Moving From A House To An Apartment: Key Considerations For Downsizing And The Role Of Storage

Moving from a house to an apartment can feel like a fresh start! Maybe you need fewer maintenance bills, or maybe a more convenient location. 

So, no matter the reason, this kind of move often comes with a huge reality check! The space.

The houses usually offer you more room, be it the garages, basements, attics, sheds, or even the big yards. On the other hand, the apartments are designed to have more compact, efficient spaces.

So, once you decide to move from a house to an apartment, you just have to make through some tough decisions: decisions about what to take with you and what not!

In this article, we will talk about the kinds if items that you need to part with when downsizing, and why choosing a moving company that can also offer you storage can make your life much easier.

Why Downsizing Is So Common When Moving to an Apartment 

When you decide moving from a house to an apartment, you are usually trading space for better convenience. The apartments are generally closer to work, shops, public transports and even the social life.

They are also easier to clean and maintain regularly.

However, the small space comes with very few closets, no garage, no backyard, and limited storage areas. So, you simply cannot just bring everything from a full-sized house into an apartment without feeling crowded.

This is why downsizing becomes a necessary part of the entire process. Now, you might be thinking, how can I decide what to leave behind and what not?

Well, moving companies like the movers Vancouver, BC can facilitate the downsizing process. 

These moving companies can provide you with professional packing, coordinate with the furniture donations or disposals, or offer you short term storage solution for items that cannot fit into your new, smaller residence.

Moving From A House To An Apartment: Equipment And Items You May Need To Leave Behind

Now, let’s look at some common things that often don’t make the process of moving from a house to an apartment. 

Large outdoor equipment 

If you are used to living in a house, you probably own outdoor tools and equipment such as:

• Lawn mowers
• Leaf blowers
• Hedge trimmers
• Garden hoses
• Pressure washers
• Snow blowers

Apartments usually handle both landscaping and outdoor maintenance for you! So, you will not need to mow the lawn or trim the hedges anymore!

Thus, you can keep these items behind. They are just going to take up some space, nothing else!

Bulky Furniture

That oversized sectional sofa or the king-sized bed might have fit perfectly in your house.

However, in an apartment, they might feel more overwhelming, leaving almost no room for you to even walk!

Common furniture that may not fit well includes:

• Large wardrobes
• Extra-wide couches
• Big entertainment units
• Heavy wooden dressers
• Oversized coffee tables

Apartments have smaller and tighter layouts. Thus, the experts suggest not to bring big furniture to make the place feel cramped or uncomfortable.

Extra Appliances  

Many houses have room for extra appliances like:

• A second refrigerator or freezer
• Wine cooler 
• A spare washing machine
• A deep freezer 

Many of the apartments these days come with built-in appliances or the limited kitchen as well as laundry space. Thus, you may only have room for the essentials!

Garage and Workshop Tools

If you have had a garage, you probably own one! Such as:

• Power tools
• Tool chests
• Ladders 
• Workbenches
• Paint supplies
• Car repair tools

On the other hand, apartments do not have private garages or workshops. Some might even offer you small storage units. However, they are rarely big enough for full tool collections.

Seasonal Decorations

Holiday decor can pile up pretty quickly over the years, which includes:

• Christmas trees and ornaments
• Halloween decorations
• Outdoor lights
• Wreaths and inflatables 

In a house, you might have a storage area in the attic or basement to store them! However, finding room for all of this can be tough for you!

Extra Household Items

You may also have too many:

• Chairs
• Side tables
• Rugs
• Lamps
• Dishes
• Cookware

Over time, we tend to collect without even realizing it. So, downsizing forces you decide what you really need to use and what you can live without!

The Emotional Side of Leaving Things Behind

Letting go of belongings isn’t just a physical task—it’s emotional too.

Some possessions are linked to the past. The others were costly. Some were presented as presents.

And some are just comforting and familiar. For this reason, many people find it hard to think about selling, donating, or throwing things away immediately.

Perhaps you are not yet prepared for such a farewell—and that is perfectly fine. Here is where self-storage comes in very handy. 

Why It’s Smart to Choose a Moving Company That Offers Storage

The process of moving from a house to an apartment does not have to be an enormous frustration.

If you are feeling stressed out, partnering with a moving company that offers storage facilities will make things a lot easier in this situation.

It offers you space to relax and make decisions about all your materials without worrying about doing it all at once.

To start with, you are not obliged to make every decision on day one. You do not have to start panicking over what to keep or give away while you are literally buried in boxes!

You can just take the necessary items into your new flat and put the rest in storage. The real-life trial of your new space has begun.

Occasionally, a couch might appear attractive in a picture but block the corridor in real life.

With storage, you can continuously interchange and replace the furniture until the arrangement feels perfectly right. 

Moreover, it prevents your new residence from becoming cluttered. When apartments are not filled to the brim, they feel more spacious and quiet.

You may hide away your love items, such as old family albums and family heirlooms, with the assurance that they will be kept safe from dust and damage until you actually want to use them or have a place for them.

If your relocation is not permanent, the storage facility will be a money-saver because you will not need to buy the entire furniture set again.

Additionally, dealing with the same company for both moving and storage means a single contract and a single team responsible for your goods.

It is more straightforward, more secure, and much less hectic. Allow yourself the luxury of time to move at your own convenience! 

How to Decide What Goes to Storage vs. Your Apartment

When moving from a house to an apartment, it can be a real challenge and a tough decision to choose what to take with you to your new place and what to leave behind.

Nevertheless, here is a quick sorting guide for you to follow:

For Your Apartment:

• Necessities: These are items that you can’t live without in a week, like your bed, couch, clothes, and kitchen appliances.
• Comfortable atmosphere: Retain the things that give you joy and relaxation in your new abode.

In the Storage:

• Seasonal items: For example, summer if you have no use for the beach, and winter or summer if it’s heavy winter coats.
• More furniture: If you are still contemplating whether a bookshelf or an extra chair will fit, keep it in the storage for the moment.
• Memories: These are items like old photo albums or family mementos that are important but do not need to be out every day.
• Uncommon tools: Big tools or backup appliances that you only use once in a while.

Throw away:

• Stuff that is broken: If it doesn’t work, don’t waste energy moving it.
• Items that are not used: If you haven’t touched it in a year or two, it’s time to sell or donate it.
• Copies: You probably don’t need two toasters or three identical sets of measuring cups.

This kind of sorting of your belongings will help you keep your new apartment clean, organized, and stress-free!