The upside of downsizing
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Whether you need to cut housing costs or just don鈥檛 like rattling around an empty nest, downsizing makes sense for many retirees. After all, your home may be your biggest source of equity, but it鈥檚 also probably your biggest expense. 鈥淜eeping a home, even if it鈥檚 paid off, can be exhausting and costly,鈥� says Moreen Torpy, owner of the De-Clutter Coach, who is an expert in moving and downsizing. However, if you鈥檙e going from a 3,000-square-foot home to a 1,200-square-foot condo, you鈥檒l need to part with some of your possessions before you go. Torpy and Sara Boehm, the author of The Essential Moving Guide for Families, say it鈥檚 fairly easy to get rid of furniture, clothing, and knickknacks, which will mean more space and extra income.
Before you sell a single teacup, decide what you want to bring along to your new digs and evaluate what will fit. Once you know what has to go, give family and friends the option to take unwanted heirlooms or furniture that has sentimental value鈥攖he stuff you don鈥檛 want to sell. Then it鈥檚 time to start purging (and making money).
Here鈥檚 where to start:
- Furniture
Garage sales can be more annoying than anything else, says Torpy, because shoppers often want something for nothing. You may have better luck getting the price you want via local selling sites, like or . Make the process easier on yourself and stipulate in your ad that buyers are responsible for picking up their purchases.
- Clothing
Local consignment stores are a good place to start, but commission fees can range from 25 to 60 percent. Instead, consider one of the dozens of online sites that let you sell clothing on your own鈥攐r will do it for you. Hands-off options include and . You鈥檒l give up a percentage of the sale (like you would with a consignment shop), but they do much of the work, including setting up the listing and handling the shipping.
- Antiques and artwork
Auction houses and estate liquidators are great options for your high-ticket, desirable items, such as furniture and collectible figurines. Before handing everything over, however, Torpy suggests getting a professional appraisal so you have a baseline value that can guarantee you鈥檙e getting a fair selling price.
- Housewares
Fine china and silver can find a new home via , a site that allows buyers to search by pattern and manufacturer. eBay also has a strong market for anything vintage or unusual.
- Books
Start at , which lets you enter a book鈥檚 ISBN number to see how much various online sites will pay for it. Rare or antique books may find a buyer in your local independent bookstore. You can also list them on or .
- And one more word of advice
鈥淔or sentimental reasons, take photos of anything you no longer need but want to remember,鈥� says Boehm. 鈥淚t makes it easier to get rid of things when you have something to look back on.鈥�
The opinions expressed in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, and financial advisor or tax advisor prior to investing.
