Moving from a house to an apartment and need help with downsizing? Whether you’re relocating from the suburbs to the city or don’t want to transition to a minimalist lifestyle, it can be challenging to switch places and lifestyles.
Apartment living offers several benefits, including lower living costs, potential walkable neighborhoods, and easier home maintenance. However, it requires the right planning to create a smoother downsizing and moving process—here’s how.
Moving From a House to an Apartment: 7 Tips to Switch Places Smoothly
When moving from a house to an apartment, the main focus should be on downsizing your belongings, which is easier said than done. You may have oversized furniture that can make your apartment feel smaller or fewer bedrooms that can’t fit everything.
Below are seven tips for downsizing so you can enjoy your new home stress-free.
1. Plan All Downsizing Tasks Ahead of Time
Whether you’ve signed an apartment lease or not yet, take this time to plan all downsizing tasks as soon as possible. Starting early prevents you from having to declutter an entire house in one weekend, which is a lot of work if you have multiple bedrooms. It also helps avoid mistakes like accidentally leaving items behind or throwing them out because you’re rushing.
Here’s a downsizing timeline to aim for when possible:
Downsizing Three to Six Months Before Move-In: Document Belongings Room-by-Room & Plan Moving Costs
Create a list of all your belongings, room by room, at least three to six months before moving out. This list helps you see what’s necessary to keep and let go of. There may be items you didn’t even discover until you begin, which can delay your downsizing and moving process. You can even take photos of each room if that’s easier.
You should also plan for all potential moving costs, including:
•Security deposit and application fees
•Movers
•Storage unit
•Dumpster rental
•Moving equipment (Ex: Truck rentals, boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc.)
These first steps are key to visualizing and setting aside the necessary finances when downsizing to an apartment, so you’re not disorganized or tight on money from unexpected costs.
Downsizing Four to Six Weeks Before Move-In: Create a Downsizing System & Start Selling Unwanted Items
One of the best pieces of downsizing advice is creating a category system that works for you. Whether it’s by item or room type, it helps you keep track of what’s been done.Â
For example, focus on one week on furniture, then the second week on clothes. If you prefer a room category, start with the largest room or the one with the most items, such as the kitchen, and then the living room next.Â
At least four to six weeks before moving out, you should also start selling belongings that you aren’t taking with you or donating. It can take time to create a seller’s account, for people to discover, and for them to buy, so this helps ensure that everything is sold before moving.Â
Some great selling platforms for local sales are Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Nextdoor. For items that you can ship, eBay, Amazon, and Mercari are top platforms for nationwide customers and specific goods, like electronics and clothes.
If you don’t want to sell online, hosting a garage sale with street signs to promote it a few weeks before is recommended during this time.
Downsizing One to Three Weeks Before Move-In: Buy Necessary Furniture & Plan the Moving Process
At this point, you should have an apartment lease signed and know what it looks like. Look at the floorplan to confirm that your existing furniture will fit. If you find that it’ll block walkways or won’t fit through the door width, consider buying new furnishings that will fit at least three weeks before moving out. That way, it’s delivered to your current house or to the apartment by move-in.
Downsizing On Move-In Day: Double-Check Everything & Take Photos
Congratulations, it’s move-in day! The last step for downsizing is here, with a few final things to do. During this time, you should double-check each room and your downsizing checklist to ensure nothing was missed.Â
You should also take photos of all rooms once they’re emptied and cleaned to confirm everything has been removed and to keep for yourself as a record. That way, if house damage occurs from the moving company or new residents, you aren’t liable to pay repair costs.
2. Create a Must-Have & Nice-to-Have List of Your Current Household Belongings, Room by Room
With a schedule on hand, here’s how to downsize from a house to an apartment, step-by-step.Â
During the three to six months before the move-in phase, we recommended creating a list of all items, room by room. As mentioned, this can be done in a written list or photos. However, it should be divided into two lists: must-haves and nice-to-haves.Â
Having these two separate lists helps determine what’s necessary to bring and what you can live without. For example, sentimental items like family heirlooms and photo albums will be a must-have. On the other hand, you may discover that your current bedroom’s multiple dressers may not be needed, and are a nice-to-have.
