When you reach preferment, downsizing can be a challenging yet liberating process to shed the layers of our past and start anew in this new phase. As you work to find the right size for your home and the right amount of belongings, you allow yourself to focus on building memories and release some of the burden of stuff and things. Use this worksheet to begin the process of identifying what you loved or disliked about different homes you’ve lived in over the years.

CURRENT AND PAST HOMES
I recommend this activity be completed by all those who still consider your home to be their home in some form. This will help create clarity for your priorities as you downsize.

Categories to Consider
☐ location/geography
☐ community
☐ home characteristics
☐ care and upkeep
☐ memories

Setting Your Priorities
After reflecting on the good and bad of past homes, collect everyone’s thoughts and create a master document of your highest priorities. List characteristics your new home must have, things it must not have, and build your wishlist. Finally, list some new memories you hope to create in your next home.

Categories to Prioritize
☐ location/geography
☐ community
☐ home characteristics
☐ care and upkeep
☐ new memories

FIRST STEPS

Start the Process
☐ have all stakeholders reflect on past homes
☐ share reflections between all stakeholders
☐ set priorities for the next home
☐ create a vision board (optional)
☐ other tasks as needed

Right-size Your Belongings
☐ establish a routine and schedule for downsizing
☐ identify a donation center with at-home pickups
☐ communicate to children about deadlines for their belongings
☐ list all rooms, closets, and storage spaces to be tackled
☐ create a timeline for rightsizing belongings
☐ other tasks as needed

ACTION PLAN
Sell Your Home
☐ financial analysis - engage lawyer, accountant, financial planner
☐ contact and select a realtor
☐ contact stager and create a plan
☐ get comps to decide on pricing
☐ set timeline
☐ other tasks as needed

Find a New Home
☐ identify geographies matching your priorities
☐ identify communities matching your priorities
☐ contact and select a realtor
☐ research home options (trulia, zillow, etc.)
☐ road trip or short stay at desired location
☐ interview locals and realtors for community feel
☐ other tasks as needed