I was just about getting underway with downsizing at this time last year.
So much to consider; I will try to keep this as short as possible.
Do it ASAP. The process will not get easier as you get older. Needed to sell my 4 BR, 2 1/2 bath house w/ small-ish basement and 2 car garage. Lived there for 12 years. Moved stuff from the previous home of 10 years with still unpacked boxes. That was not going to happen on this move. First: packed up out of season clothes and non-essentials. Next: called in junk haulers to remove a few large furniture pieces, including an old sofa, desk and armoire, all of which made their respective rooms look too small. Junkers moved all of the packed boxes from around the house to the now cleaner garage. Hired some of the workers for a later date to move the boxes into a rented POD after the house was under contract. Hired a handyman to do some small repairs and did a minimal amount of painting. No such thing as too much cleaning- including windows and power washing of outside areas.
The inventory of houses in my area was low so I felt that I did not have to spend thousands. Important: I interviewed 4 listing agents. Hired the agent I used to sell my previous house successfully. * Do not skimp on this process! Agents are going to charge the same, more or less, so hire the person with the best plan and most units sold during the previous year. Someone telling you to spend big before listing may want you to do their work for them. * Important: look at your agent's on-line listing photos before hiring. Online listings are Everything! They should be paying a professional photographer. You take pics on your phone before the photog comes so you can see what buyers will see.
*Declutter, declutter and declutter MORE! Don't interview agents until you are ready to list. Do the work first. It will take longer than you think. Call junk haulers as needed, often more than once. A necessary expense.
Bottom line: my house sold in a day for over list. Two family members are still on the market many months later. Price your house right and declutter. Family members did not do that. Moving was my full-time job 7 days a week.
Downsizing means getting rid of a LOT of stuff. Moving it costs too much. I recommend Maxsold for that.
Downsizing was exhausting and stressfull. Not going to lie about that. I bought a 2 BR 2 1/2 bath villa (end unit) w/full, unfinished basement and 2 car garage, so plenty of storage. I shopped after my house was sold. Did much work on this end, but happy with the end result. From beginning (deciding to sell) to end (last reno project in the new place) the timeline was almost a year for me, and that was fast, having sold my house in a day.
First things for your downsizing To Do list: junk hauler, good handyman, cleaning help (inside and outdoors) painter if needed. These people need to be hired ASAP. Possibly landscaper as well. I had fresh mulch applied at the front of the house.
The time when most buyers are active is March 1-June 1. I listed second week in June and got lucky. You may decide to list next year if your To Do list is too long. Regardless, the time to start on downsizing is Yesterday. Good Luck!
Also, I am a firm believer in prayer to St. Joseph and burying a statue of the saint. You can google that for more info.
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