Packing with Purpose
Navigating the Personal and Practical Sides of Moving
This month, we’re wrapping up our two-part series on the Psychology of Home. Last time, we talked about how the way you arrange and decorate your home can affect how you feel-–a perfect topic for new homeowners. Now, we’re touching base on another side of the home journey: moving out.
With all the stresses and triumphs that come with changing living spaces, no matter how you slice it, it’s a major life transition. Whether you’re planning to simplify your life, cut costs, or move closer to the things that matter most, this big change comes with some big choices-–like what’s coming with you and what’s staying behind.
Recently, we talked with Everest Loan Officer, Kim Donnelly, about this step in every homeowner’s life. As per usual, she had some interesting insights:
“For many people, downsizing isn’t about giving up; it’s about leveling up,” Kim says. “More and more of my clients are discovering that moving to a smaller home can actually be an exciting upgrade, opening the door to fresh experiences and a new chapter filled with freedom, ease, and joy.”
For many homeowners, this type of shift means more time spent enjoying life—not maintaining it. When the upkeep of a large home starts to feel like more work than pleasure, a downsized home can be a breath of fresh air. Imagine a beautifully updated space with less maintenance, more comfort, and perhaps even a location that brings you closer to the things you love.
“While the actual move is not something that I directly assist with, I often find myself chatting with clients about it anyway,” explains Kim. “I’m invested in their home buying journey, and with that comes the privilege of glimpsing at their vision for the future and their reflection on the past.”
Moving can feel like a lot, especially when you’re moving from a larger space to a smaller one, but Kim and the rest of the team are ready to guide you through the ways you can streamline your future while honoring the past.
The Gift of Equity
Before we jump into some of the many ways you can get your belongings organized, let’s touch on something powerful you can do with the space you’re leaving behind.
Before putting your family home on the market, it’s worth pausing to consider whether there is a young adult in your family—perhaps a grandchild or other relative who is dreaming of becoming a homeowner.
By giving a gift of equity, you can make their dreams a reality while keeping your cherished home in the family.
Here’s how it works:
Let’s say your home is valued at $800,000 and you’d like to help a family member buy it for $750,000. Instead of lowering the price, you sell it for $800,000 and offer them a $50,000 “gift of equity”. This gift can be applied toward their down payment with a seller concession for closing costs. This makes the purchase more affordable for your buyer.
“Gifts of equity are gaining in popularity for a reason,” says Kim. “Through them, your family member can gain a meaningful foothold in homeownership, a step on the path to creating wealth of their own. In turn, your home’s story stays in the family. It’s really a win-win.”
Now, let’s move forward. Once you’ve decided what you’d like to do with your previous home—whether you decide to gift equity or make a public sale—you’ll need to prepare for your transition to a new way of life.
How to Prep Your Belongings for Your Move
Whether or not you’re looking to downsize in your next space, decluttering is always a gift to yourself. A clean, organized home is proven to boost mood, reduce stress, and improve general wellbeing.
“Organizing an entire home’s worth of stuff can feel overwhelming to start,” acknowledges Kim, “but it’s well worth the effort. And thankfully, there are quite a few strategies out there to help keep the process efficient and stress-free.”
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Give yourself plenty of time – Many people find they need up to six months to practically and personally prepare for a move. Don’t expect to get it all done in a couple of weeks.
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Start small and simple – Begin with simpler tasks that have less emotional attachment. Sorting through linen closets, garages, and utility spaces are often much easier to downsize than sentimental rooms.
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Focus on the positives – Moving spaces often makes way for bigger and better things. Plus, downsizing your belongings (like what’s often done before a move) can save significantly in moving and future housing costs.
By utilizing these approaches in tandem, you can help yourself build momentum. Then, once you’ve reached the more complicated parts of the moving process, you’ll feel much more confident to continue.
How to Acknowledge Treasured Memories
Homes are more than just the spaces in which we live. In many ways, they can be an extension of ourselves. The memories we make in our homes are precious pieces of our lives. Because of this, many homeowners take some time to pay their respects.
