Downsizing Checklist: 10 Steps for Moving to a Smaller Home
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Cheyenne Wiseman EditorClose
Cheyenne Wiseman EditorCheyenne Wiseman is an Editor at HomeLight. Previously, she worked as a writer for Static Media (Mashed.com and Chowhound.com) and as an editor for CBR.com. Cheyenne holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Davis. She has more than five years of experience writing and editing on topics including real estate, financial advising, and pharmaceuticals.
Whether you’re retiring, adjusting to an empty nest, looking for lower housing costs and less upkeep, or helping a loved one move, there are plenty of reasons to trade a larger home for a smaller one. And it’s something many people are open to: About two-thirds of U.S. adults would consider downsizing, according to a recent AARP survey.
But downsizing involves more than clearing out closets. From deciding what to keep to selling your current home and coordinating the move, this downsizing checklist walks you through the process from start to finish.
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1. Define your downsizing goals
Start by thinking about what you want to gain from downsizing. You may want to lower your monthly expenses, spend less time on home maintenance, move closer to family, or simply live in a home that better fits your needs.
For many people, reducing housing costs is a top goal. Among adults 50 and older who expect to move, AARP found that 60% cite lower housing and maintenance costs as a reason, while 55% cite high property taxes.
Start your downsizing plan with these steps:
Identify your main reason for downsizing.
Decide what you need from your next home, considering location, accessibility, upkeep, and lifestyle.
Set a target move date and work backward to plan sorting, donating or selling, packing, and hiring movers.
If you have decades’ worth of belongings to sort, consider starting months in advance. If time is limited, prioritize the tasks that have to happen before moving day.
2. Determine how much space you’ll need
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for how much smaller your next home should be. Think about the space you actually use, the belongings you want to keep, and how you want to live day to day. The goal is to find a home that’s easier to manage while still giving you enough room to be comfortable.
Size isn’t the only consideration. Think about whether the layout, storage, stairs, outdoor areas, maintenance needs, and location will work for you now and in the years ahead.
If you already know where you’re moving, use the floor plan or room measurements to see what will fit. If you’re still searching, measuring the furniture you want to bring can help you determine how much space you’ll need.
Use these steps to plan for your new space:
Determine your target home size.
Measure furniture you hope to keep.
Compare available storage space.
Plan where major furniture pieces will go.
Consider whether rooms or furniture will need to serve multiple purposes.
3. Make a financial plan for downsizing
Moving to a smaller home doesn’t always mean you’ll spend less. A higher-cost location, HOA fees, property taxes, repairs, moving expenses, and other costs can reduce your expected savings. Before making a move, compare what you spend on your current home with what you expect to spend after downsizing.
Use these steps to map out your finances:
Estimate what your current home could sell for.
Calculate your potential proceeds from the sale.
Set a budget for your next home, accounting for moving and transaction costs.
Compare your current and expected housing expenses.
See what downsizing could look like financially: HomeLight’s free Home Downsizing Calculator can estimate your potential sale proceeds, the cost of buying a smaller home, and how much cash you could have left after the move.
4. Plan the sale of your current home
If selling your current home is part of your downsizing plan, think about how the sale will fit into your move. A real estate agent can help you estimate what your home could sell for, determine what needs to be done before listing, and set a realistic timeline.
Use these steps to plan your home sale:
Decide whether you want to sell your current home before or after buying your next one.
Talk with a real estate agent about your selling and moving timeline.
Decide which repairs or improvements to make before listing.
Set a target listing date.
Should you buy or sell first when downsizing?
Selling first can free up equity for your next home, but buying first can give you more time to move, downsize your belongings, and prepare your old home for sale.
Bridge loan-style programs like HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell can help eligible homeowners access their equity to buy first and sell after they move. This can be especially helpful when downsizing because it may eliminate the need for temporary housing or a second move.
5. Declutter and downsize room by room
Once you know how much space you’ll have, start deciding what will make the move. Work through one room at a time rather than trying to tackle the whole house at once. If you’re selling your current home, decluttering can also help prepare it for staging, photos, and showings.
Room-by-room downsizing checklist:
Start with a room or area that will be relatively easy to sort.
Sort belongings into keep, sell, donate, and discard categories.
Remove duplicates and items you rarely or no longer use.
Set aside belongings that family members need to claim or make decisions about.
