3 tips for moving from a private house to an apartment
3 tips for moving from a private house to an apartment
Have you calculated the cost of living in a house and realized that you are spending an unbearable amount every month? Or maybe you want to move closer to work or to a more attractive area? Whatever the reason, moving from a private house to an apartment entails major changes.
Reducing the size of the living space is not easy, but possible. Plan your move in advance with our tips. If you are careful, your move will be less hassle and more fun.
LOOK FOR THE BENEFITS
Living in a home has many benefits, such as privacy and extra space. Perhaps you are worried that you will lose these amenities when you move into an apartment. And if you have children, they may experience a change in their familiar environment.
However, living in an apartment has its advantages. If you’re moving to a less expensive area, downsizing will cut rent or mortgage payments, as well as utility bills. The money you save on moving can be used for other purposes.
In addition, the apartment requires less time for cleaning and maintenance. Instead of cleaning several rooms all day, you can clean the entire room in a couple of hours. As for the repair of the building, it falls on the landlord or the management company. And best of all, you don’t have to worry about yard work – no more weeding or mowing the lawn on Saturdays.
If you have children who are worried about moving from home to apartment, be sure to listen to their concerns and say that you understand them. However, also be sure to explain to them the benefits of the new location. Maybe there are parks nearby where they can play, or maybe there is a pool in your apartment complex that they can use. Help your children see the positive aspects of the place they are moving to to make the process easier.
GET ORDER IN YOUR ITEMS
The hardest choice you have to make when downsizing is what to do with your belongings. If you have less space, you will have to get rid of some things, that is, make a difficult decision about what to give up and what to leave.
Start with the simplest options: what things will you definitely part with? This includes items that you do not like, that you never use, and that are not needed in the apartment (for example, a lawn mower) or are unsuitable for further use. Sort these items to donate, sell or throw away.
When you go through your stuff, don’t forget to eliminate duplicates as well. Most likely, you do not need an extra mattress that is gathering dust in the basement. Better sell it. After all, if you need an extra mattress, you can always buy it with the money you made selling the old one. There is no need to store extra things just in case.
However, the process of getting rid of unnecessary things does not end there. Take on subjects that you may like but don’t fit your lifestyle. For example, you have a certain pair of shoes that you never wear because they don’t fit you or don’t match with anything else. Break up with her – she still lies idle, and the desire to save her will not change this fact.
Such complete and methodical decluttering is not always easy, because people feel an emotional attachment to their belongings, no matter how impractical they may be. This is normal and understandable. It may take some comfort to know that you’re not just getting rid of things you don’t use, but are handing them over to someone else who will enjoy using them.
BE SMART ABOUT SIZING AND STORAGE
When you’re tidying up, don’t forget that you’ll have to swap out some items for smaller ones. A full-wall TV may not fit into your new apartment, or you may want to replace your huge sofa with a small two-seater. Don’t be afraid to sell what doesn’t fit in your new space so you can buy what you really need.
Finally, when you’re done trimming and editing your inventory, you need to find the right storage options for what’s left. You probably won’t have a lot of built-in storage in your apartment, like closets, so use the space wisely. When you’re looking for storage, remember that it’s better to use vertical space than horizontal space: make use of the space under the bed and make the bookshelves taller.