“Many of my clients will have parties, picnics, or other such gatherings just before a move,” says Kim. “It’s a great way to end your past adventure with a ‘bang’ and get yourself ready for new experiences.”
Common ways that homeowners, or even renters, say goodbye to past homes include:
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“Goodbye house” gatherings – a final family dinner or friendsgiving in the old space. Some homeowners also finish these parties in the new space, to bring things full-circle.
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Photo tours – taking photos of each room in the old space to preserve fond memories and giving thanks in each room for all the beautiful experiences with friends and family.
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“Pieces of Me” rituals – taking a non-invasive item from the old space, such as a garden plant or piece of art, to display in the new home.
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“Whether it’s a rental space or a childhood home, it’s perfectly natural that your house means something to you. By acknowledging that, you can begin to see how your future space could mean even more,” says Kim.
3 Steps to Downsizing Your Belongings
Step 1: Sort
When you reach the point where you’re ready to downsize, you can make things less overwhelming by focusing on one room at a time. Then, you compartmentalize things further by sorting the belongings in that room into one of four categories:
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Keep – The items you plan to take with you to your new home.
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Donate – The items you plan to give to charity organizations.
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Sell – The items you plan to sell before you move or sell along with the home.
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Discard – The items that must be thrown away.
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“The last time I moved, index cards and sticky notes were my best friends,” explains Kim. “I had my things sorted into different piles or sections of the room. Then, I would use color codes or labels to mark where each of those groups of items were going. It was greater for larger things, like furniture, as well.”
As you sort, don’t worry about making drastic decisions. Just sort quickly and instinctively. It will help make the next step easier.
You can also take the time to consider your future space: will the item you’re evaluating be a good fit in your new abode? Will it have a use? Most importantly: will it have a space that it can be neatly put away without requiring extra storage space?
Step 2: Sell
“The great thing about the selling phase is that time to consider each item is built right in,” says Kim. “As you put each item up for sale, you consider what it’s worth, evaluate its condition, and contemplate its usefulness. If something comes up that you’re thinking should actually be donated, discarded, or even kept—most people know pretty easily, before the item is ever close to being sold.”
As you go through the items in your “sell” pile, ask yourself:
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Does this item still bring joy or value into my life?
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Would someone less fortunate benefit greatly from this item?
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Is this item still fit for regular use, at reasonable performance?
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If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you can always re-sort that item into a “reconsider” pile, and continue on.
Step 3: Finalize
At this point, you’ll be left with three categories of items: keep, donate, and discard. You can always go through the questions mentioned in the previous section if you’re feeling unsure about an item. However, many people find that, once they’ve reached this step in the process, they’re pretty confident in what they’re keeping and tossing.
“Personally, I think it’s the “sell” step that really, well, ‘sells’ it,” says Kim. “by taking the time to evaluate the value of some of your belongings, you end up considering the others as well. By the time you reach this point, most people are usually ready to move forward.”
If you’re feeling unsure, chances are the item is nostalgic in some way. This is often the case with family heirlooms or keepsakes tied to major life events. For these items, you can always consider digitizing-–especially with things like photographs, letters, and memorabilia. This can allow you to preserve precious memories without carrying around the clutter.
When You’re Ready to Move Forward
From putting your home up for sale to going through your belongings to closing on your dream home, trading spaces can bear bittersweet fruit. But with patience and perspective, it’s a journey that becomes an opportunity for growth.
“Moving—especially that downsizing phase—can have a lot of focus on letting go. But I like to think it’s about making space for what’s next,” says Kim. “The right pros can guide you on the space you’ll need, the features that will bring the most joy, and the practicalities that will make life easier. Then, you just need to decide what belongings fit into that new picture. It’s a lot, but in the end, we gain different perspectives that help us get even more out of the experience.”
Bottom Line: downsizing isn’t about letting go of joy. It’s about creating more of it.
Everest says: we’re ready to help you
make space for your future.
Everest Equity
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and homeowners since 2004
Whether you’re buying or selling, trust our diverse team of professionals
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