- Start months ahead and go one room at a time.
- Measure the new home before you decide what comes.
- Choose a company that is patient and offers packing help.
Start early
Downsizing usually means letting go of a lot of belongings. Starting several months ahead gives you time to sort things properly and avoid rushed decisions.
Decide what comes with you
- Measure the new home, and sketch where furniture will go.
- Keep what you use and love. Offer the rest to family, sell it or donate it.
- Photograph sentimental items you decide not to keep.
Ways to clear
- Family and friends first.
- Charity shops and local collection services.
- Online marketplaces for furniture of value.
- Licensed waste collection for the rest.
Choosing the right removal company
- Look for a company that offers packing and unpacking.
- Ask about insurance and care for valuable items.
- Check access at the new home, including stairs and lifts.
- Ask whether the crew can set furniture up in place.
Storage
If you are not sure about some items, short-term storage gives you time. See removals and storage.
Look after yourself
Moving can be emotional. Ask family to help and take it in stages.
When you are ready, compare removal quotes and ask each company for help with packing.
Related guides
- Moving house after buyingWhat happens between offer and keys, and when to book your removal company.
- The full cost of moving house in the UKEvery cost to budget for, from legal fees to the first night's takeaway.
- First-time buyer moving guideEverything to plan for your first move, in the right order.
- Moving out when selling your homeDeclutter, stage and plan your move without losing your mind.
- All guides
Start with what matters, not with the boxes
Downsizing is an emotional project as much as a practical one. Most people have more things than they realise, and decisions about family items, books and furniture take far longer than packing. Start early, ideally three to six months before the move, and work room by room. Measure the new home first and draw or list what will fit, so that you are deciding based on real space rather than hope.
A simple sorting method
- Keep. Things you use, love or need. Check each against the floor plan of the new home.
- Give to family. Offer items to relatives with a date, so that the choice does not drag on.
- Sell. Furniture, antiques, collections and electronics can be sold online, through an auction house or a dealer. Get a valuation for anything you think is valuable.
- Donate. Charity shops and furniture reuse schemes often collect larger items.
- Recycle or dispose. Use council recycling for what cannot be reused. See house clearance.
- Store. For items you are not ready to let go of, such as sentimental pieces, a small storage unit gives you time. See self-storage size guide.
Take things one room at a time
Begin with the rooms with the least emotion, such as the garage, the loft, the spare room and the kitchen cupboards. Leave the photographs, letters and keepsakes until last, when you are more confident. Take photographs of items you cannot keep. Many people find that a photo or a single piece from a collection is enough.
Plan the removal for a smaller home
A smaller load usually means a smaller vehicle and a shorter job, which reduces the cost. But a downsizing move often comes with extra needs: help with packing, extra care with furniture, unpacking in the new home, and disposal of what is left. Ask companies for a quote that includes the services you want, and ask whether they have experience with older customers and with later-life moves. See packing service costs and house removals.
The financial side
Downsizing can free up money, but check the costs: legal fees, Stamp Duty or its equivalent where it applies, the removal, any storage and any early repayment charges on a mortgage. Take advice on how moving may affect your tax, benefits or care costs. This is general information, not financial advice. See Stamp Duty and moving costs and the moving budget planner.
Settling in
Put the essentials in place first: the bed, the kitchen, the bathroom and the things you use every day. Hang pictures and arrange favourite items early, because it makes the new home feel like yours sooner. Keep the old home keys until the sale has completed.
Common questions
When should I start downsizing?
Ideally three to six months before the move. Sorting takes longer than packing, and emotional decisions need time.
What do I do with furniture that will not fit?
Offer it to family, sell it, donate it, or store it for a time. A removal company or a house clearance company can take what is left.
Is downsizing cheaper to move?
Often the removal is cheaper because there is less to move, but you may pay for sorting, storage, disposal and sometimes packing and unpacking.
Clearing and disposal
