The Journey

Moving to a new home is a daunting prospect. When you have lived in your present home for a years you feel comfortable with your present environment and you have to face up to a huge change. As you get older that change can be traumatic.

That means looking at all the stuff we have hoarded over the years and deciding what comes with us and what has to go! And when this includes precious artwork or collections of things we have cherished, it isn't easy to decide.

It also means we have to gather together information that needs to go with us - our will, power of attorney, lawyer's contact details, our medical history and details of medications, insurance policies, bank and investment details.

And we also have a myriad of digital stuff that we have been accumulating - photos, emails, contacts, family stuff.

Telecommunication towers are silhouetted against a cloudy sky, standing on a hilly terrain covered with dark vegetation. The scene is calm yet somewhat imposing, with an overcast atmosphere.

Telecommunication towers stand silhouetted against a darkening sky with scattered clouds. Surrounding trees and foliage are visible, creating a serene, evening landscape. Power lines stretch diagonally across the scene, contributing to the industrial feel.

Downsizing Process

There are six planning stages to work though

a man riding a skateboard down the side of a ramp

Selling our home of many years

Getting the best value means we have to prepare it well - it will get us the best price

a man riding a skateboard down a street next to tall buildings

Planning the move

Capturing the items, their images and dimensions that will be retained and the items that won't. Plan these stages by setting tasks and who will complete them.

What we can take and what we can't

Figuring out what will fit into the new home

Deciding what goes where

Allocating items to spaces in the new rooms & creating the manifest for the movers

Bright living room with modern inventory

Unloading items

Creating Collections Schedule

Downsizing means disposing of items that won't fit in the new place. The options are donate, sell, chuck out. Manage these through plans and checklists

Collections of artwork, ceramics, glasswork, wine and jewellery represent real value after many years and need to be valued for insurance and also for auctioning, where they won't fit into the new house.