The Upside to Downsizing

Many real estate professionals prefer to refer to downsizing as rightsizing - since for some, a smaller home can make for a better lifestyle. Toronto’s skyline has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades, now lined with shimmering glass condominium communities that stand as a beacon for the best the city has to offer – culture, entertainment and excitement, all mere steps from your front door. Condo living has been gaining more and more interest from established homeowners who are seeking to downsize their home without downgrading their lifestyle. Maybe you’re a new empty nester and your four-bedroom home suddenly seems way too big, or you just want some more flexibility in your life to not have to focus all your energy into the maintenance that comes with a big home. With the shift in thinking these days to “less is more”, it’s easy to see the benefits to living a little less large.

Let’s talk about a few reasons why downsizing might be exactly what you want - You’ll be cutting back on space but you would be gaining:

- More time for what you enjoy with less time spent on household tasks.
- Saving more money by having less space to maintain.
- The ability to minimize the amount of stuff you own and live a clutter-free life.

You’re also decluttering things in the process of downsizing. Things that you’ve spent years collecting but might not have any use for anymore, which means that you get to start fresh in your new home. Here are some quick tips to help make the big transition to smaller digs more joyful and less stressful:

- Make sure you plan ahead! We’re talking months in advance, but don’t let that intimidate you. It’s best to start planning your downsizing early on and set goals so that when the big move day arrives you’re feeling ready and excited.

- Avoid getting overwhelmed by instead focusing on only one area at a time. Work your way through the house starting with the bedrooms, then to the office, then to the living room, etc.

- Create categories to help organize what you’ve decided to part with, for example; Keep, Give Away (friends or family), Donate, and Toss.

- Sell the things that you’re holding onto only because of what you paid for them, especially if your only reason for keeping them is just that.

- And remember! Your emotional attachment to your current home is valid and sometimes it’s understandably hard to let go. So take some pictures and videos of the parts that have deep meaning for you, so that way you can look back any time and reminisce.

The real upside to downsizing? Enjoying a more curated life, surrounded by just the things you love and cherish. Living by “a place for everything and everything in its place”. Remember that a home is just a shell – it’s the memories you take with you that are worth keeping.