Keep a running inventory if you’re sorting a large household.
Finish one room before moving on to the next.
When you’re unsure about an item, ask whether you use it, have space for it, or would realistically buy it again today. Start with easier decisions and leave sentimental belongings for later, since they may take more time to sort.
6. Decide what to do with sentimental belongings
Sentimental items can take longer to sort than everyday belongings, so give yourself extra time for this part of the process. Rather than trying to keep everything, focus on the items that hold the most meaning and look for other ways to preserve memories when you don’t have room for the physical object.
Use these steps to sort sentimental belongings:
Identify the keepsakes and heirlooms that matter most.
Ask family members which items they would like to keep.
Set a deadline for family members to collect their items.
Photograph meaningful belongings you can’t keep.
Digitize photos, documents, or artwork when appropriate.
If you’re helping someone else downsize, involve them in these decisions whenever possible. What seems unnecessary to you may hold significant meaning for them.
7. Sell, donate, or dispose of what isn’t coming
Once you’ve decided what won’t make the move, create a plan to get those items out of the house. Give yourself enough time to sell or donate belongings before moving day, especially if you have a large household to clear out.
Decide where everything will go:
Decide whether an estate sale, downsizing sale, or garage sale makes sense for the amount you have to sell.
Choose where to list individual items you want to sell online or through consignment.
Get an expert opinion on potentially valuable art, jewelry, antiques, or collectibles.
Schedule donation drop-offs or pickups.
Recycle electronics and other items that shouldn’t go in the trash.
Check local disposal rules for paint, chemicals, medications, and other hazardous materials.
Arrange junk removal or an extra trash pickup if needed.
8. Line up help for your downsize and move
Downsizing can involve a lot of sorting, packing, selling, donating, and moving, so decide early which tasks you can handle yourself and where you’ll need help. Family and friends may be able to pitch in, while professionals can take on larger or more specialized jobs.
Build your downsizing support team:
Ask family or friends which tasks they can help with.
Get quotes from moving companies.
Hire a professional organizer if you need help sorting or decluttering.
Consider a move manager to help coordinate the move from start to finish.
Arrange short-term storage if you can’t make every decision before moving day.
Some organizers and move managers specialize in helping older adults downsize if you or a loved one needs additional support.
9. Complete your moving checklist
As moving day gets closer, shift your focus from downsizing to the logistics of getting into your new home. Gather your moving supplies early and keep the essentials you’ll need right away separate from everything else.
Check off these final moving tasks:
Confirm your moving date and movers, if using.
Gather boxes, tape, labels, and other moving supplies.
Label boxes by the room where they belong.
Pack an “open first” box with essentials for your first night.
Keep medications, valuables, and important documents with you.
Transfer or cancel utilities and forward your mail.
Update your address with important accounts and services.
Make arrangements for children or pets, if needed.
Confirm you’ll have access to your new home on moving day.
Do a final walkthrough of your old home, including closets, cabinets, and storage areas.
Arrange a final cleaning of your old home, if needed.
Yes, You Can Buy Before You Sell. Why Move Twice?
Through our Buy Before You Sell program, HomeLight can help you unlock a portion of your equity upfront to put toward your next home. You can then make a strong offer on your next home with no home sale contingency.
10. Set up your smaller home without filling it back up
Once you arrive, focus on making your new home functional before filling every cabinet, closet, and corner. Unpack the essentials first, and give yourself time to see how you actually use the space before buying more furniture or storage products.
Follow these steps as you settle in:
Unpack everyday necessities first.
Give frequently used belongings an easy-to-reach place.
Find a designated place for everything you unpack.
Reconsider belongings that don’t comfortably fit.
Wait before buying new furniture, storage containers, or organizers.
Final downsizing checklist tips
A downsizing checklist can make a big move more manageable, especially if you’re sorting through years of belongings. Start early when you can, tackle the process in smaller steps, and focus on creating a home that fits your needs. If you’re helping a loved one downsize, involve them in decisions along the way.
Ultimately, downsizing isn’t about getting rid of as much as possible. It’s about deciding what you need, what matters to you, and what will work in your next home.
Ready to make the move? HomeLight’s Agent Match can connect you with a top local agent who can help you sell your current home and find a smaller one that better fits your needs.
Header Image Source: (iriana88w / Depositphotos)
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