5 Tips: Downsizing or Moving from a House to an Apartment

Whether you’re an empty-nester or a senior looking for a more manageable place to call home, downsizing from a house to an apartment is the best way to both minimize and maximize your space simultaneously.

Although the decision may feel liberating at first, downsizing from a house to an apartment can be a herculean feat. Between culling your belongings, selling your home, and going on apartment tours, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Fortunately, with the right game plan, downsizing can be straightforward. This guide will provide all the helpful tips you need to downsize your house to an apartment like a pro.

1. Start the Process Early

It’s essential to give yourself as much time as possible when downsizing. It takes time to successfully downsize, with the most time-consuming parts of the downsizing process being:

• Selling Your Home
• Downsizing Your Belongings
• Finding a New Apartment

So, start early to avoid overwhelming headaches. Here’s a look at how much time you can expect the downsizing process to take.

Selling Your Home

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average time it takes for a home on the market to go from listing to contract is 18 days.

That said, the market is very hot right now, if you end up selling your home in a cool market you can expect the process to take well over a month at minimum.

Downsizing Your Belongings

For many people, the process of downsizing can take at least a week. However, this number is highly variable depending on the size of your current home, the size of the apartments you are considering, and the number of items you plan on getting rid of.

A few trips to your local thrift store, waiting for items to sell online, and putting items in storage can take quite a while.

Finding a New Apartment

The amount of time it takes to find an apartment is also highly variable and can be anywhere from a week to a few months depending on your situation.

The process of finding a new apartment can start up to 3 months before your move-in date if you want to get a jump on things. You’ll have time to browse and research your preferred markets. For the less picky renter, it’s possible to waltz out and find an apartment in less than a week.

2. Assess Your Finances

Money makes the world go-'round and is the key to a successful home downsize. While it’s easy to assume that downsizing will result in cut costs, these savings aren’t usually seen until after you’ve paid a lot of money upfront.

According to Realtor.com, home sellers are usually responsible for paying up to 3% of the home’s sale price in closing costs.

As the current median home sale price sits at $374,900, you can expect to pay $11,247 out of pocket when selling a home. Hopefully, you turn a profit in the sale to offset those costs.

After selling your home, you can use those profits to cover the cost of renting an apartment. As you’ll be downsizing, you can likely save on furnishing your apartment.

However, unless you catch an amazing move-in special, you’re likely to run into apartment costs that include the first month’s rent, a security deposit, and last month’s rent (if applicable). All in all, you can end up spending up to 3xs your monthly rent just to move in.

Finally, moving costs range from $500 to upwards of $2,000 depending on the distance of your move and how much you will be transporting.

Overall, it will cost thousands to downsize. However, the change can offer some substantial life improvements and may even be financially beneficial in the long run.

Regardless, you’ll need to heavily scrutinize and adjust your monthly budget to cover the costs of downsizing!

3. Take Inventory

Although it’s a detail that normally escapes notice in our daily lives, the sheer amount of things we own can become overwhelming when making the decision to downsize.

Fortunately, downsizing makes practicing minimalism or organization much easier.

Start your downsizing journey by taking stock of the things you own. Understanding the contents of your belongings will simplify the process of deciding which items you’ll take to your new apartment.

Try creating a list and categorize by room. Just avoid doing this all in one day — it’s a whopper of a task!

4. Give Things Away or Put them in Storage

Downsizing is usually synonymous with getting rid of or rehoming your belongings. Of course, many of your belongings will be coming with you to your new apartment, but most apartments have less space than a traditional home, so you’ll have to get rid of some things.

That said, there are several routes to take when reducing the number of things you own. Here’s a look at the most popular ways to give things away when downsizing:

• Donate Items to Charity: If you have gently used, functional items, from appliances to shoes, donating these items can help those in need. It’s a great way to give new life to your old belongings. Take the time to research any charity or thrift shop you choose to determine what will happen to your items after you donate them.
• Donate or Sell Items to Thrift Shop: One of the best things about thrift shops or resale stores like Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity is that they offer free furniture donation pickup and daily donation collection. Your items are sold at a reduced price and the profits go toward helping veterans and providing homes to those in need!
• Recycle or Toss Items: Unfortunately, some items don’t have any life left in them. If that’s the case, aim to recycle these items whenever possible. If you’re unable to recycle your items or donate them, be aware that you may have to pay to get your trash picked up or deliver it to the dump yourself.
• Give Items to Your Loved Ones: Whether you know a college student looking to furnish their first apartment or a loved one in need of some items, gifting your belongings is a great way to both help others and reduce your belongings.
• Sell Your Items Online: Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Kijiji, and even Reddit are all places in which you can advertise and sell your belongings. You can make a little money in the process, but just be aware that it may take some time for your items to sell!

