Going from a single-family house to a one- or two-bed apartment can be extremely liberating for some. Last year, the U.S. Census Bureau found that homeownership levels were the lowest they have been in 20 years. Clearly, you have not been the only one thinking about apartment living.
The one hang up is deciding what to do with the stuff taking up space in your home. Downsizing may be a bit of a drag, but luckily there are a number of things you won’t need once you move into the apartment.
Here’s our list:
Landscaping Equipment
Lawn mower, weed wacker and other landscaping tools and equipment are the first items you can store, donate or sell. One of the biggest benefits of apartment living is not having to care for a yard. Get ready to say goodbye to weekend lawn work and hello to weekend relaxation.
Outdoor Dining Set
Many apartments have an outdoor space, but they probably can’t fit your oversized outdoor furniture set. You might be able to keep a couple of chairs, but replace the table with a much smaller one. Look at it as anopportunity to find new patio pieces that fit your lifestyle and aesthetics. You may even have a little cash leftover after selling your old patio furniture.
The Grill
In many apartments, grills aren’t allowed on balconies and patios for safety reasons. But don’t worry. Communities typically have grilling stations that you can use whenever you want. It’s a great way to meet neighbors while cooking up some mean bratwurst and burgers.
Power Tools
It always helps to have a basic tool kit for the little things around the apartment, such as hanging picture frames or constructing a bookshelf. Larger power tools, however, can go - because you won’t need them in your new home. Maintenance staff handles the big repairs, so you don’t have to.
Outgrown Toys
By kids, we mean children as well as adults. However, kids tend to outgrow their toys more quickly. Let them hang on to a few of their favorites and take the rest to Goodwill.
Multiples of Anything
When we live in a large house, we tend to buy more to fill it. We don’t stop to question our purchases, because we just have to have that 60-piece dinnerware set from Macy’s – even if it’s way more than we realistically need.
Downsizing means focusing on the essentials. If you only use six plates at any given time, then all you need to pack are those six plates and bring them to the new apartment. Same goes for anything else that was bought in multipacks.
Items You Will Never Use
Quite honestly, no matter what type of space you move into, packing is always a good time to purge items that have yet to see the light of day. Again, in a single-family home, it’s easy for unnecessary items to sit around and collect dust. Moving into a smaller apartment is a good way to break free of the “let’s just keep it” mindset and purge the items that have served no purpose thus far.
At the end of the day, emphasis should be put forth on high functionality, quality items and how to organize them. If you don’t see yourself needing a specific item, then get rid of it. It may seem difficult at first, but if you start with the items listed above, you’ll make quick progress during the downsizing process.
