Do You Need Extra Space, Or Do You Need to Downsize? Tips to Tell the Difference Before Moving

As a rule, people tend to adapt to their environment, including the amount of stuff they accumulate. So, for example, if you live in a one-bedroom apartment, you’ll have enough items to fill that apartment and little else. Then, if you upgrade to a two-story home, you’ll eventually have enough to fill every room.

But, while your house may be full of items, do you need them all? Unfortunately, most of us accumulate unnecessary junk that just takes up space. So, before your household move, it helps to determine if you need more room to accommodate your belongings or if it’s time to declutter and downsize. Here are some top tips on how to tell the difference.

1. Family Size

One primary reason why people move into a larger house is when they’re planning on having one or more kids. Since children take up a lot of space, raising them in a small, cramped apartment or home may not be ideal. So, if you’re thinking of having more kids (or you already have one on the way), it’s a good idea to increase your home’s size.

Conversely, if your adult children are moving out, now may be the time to downsize. Plus, you don’t have to clean as often with fewer people living with you.

2. Usage

Many of us buy items we plan to use, but life has a way of forcing us to abandon them to the back of the garage or attic. Exercise equipment, power tools, craft materials – the list goes on. If your home is turning into a storage unit, it’s likely time to downsize.

One way to tell if something is important is to measure how much you’ve used it in the last six months. Seasonal items are different because there’s no reason to put up holiday decorations during the summer. However, if you have things just collecting dust, you can donate them or host a garage sale.

If you’re unsure whether you need something, you can move it to another location and wait a few months. If you never need it or think about it, you can probably get rid of it.

3. Privacy Concerns

Ideally, everyone should have their own privacy, whether living with you full-time or temporarily. For example, if guests are staying over, will they have a room to sleep in, or will they have to crash on the couch? If you like hosting guests (or plan to host short-term rentals like Airbnb), it’s necessary to have spare bedrooms.

Similarly, if your children share a room, they’ll need privacy as they get older. Typically, teens need personal space more than younger children, so forcing your teenagers to share a bedroom can lead to conflicts and arguments.

Contact Us for Moving Help

Whether upgrading or downsizing, you should rely on the professionals to ensure everything makes it to your final destination smoothly and safely. We can help pack and transport everything, so contact us to find out more!