Plan backwards from moving day
When a move date is set, the easiest way to downsize is to work backwards from it. Most moving and real estate guides recommend giving yourself at least two to three months, and more if you have lived in the home for many years. Every item you do not move is one less thing to pack, load, carry and unpack, so time spent sorting often pays back on moving day.
A simple schedule:
- Two to three months out: Measure the new home, make a rough inventory and begin on low-stakes rooms.
- One to two months out: Sell larger items, schedule donation pickups and arrange disposal for the rest.
- Final weeks: Deal with sentimental items and papers, then pack.
- Week of the move: Keep only essentials accessible.
For the bigger picture, see our full guide to tips for downsizing your home.
Measure before you decide
Get the floor plan or measure each room of the new home. Then measure your large furniture: sofa, bed, dining table, desk, bookcases. A floor plan app or graph paper will show quickly what fits and what does not. Do not forget doorways, stairs and elevators, which can limit what can actually be moved in.
It also helps to look at the storage you will have. Closets, cabinets and a garage or basement set the real limit. A rough rule some people use is that moving to a home with about half the space means parting with a large share of belongings, but that is only a starting point. Your own measurements are more reliable than any rule of thumb.
What to keep, sell, donate or toss
Use four categories and give every item a destination:
- Keep: Things you use regularly, love, or need in the new home.
- Sell: Good-condition furniture, appliances and collectibles worth the effort of listing.
- Donate: Usable goods that are not worth selling. Many charities will collect furniture.
- Toss: Broken, expired, or unusable items.
Helpful questions: Have I used this in the last year? Would I buy it again? Does it fit the way I will live in the new place? Is it worth the cost of moving it?
Think about lifestyle changes too. If you are moving from a house with a yard to a condo, you may not need garden tools or a mower. If the climate is milder, you may not need as much winter gear.
Items worth tossing before you move
There is no official list of twelve, but these are commonly suggested as good candidates to remove before a move:
- Expired food, medicine and pantry items
- Old cosmetics and toiletries
- Broken appliances and electronics (recycle where required)
- Duplicate kitchen tools and gadgets
- Chipped or mismatched dishes and cookware you do not use
- Worn or stained linens and towels
- Clothes that no longer fit or that you have not worn in a year
- Half-empty paint, chemicals and cleaners (many movers will not transport hazardous materials, so check with your mover and your local disposal rules)
- Old paperwork you are not required to keep (check before you shred anything important)
- Dried-out pens, markers and craft supplies
- Magazines, manuals and catalogs
- Cables and chargers that match nothing you own
A room-by-room order
Start where the emotional stakes are lowest and work up:
- Bathrooms, linen closet and kitchen drawers
- Pantry and kitchen cabinets
- Garage, basement, attic and storage areas
- Spare rooms and the home office
- Clothing and bedrooms
- Living areas
- Photos, keepsakes and papers
This order lets you gain confidence and speed before the hard decisions. Some people use a dated “maybe” box for items they cannot decide on, with a firm review date before the move.
Sentimental items and paperwork
Sentimental items are usually the part that slows people down. Try to:
- Sort them into keep, undecided and “someone else may want this.”
- Offer heirlooms to family while you can discuss them in person.
- Photograph items that you cannot keep.
- Scan photos and papers so you can reduce boxes and filing cabinets.
If children or other family members are affected by the move, give them time and involvement in their own decisions. Turning sorting into something they can control often helps.
Selling, donating and disposing
- Selling: Local marketplaces and community groups are common. Group small items into lots and set realistic prices. For high-value items or large collections, an estate sale company or consignment shop may be worth considering.
- Donating: Charity pickups and drop-offs are often the quickest route for bulk goods. Schedule early since pickup slots can fill up.
- Disposing: Rent a dumpster or hire a junk removal service for large volumes. Electronics and hazardous materials may need special handling.
Should you use a storage unit?
A storage unit can help in specific situations, such as when your move dates do not line up or when you are keeping a few furnishings for a future home. The risk is that items go into storage because a decision was not made. Monthly fees continue as long as the items sit there. If you do rent one, keep a list of what is inside, label boxes clearly and set a date to review the contents. Our guides on the benefits of self storage and how to pack a storage unit cover the pros, cons and packing.
Packing tips for what is left
- Pack by room and label each box with both contents and destination room.
- Keep an inventory list or photos so you know what is in each box.
- Pack a “first night” box with essentials: toiletries, chargers, basic tools, medications, bedding.
- Take photos of how electronics and cables are connected before unplugging them.
- Use clothes, towels and linens as padding for fragile items.
- Ask the movers or your moving company what they will not transport.
Smaller loads usually mean lower costs, but ask for quotes so you know what actually applies to your move. For the other end of the move, see tips for moving furniture and tips for unpacking after a move.
Downsizing to a much smaller house
If the new home is much smaller, plan for the storage as well as the furniture. Multi-purpose pieces, such as storage ottomans, beds with drawers and drop-leaf tables, help. Use wall space for shelves and hooks. Choose which rooms will do double duty, such as an office that doubles as a guest room. If you are weighing a studio against a one-bedroom, see studio vs 1 bedroom apartment.
When it feels like too much
If sorting feels impossible and belongings fill much of the home, you may need more support than a standard downsizing plan offers. Our article on tips for hoarders and their families explains gentler starting points, and our guide to hoarding cleanup services cost explains what professional help may involve.