A woman and baby sit together on a cushioned window seat in a bright room.

11 Steps to Downsizing Your House

March 31, 2021

Suddenly, a place that was perfect for you a decade or two ago might feel cavernous. If you’re starting to dream about trading in your rambling old house for a smaller cottage or new condo, here are the steps you’ll have to take.

1. Consider Your Finances

How much your home is worth
Where you want to buy or rent HOAs
New taxes if you leave your area

2. Think about Space

Visit smaller homes at open houses
Walk through IKEA showrooms
Record square footage and your impressions of space
Don’t forget lot size

3. Could You Change Enough to Stay?

Remodeling and staying put might be an option
Convert one floor to a unit and rent it
Widen the stairs
Update the bathroom
Talk to contractors and scope a budget to see if this is realistic

4. Decide Where to Go

In the same area, but closer to some amenities or people?
Different neighborhood?
Different city?
Different state?
Different country?

5. Factor in Cost-of-Living Changes

Groceries and gas
Utilities
Parking
Public transportation
Entertainment

6. Find a Place to Land

Familiarize yourself with a typical house
Get specific measurements for your new place

7. Replace or Shed Furniture

Consider size, function, daily usage
Eliminate duplicate items
Think about what you can replace
Take measurements of what you buy so you’re sure it will fit

8. Getting Rid of Excess Baggage

Books
Decorations
Clothes
Kitchenware
Appliances

9. Understand Your Storage Options

Will you have a storage closet?
Or a garage?
A basement?
An attic?
Should you rent a storage unit? Be careful with this option
If you don’t have a plan to deal with it, get rid of it

10. Organize, Organize, Organize

Your finances
Your giveaways or sales of your things
Your donations
Your move-out

11. Make the Move

You may be seized with second thoughts
Make a list of the things you don’t like about your about-to-be downsized lifestyle and house
Refer to it throughout the process

Recent Blog Posts

Rain-darkened concrete steps lead to a timber home's covered entry beside gray cedar siding, a broad window, a vine maple and sword ferns.

Woodland's Holiday Bazaar Season Starts Saturday, and Its Oldest Market Is Paying to Restore a Davidson Avenue Hall

Cedar-sided home with a covered back porch, damp concrete approach, autumn vine maple and sword ferns beside a green lawn.

150 Neighbors Painted Centralia's Hub City Mural. Now It Has a Statewide Award.

Rain-damp garden path beside a gray-green wood-sided home with a glazed dining bay, autumn vine maple, and sword ferns.

Kalama's Footbridge to the River Is Down Until Spring, and Halloween Week Is When It Shows

A sheltered cedar-clad home entrance with a closed glass door, timber post, and concrete steps beside autumn vine maple and sword ferns.

Longview's New Food Cart Hub Was Built for the Rainy Season, and October Is Its First Real Test

Weathered cedar-sided rural home with a timber covered porch, concrete steps, a vine maple and three sword ferns beside a crushed-rock approach.

Winlock's Data Center Pause Is Really a Question About Water

Weathered gray-shingle cottage with a sage door, gravel approach, shore pine, and dunegrass.

The Airbnb Income on a Long Beach Peninsula Listing Isn't Part of the Sale

Open-plan great room with a stacked-stone fireplace, vaulted timber ceiling, and black-framed windows overlooking evergreens.

The $653,000 Median Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means in Ridgefield Right Now

A weathered cedar Northwest home with a fieldstone chimney, covered porch, and flagstone path across a leaf-strewn lawn.

Cedar Creek Grist Mill's October Cider Day Starts Early as Roof Repairs Need Support

Cedar porch opens onto a layered garden, with a stone knee wall, Japanese maple, and clipped hedge.

In Woodland, the County Line Runs Through Town, and It Shows Up at Closing

Your goals, our expertise

We understand that buying or selling a property is more than just a transaction: it’s a life-changing experience. That’s why our team of highly seasoned real estate professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized service for all of our clients.