Downsizing your home? Start with these five essential steps. From sorting sentimental items to preparing your personal property auction, this guide offers expert advice and proven tips to help make downsizing easier—and more profitable.

If you’ve made the decision to downsize—or are seriously thinking about it—you might be wondering where to begin. It’s a big transition, and the process can feel overwhelming.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it all at once.
<h3>You just need a plan.</h3>
These five steps will help you start the process of downsizing your home and preparing your personal property for sale—without the stress or burnout.
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<h4>1. Make a List: What Stays, What Goes</h4>
Start by writing down the items you absolutely want to keep and those you know you can live without.
This is where intentional living begins.
Ask yourself:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What do I use every day?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What holds sentimental value?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What could someone else enjoy or use?</li>
</ul>
Saying no to some things means you get to say yes to others—like simpler living, less clutter, and more peace of mind.
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<h3>2. Take Small Bites: Do a Little, But Do It Often</h3>
Downsizing isn’t a one-day job—and it shouldn’t be.
Break your home into small zones:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">One closet today</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">One cabinet tomorrow</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A shelf or drawer next week</li>
</ul>
Tackle manageable sections, and be kind to yourself along the way—especially when sorting keepsakes, photos, or personal paperwork.
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<h3>3. Give Now, Not Later</h3>
Have special items you plan to pass down to family or friends?
Why wait?
Gifting legacy items now ensures:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">They get into the right hands</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You free up storage space</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You get to enjoy the moment with your loved ones</li>
</ul>
There’s joy in watching a grandchild play with your old record player—or seeing your great-grandmother’s china used at Sunday dinner.
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<h3>4. Work Backward: Create a Downsizing Timeline</h3>
Start with your target moving date—then work backward.
Set goals for each stage of the process, like:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">When you’ll have each room cleared</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">When your real estate sale will be scheduled</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">When your personal property auction will take place</li>
</ul>
This is your downsizing calendar—and it’s the key to reducing last-minute stress.
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<h3>5. Hire the Right People</h3>
This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
You don’t have to go it alone.
At Hurley Real Estate &amp; Auctions, our team is equipped to guide you through every step—from real estate to personal property sales, clean-out coordination, and final settlement.
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<hr />
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<h3>BONUS CONTENT:</h3>
<h4>Maximize the Value of Your Personal Property Auction: 4 Essential Tips</h4>
When it comes time to sell personal belongings, an auction can be an efficient and profitable way to clear items—especially antiques, collectibles, equipment, coins, and estate items.
Here are our top 4 tips for sellers:
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<h4>1. Leave Items Where They Are</h4>
It’s tempting to organize or move everything for us, but leaving things in place actually speeds up our setup process. Our crew knows how to stage and lot items efficiently.
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<h4>2. Clear Trash, But Keep “Maybe” Items</h4>
Get rid of obvious trash to help our team move freely. 
 But if you’re unsure about an item—keep it. If it can sell, we’ll include it in the auction.
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<h4>3. Don’t Rearrange the Lots</h4>
Once we’ve lotted and photographed your items, any changes can mean extra hours of rework—reorganizing, re-photographing, and rewriting descriptions. 
 Time is money. Let our team handle the details.
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<h4>4. Trust the Process</h4>
You hired professionals for a reason. Trust our experience to help you get the best return on your assets while making the entire process smooth and stress-free.
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<h3>Let Us Help You Make the Most of Your Auction</h3>
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We’ve helped thousands of clients turn overwhelming downsizing projects into successful, rewarding transitions.
Whether you&#8217;re dealing with a lifetime of accumulation, a parent’s estate, or just simplifying for a new season of life—we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.
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Don&#8217;t miss the other posts in this series:
<ul>
<li class="h5 resource-featured-post_title__POGPh"><a href="https://www.hurleyauctions.com/blog/downsizing-step-one-start-with-the-real-estate-not-the-stuff-yet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Downsizing Step One: Start With the Real Estate — not the stuff (yet)</a></li>
<li class="h1 resource-hero_title__Uh_AV"><a href="https://www.hurleyauctions.com/blog/the-heart-and-hope-of-downsizing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">If These Walls Could Talk: The Heart and Hope of Downsizing</a></li>
</ul>

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