distances. If you are downsizing from a house to an apartment, you will need to plan this process in advance. Besides downsizing your inventory, you will need to plan the packing process and assess the new living space. Before contacting a good company like Number 1 Van Lines, take a look at the following guide. It will help you plan the move from a house to an apartment without complications.

Starting to live in a smaller place than before can be a painful experience. If you are used to having lots of things, you might find downsizing from a house to an apartment really difficult. However, it is a perfect opportunity to get rid of the stuff you don’t need anymore. To make it a bit easier, you might wish to hire Number 1 Van Lines, a company that offers a wide range of moving services. Movers can pack your belongings and transport them safely. But it is up to you to decide which items are for moving and which things you will simply say goodbye to. 

Assess your inventory

One of the biggest concerns when downsizing from a house to an apartment is a large inventory. Besides not having enough space for all items in a new apartment, some of your stuff might even be unnecessary to move. Those items could be some of your tools, appliances you use in the backyard or keep in your garage. If you have this type of relocation, you should make sure to assess your inventory and decide which items are necessary to move. This process is known as downsizing, and it can help you move much easier.

Besides items you can only use in large houses, there will be other items you’ll need to decide whether to move or not. For example, some of your furniture pieces might be too big for a new living room. When downsizing from a house to an apartment, you will need to make a list of items, furniture pieces, and bigger appliances you want to move. Everything that might be excessive, you should consider giving away or selling.

Make a floor plan for your new apartment

If you are moving within the same city, you will have one trick up your sleeve. What you should do is visit your new apartment and decide which belongings you will have space for. Before you start packing, you should draw a floor plan for your new apartment and measure the space. The most important thing you should consider is a proper way of moving furniture pieces. If you are downsizing from a house to an apartment, there is a big chance you won’t have enough storage space for all of your belongings.

Find suitable storage

In case you don’t want to sell, donate, or toss away some of your items before the move, there is another solution. You could contact local residential movers Toronto has to offer and ask about suitable storage solutions. Most moving companies provide storage units for all purposes. When downsizing from a house to an apartment, having extra storage space could save you a lot of time packing.

Pack efficiently

In the end, planning your packing process will also be an important step during the move. Since you will be moving from a house to a smaller home, you should make sure to simplify the packing process. What you should do is label the moving boxes and pack one room at a time. By labeling moving boxes, you will know exactly where to put all of your belongings after moving in. Proper packing method will save you a lot of time on unpacking. Also, if you decide to downsize, you might even save money on additional packing supplies.

The benefits of downsizing from a house to an apartment

Although lots of people wouldn’t like to leave their large houses, it is not always the case. You can choose Number 1 Van Lines among a large number of condo movers Toronto can offer and downsize from a house to a condo only to find living in a smaller property more interesting and comfortable. The top five advantages are the following:

1. You will learn how to dispose of the things you don’t need anymore.
2. It can turn out to be a cheaper option, depending on where the flat is.
3. It is a great opportunity to get some new furniture and decorations.
4. There is less space to maintain, tidy up, and clean. 
5. You don’t have to go outside to get to your neighbors as they’re in the same building. 

The disadvantages of moving from a house to an apartment

Even though there are a lot of advantages of living in condos, a large number of people believe that moving from a house to an apartment is not so beneficial. The main reasons for not deciding on such a step are as follows:

1. There is less privacy while living in a block of apartments than in a house
2. Downsizing from a house to an apartment means less space.
3. Most houses have yards and enough space for a car, which is not the case with flats.
4. You can’t renew your condo without the special permission of the building manager.
5. You might have to pay for storage to place all your stuff.

Decluttering before downsizing from a house to an apartment

You should definitely be aware of one thing. There is no way you can pack and move everything if you want to downsize from a house to a condo. It is a great idea to follow specific room-by-room packing guidelines if you are not sure how to do it the right way. However, before packing you will have to do some decluttering. So, how does one declutter?

The best way to declutter is to divide the belongings into several piles. How you will divide them depends on their purpose. When you classify the stuff you own you will be ready for packing. Don’t forget to label boxes for moving so that you can unpack more easily. When the time for moving comes, you will be completely ready and sure you have done everything to minimize the possibility of problems to appear. 

Throw away the damaged and useless things

First, start with one room and make one pile of those items that are broken or irreparably damaged. For instance, you don’t a chair with one cracked leg, an old half-torn rug, piles of newspapers you have forgotten to throw out, ripped curtains, etc. While downsizing from a house to an apartment, you will find this step truly useful. It will save you money and difficulties with a smaller space will disappear. 

In addition to that, think about the environment as well. If you find some items that can be recycled, then allocate a few minutes to separate them. You will probably find plenty of paper, plastic, or glass, so don’t be lazy. 

Give away, donate, or sell some items

The second pile will consist of those things that are in good condition but not necessary for you anymore. If you feel like not throwing them away, you can give them away to people who need them. For example, one of your children might be looking for a desk. So, why don’t you give him or her your old desk that won’t fit in the flat you are moving into? Or just imagine how good a person you can be when you recycle, as we mentioned, and also donate some old items to charities or local communities. 

Apart from giving away, you can earn some money too. To illustrate, if there is some jewelry you are not fond of, you can always try to sell it. Before moving from a house to an apartment, you can make a sale in your yard and use what you have earned to buy pay for a bit of the moving expenses. Or you can invest it in buying a new piece of furniture for your new flat.

Decide what to keep while downsizing from a house to an apartment

Once you have made up your mind on what to get rid of, you will be almost ready. Go through the items you have decided to keep and do the final classification. As you are about to downsize from a house to a condo, ensure that all the stuff will fit in the new space. No matter how much you love your huge sofa, you will have to dispose of it if it won’t fit the new living room. 

After you downsize from a house to a condo

When the relocation has finished, you can start enjoying your new place of living. No matter if you are keen on downsizing from a house to an apartment or not, you will have to get used to living in a smaller space. Do your best to decorate it the way you want. Only then will the new flat feel like home.