Making Downsizing Stress Free
- Kaytlyn Beakhouse
- Jul 14
- 4 min read
The Essential Guide to Downsizing in Edmonton with Expert Support
Downsizing can be one of the most stressful life transitions, but it doesn't have to be. With the emotional and physical help of experts on your downsizing team, this overwhelming process can be broken down into manageable steps.
At Sort & Simple, we specialize in helping seniors, families, and individuals navigate the challenges of downsizing with confidence and optimism. Our team of decluttering and organizing professionals has helped dozens of clients in Edmonton and beyond through downsizing and moving with confidence, care, and clarity. Whether decluttering, packing, or unpacking, we’re here to support you every step of the way, making sure you feel empowered and in control.
In this guide, we’ll break the downsizing process into three key phases:
Decluttering
Packing & Moving
Unpacking
By the end of this post, you’ll feel more confident and gain insight on how working with the right experts can make your downsizing journey smooth and stress-free.
Downsizing Phase 1: Decluttering
Trying to declutter an entire house can feel impossible when you’ve lived there for decades! Instead, break it down into incremental steps to make it feel achievable.
The key is to start small and build momentum.
Make a checklist of every room in your home, then start with the easiest space. Maybe it’s the guest bathroom or a small storage closet. With a quick win under your belt, it’ll be easier to move on to more challenging areas.
Decluttering linens is a great place to start your downsizing journey.
Decluttering is more than just tossing things away—it’s about making thoughtful decisions on what to keep, donate, or discard. This process can be emotionally challenging, especially when you’ve lived in your home for a long time, but that’s where we come in. Our Edmonton team of decluttering experts help you through the sorting process with care and understanding, making sure that all your things are packed, or recycled and rehomed appropriately.
Download our free Space Checklist to keep track of your progress as you declutter each area of your home.
Downsizing Phase 2: Packing & Moving
The packing and moving stage can be a stressful flurry of activity! But with some thoughtful preparation, it will become a streamlined process. When it comes to downsizing projects we highly recommend hiring a professional mover, like Eager Beaver Moving, to take care of all the heavy lifting.
Here are our top moving tips that will make life easier for both you and your movers:
Box and pack as much as possible ahead of time.
Choose sturdy boxes that you can stack safely.
Label each box with its destination room.
Schedule care for pets on moving day.
Pack a suitcase to keep with you for essential items, like medication, passports and laptops.
With these strategies, by the time your movers arrive, everything will be neatly packed and labeled, so they can focus on safe transport of your belongings.
Don’t feel like packing and coordinating the movers on your own? The Sort & Simple team can take care of it all!
Find more tips in our blog post: Expert Moving Tips from Your Professional Organizer
Downsizing Phase 3: Unpacking
Unpacking and setting up of this senior's new condo was completed while the client enjoyed a long lunch!
Unpacking your new home can be one of the most exciting parts of downsizing. That is, so long as you don’t have to live out of boxes for weeks on end!
The good news is, if you’ve labeled your boxes well, unpacking will be much easier. Your movers can quickly place boxes in the correct rooms, minimizing your efforts to unpack boxes and locate items.
If you want to fully enjoy your new home from day one, the Sort & Simple team can get you unpacked and settled into your new space. Not only do we unpack boxes, we arrange your items for functionality and remove packing supplies to make your new space feel like home.
Learn more about setting up your new home from our interview with Stacey Brotzel on 880 CHED. Listen here.
How Sort & Simple Can Help
Downsizing doesn’t have to be stressful. With Edmonton’s downsizing and moving experts on your downsizing team, it can truly be an exciting and empowering journey. By breaking the process down into manageable phases—decluttering, packing & moving, and unpacking—you can feel confident every step of the way.
At Sort & Simple, we’re here to ensure that your decluttering and downsizing experience is smooth, organized, and tailored to your unique needs. Whether you need help with one phase or the entire process, our team of experts is committed to making your transition as stress-free as possible.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward a simpler, more organized life, reach out today for your complimentary consultation. Together we’ll downsize with confidence!
About the Author
Kaytlyn Beakhouse is the founder of Sort & Simple Professional Organizing, specializing in compassionate support for seniors and families navigating downsizing, estate organizing, and major life transitions. With a passion for simplifying the overwhelming, her team helps clients declutter confidently and settle into their next chapter with ease!
Contact Sort & Simple today!
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