Downsizing 201: What's Next?

So, you've decided to make the move. Maybe you've even already found that picture-perfect new home in the smaller and more manageable size that you want. Now what?

It's time to think about listing your current home! It can certainly be daunting to think about putting your home up for sale, especially if you haven't moved in a long time. But here are some considerations that will help you move smoothly down the path to making a sale:

• Enlist help! Choosing a Realtor can be the single most important move you make. A good Realtor can guide you, protect your interests as a seller, and take a lot of the pressure out of sales process. If you haven't already recruited the help of a Realtor to look for a new property, don't wait any longer now that you're ready to sell. Realtors can help with the proper staging your home and can assist in marketing it to the right clientele, so waste no time engaging the help of a professional – some Realtors even specialize in clients who are looking to downsize.

• Money matters! You may want to secure financing for your new home by seeing a lender for pre-approval. At the very least, it's essential to look at the state of your finances and make sure that the sale of your current property and the purchase of your new home are financially comfortable for you. An important consideration is whether you should wait to buy until after you've sold your existing home.

• Spruce it up! Take a step back and assess your home. Think about minor repairs and improvements that you should make to entice potential buyers. Make the resale repairs that make the most sense. Clean your home inside and out until it sparkles and radiates that ultra-important curb appeal. It should smell clean and fresh also. Buyers always remember a house that smells bad!

• Streamline! Before you are ready for any showings, you'll want to start thinking about organizing your current home and clearing out your years of collected "stuff" to make your move to a smaller space as seamless as possible. For some sellers, this means holding onto items offsite in a storage unit. But if you're planning to downsize, this is the perfect opportunity to get rid of anything that you don't use regularly.

Breaking down your downsizing project into steps works wonders in helping tackle what could seem like an overwhelming project. For some people, the "de-cluttering" process of streamlining belongings can be the most formidable part of the process. In Downsizing 301, you'll find out how to do just that.