3. Sell or Donate Your House’s Belongings That You Aren’t Taking
As mentioned above, selling unwanted household items at least four to six weeks before moving out is recommended. If you don’t plan on selling online or having a garage sale, donating to local charities can be much easier.Â
Organizations like your local Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity generally accept most belongings, from furniture to clothes and books. However, there are some exceptions, such as odor or if they’re in very poor condition. Unused furniture or duplicate household items can be a great way to donate and downsize at the same time.
4. Rent a Dumpster If Necessary
Not everything can be donated or sold when moving from a house to an apartment. Whether it’s belongings that couldn’t be accepted by charity or disposable items, you may need to throw things away.Â
If you have a large house, renting a dumper may be warranted for the following:
•Stained, smelly, or bug-infested mattressesÂ
•Damaged box springs
•Broken or smoke-filled electronics for e-waste recycling
•Recalled baby cribs and car seats
•Mold or mildew on clothing or within wooden furnishings
•Expired medicationsÂ
Home dumpster rentals come in various sizes, ranging from 15 to 30 yards, so you only pay for what you need. You can rent them from companies like Waste Management or from local providers.
5. Gather Your Apartment’s Measurements Before Buying Furniture & Decor
We mentioned above the importance of knowing your new apartment’s floorplan before buying furniture and decorations at minimum three weeks from the move-out date.
Here are the key measurements to know to ensure any new furnishings will fit and maximize your apartment space:
•Doorway height and width for the main and all room entrances
•Dimensions for all rooms (length, width, and height)
•Hallway width and height
•Number of stairs
•Closet dimensions
Having these specs on hand prevents storage constraints and a cluttered feeling when downsizing from a house to an apartment.
6. Buy Essential Multi-Functional Furniture
In addition to purchasing necessary furniture that fits, it should also be multi-functional. Moving from a house to an apartment requires you to get more strategic with furnishing in less space.
Some practical multi-purpose furniture for apartments includes:
•Open, neutral wall-mounted shelves for decor like small apartment plants and holding small items like books or jewelry
•Coffee tables with hidden storage that open and close for living room blankets, remotes, etc.
•Mattress frames with built-in or under-bed drawers for storing shoes, additional clothes, etc.
•Loft-style or day beds that can transform into a desk or couch
Remember, downsizing from a house to an apartment doesn’t always mean you have fewer storage options available. There are so many creative furnishing options available today, more than ever.
7. Rent a Storage Unit If Necessary
Even after long-term planning, you may still have challenges downsizing before moving into an apartment. You may not have the time to downsize early with a tight move-out timeline. Or, you have a strong emotional attachment to certain items that you can’t let go of, which is normal to feel when transitioning homes.Â
If this is the case for you, renting a storage unit can help. It doesn’t need to be a permanent solution, and most companies, like Public Storage and U-Haul, allow you to rent monthly, so you only pay for the time you need. They even offer special storage options, like air-conditioned units and oversized ones that can even fit RVs or boats.
Transition to Your New Chicagoland Apartment Home With Ease
With a better idea of what to know before you downsize, find your dream apartment home with TLC Management Co. As property owners and managers of over 30 properties in Chicagoland, we have the local expertise to find you the perfect place to live and transition places smoothly.
Our apartments have unique and convenient amenities for many lifestyles, including:
•Open-loft style floorplans with exposed 16 to 18-foot timber ceilings and oversized windows
•Walk-in closets with organizer shelving, storage lockers, and on-site bicycle storage
•Pet-friendly policies, flexible lease terms, and no security deposit required on select properties
Browse our Chicago and suburban properties or contact us at info@chicagorentals.com to schedule a tour today!