Put Your Belongings in Storage

If you can’t or don’t want to bring some of your belongings to your new apartment and don’t want to get rid of them, storage is the solution.

Putting your items in storage gives you extra time to decide where your things will eventually end up. Fortunately, it’s not challenging to find storage options.

That said, you’ll need to do your research before making a final decision. If your primary goal is to save money, time, and effort, PODS may be a good option.

Not only does PODS offer moving services, but it also offers storage solutions folded in with your moving services. You’ll save time and won’t have to find a separate moving and storage company.

Check out our review on PODS costs to see how using PODS will impact your budget.

5. Find Your Apartment

You already know that finding a new apartment means time and money, but there’s a lot more to the process than that. Here’s a look at the steps you’ll need to take to find an apartment.

Think About When’s the Best Time to Move

As downsizing is a bit more complex than other moving situations, it’s crucial to think about the timing of your apartment hunt. While the primary goal is to allow yourself enough time to move without feeling too much pressure, it’s also a good idea to consider how timing will affect your move.

The best time of year to rent an apartment depends on your goals. If you prefer to find an apartment at a reduced rate, consider moving during the winter months when the apartment rent drops.

If you want to enjoy a wider selection of apartments, consider moving during the summer months when there are many more apartments on the market.

Overall, timing your apartment hunt right can get you closer than ever to your goal of finding an apartment that matches your preferences, whether it’s cost or amenities.

Set Your Apartment Priorities

When participating in an apartment search, you’ll likely find that there are tons of options on the market. From beach bungalows to downtown lofts, you’ve got options (depending on your location).

Determine what makes an apartment perfect for you. What are the amenities and features that would make an apartment the perfect fit for you? Create a list and narrow down your options during your apartment search.

Consider Your Commute Time

Commute time may not be very important right now, as more workers join the remote wave. However, if you work in-office or if your job will require you to do so in the future, you’ll need to make sure your new apartment isn’t too far.

Trial different routes depending on which form of transportation you will use, including car, bus, train, walking, or biking. Choose an apartment that suits your commute preferences — not just to work, but to nearby grocery stores, laundromats, restaurants, and more.

Prepare for Tours

Preparing for apartment tours means coming up with relevant questions to ask your landlord or property manager as they show you around the apartment.

Fortunately, the list of questions to ask on an apartment tour is relatively short. You don’t have to do your best Oprah impression, but you should get answers to your most burning questions.

Other than that, take an in-depth look at the unit you’re touring to ensure it’s in good condition. If not, you’ll want to ensure that any issues are fixed before you move in.

Apply for Your Apartment

The apartment application process is simple, provided you have all of the necessary information. You’ll need identification, rental history, credit history, and income information to ensure that you’re prepared to quickly fill out application forms.

Many rental markets are very hot right now, so if you find an apartment you love, make sure you start the application process quickly!

Consider Furnished Apartments

Furnished apartments offer convenience and cost savings if you plan on entering the rental market while coming from homeownership. They are especially useful options if you are moving cross-country.

Not only will you not need to purchase furniture that fits your apartment, but you will also simplify the moving process by reducing the number of items you’ll need to bring to your new apartment.

That said, furnished apartments are usually more expensive than their non-furnished counterparts. Be sure to consider the added cost in your budget calculations!

Take Advantage of Apartment Amenities

Apartment amenities can make the difference between feeling like your downsize is a step-down and feeling like it was a worthwhile change. Most homes offer more privacy than apartments, more space, and more customization options.

However, apartments can offer privacy, spaciousness, and customization options. On top of those benefits, apartments may offer amenities that tip the scale in their favor, including on-site fitness centers, rooftop access, lounge areas, an increased sense of community, security, and more.

Maximize your downsize by taking advantage of amenities, whether you hang out in an apartment common area to meet your neighbors or solidify your gym routine by heading down to the fitness center every morning!

Just don’t let them go to waste!

Final Thoughts

Fortunately, the process of downsizing your home to an apartment is much simpler if you have the right tools. While the tips above are helpful, we’ve got a few more resources to help simplify the process.

• For seniors looking for smaller abodes, check out our post, Finding Senior Apartments to land a comfortable new home.
• Our Apartment-Hunting Checklist post is the perfect guide for renters who want a step-by-step explanation of the apartment hunting process from start to finish.
• If your main goal is to find an apartment that fits in your budget, our post: Finding an Apartment You Can Afford should be your next stop!

Otherwise, best of luck on your downsize. Take our quiz to find the apartment of your dream!