Many times, I’ve mentioned the benefits of downsizing. The people who downsize enjoy a safer home with lower maintenance even if they do not move to a new house. But it isn’t easy. The costs of downsizing are emotional and financial. And those costs depend on what you plan to let go of and whether you plan to sell, donate, or dispose of your items. Here are some points to consider.
Emotional Costs of Downsizing
Over their lifetime, people accumulate stuff. The stuff can have a functional or emotional value. I can attest that letting go of sentimental items is challenging. We know we can’t keep everything, so we must make some difficult choices, which takes time. Unfortunately, we might not have time if the move date is fast approaching.
Of course, many people hope to pass their treasures to family members and friends. Some people host a downsizing party, while others give stuff away to their children, grandchildren, or niblings.
However, younger generations often don’t want their parent’s stuff. They may keep a few small sentimental items such as jewellery and photos but not the furniture and other household goods. As a result, there could be a lot of “leftovers” that you need to dispose of – which brings us to the financial costs.
Financial Costs of Downsizing
Downsizing involves categorizing and organizing your possessions, which includes assessing items’ value and worth. Once you complete that task, you need to find the right markets to sell your items. Then, you must list the items, communicate with potential buyers, negotiate prices, and arrange for the buyer to collect their purchase. All of this takes time. Even if you decide to donate some of your possessions, you still need to find a charity that will accept them. Then, you may have to pay to deliver the items as only some charities can afford to pick them up.
Even if you decide to send everything to the landfill, you must still pay to transport it there and pay the dumping fees ranging from $100-$270 per tonne. And the weight adds up quickly! Our experience offering move management services indicates that the contents of a typical 4-bedroom house with a 2-car garage can be more than six tonnes (6,000 kg)!
Of course, you can sell or donate your household goods to earn some money – and keep items from going to the landfill – if you have the time and energy. However, many people can’t do the work themselves and must enlist help.
While family and friends can help (for free), it doesn’t always work out very well. These caring and well-meaning loved ones often lack experience in decluttering, packing, and moving. Also, they may not know which goods are worth donating or sending to consignment. The same applies to hiring a few local students who want to earn some after-school cash. They don’t know the value of your items. And more importantly, they do not carry insurance. They could scratch your floors or break an expensive vase, and then you would have even more expenses.
Paying for decluttering and arranging the sale of your items may seem counterintuitive, but hiring a professional downsizing service like Out of Chaos can be beneficial when you consider these factors:
We’re thorough. When decluttering and downsizing, we leave no envelope unopened and no pocket unturned. We look everywhere to ensure we locate precious items and essential paperwork so it doesn’t end up in the landfill.
We’re compassionate. We understand how hard it is to let go of sentimental items. Our team members have the skills and tact to make you feel as comfortable as possible during this stressful time.
We carry insurance. Our team is cautious. However, you can rest easy knowing you’re protected if anything unfortunate happens.
We have connections. With over 20 years of service in the Lower Mainland, we have an extensive network of service providers, including specialty movers, shredding companies, consignment shops, auction houses, and more. We share our contacts with clients to ensure they get fast, reliable service within their budgets.
We have experience. Because we know what items will sell best on consignment or online auction, we can help keep things out of landfills and offset dumping fees. Additionally, we create a plan with realistic goals to ensure the process is complete by the deadline.
Downsizing has many benefits, but the costs of downsizing (decluttering, transporting, dumping fees, etc.) add up quickly. That’s why enlisting the services of a professional downsizing company like Out of Chaos can prove invaluable. For more information about our downsizing services or to book a free telephone consultation, please get in touch with us.
