Written by Wena Roeloffze, Real Estate Consultant and Lifestyle Expert. Broker and Owner of Realty Club 74, brokered by Coldwell Banker Realty.

Being a witness to my parent’s struggle to part with their oversized furniture and the things they purchased over the years, really left me wanting to help other families and seniors to find solutions to lessen the incredible stress involved with downsizing. Transitioning from a large property to a smaller home is only liberating after the fact. The process itself remains daunting and stressful. Letting go of the space you’ve been accustomed to often means parting with belongings you’ve gathered over the years. And then it hit me - what if you didn’t have to decide the fate of every item right away? A short-term storage unit rental can be a game-changer during this process. It provides the flexibility and breathing room needed to downsize efficiently and with much less stress.

Here are my six key benefits of using a storage unit when downsizing:

1. Make Thoughtful Decisions Without Pressure

Downsizing involves countless decisions—what to keep, donate, sell, or discard. It’s not always possible to make these choices quickly, especially with sentimental or high-value items. A short-term storage unit gives you the time to reflect on what matters most, allowing you to make thoughtful decisions without feeling rushed.

In my experience, most people downsize when something big and sudden happen in their lives, which often means that there is no preparation time to go through their items in their own time. Also, the process of selling and buying/renting takes up a lot of time and effort for most people since they haven’t been doing it in such a long time and mostly without their partner or while going through another traumatic event. Packing alone is a very emotionally taxing task, even for young people looking forward to a new place.

When I suggested to my parents to put items in storage that caused them stress or anxiety, it completely changed the atmosphere. Instead of feeling loss and anxiety, they felt more in control by knowing that their stuff is not gone, but there to work through when all the other stressful events have taken place. It was a complete game-changer! I give my downsizers the same advice and I can immediately see the relief on their faces.

2. Declutter Your New Space Before Moving In

Your new home is a fresh start, and cluttering it up with too many belongings right away can make it feel overwhelming. By using a storage unit, you can move into your smaller space with only the essentials. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy a clean, uncluttered environment while you gradually sort through the rest of your possessions.

Most of us cannot visualize how to live without all our known belongings around us. Our favorite chair, although clunky, oversized and dating out of the 70’s, is something that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside because you can precisely recall when you bought it, how long you saved for it and how much it was. Our primitive brain which we all are blessed with wants to hold on to that feeling of belonging as much as possible. Our logical mind tells us that the springs are sat through, the cat ate a piece of it and is so oversized that it would take over the whole living room by itself, but the anxiety remains.

My parents clung relentlessly to a living room set, that is until they saw their brand new furniture arranged in their new smaller living room. They got to sit in it a few times and experience the benefits of the armchair rests which helped them got up much easier. But until they didn’t get to physically live the new experience, the old set simply had to stay, no matter what. As kids or family members we must be a bit more patient with their process and help them to see and feel the new.

My mother is unfortunately a hoarder and doing things this way also proved to her that she needed much less stuff. There was no need to keep 3 complete dinner sets of 12 each any longer. With a new dinner set of 6 that fitted neatly and easily into her kitchen cupboards, making it more accessible and easier to pop into the dishwasher, it was a much easier task to let the old sets go to a thrift store. I started with the bigger items and worked my way through to the smaller items.

3. Preserve Sentimental and Irreplaceable Items

Some items—like family heirlooms, photo albums, or childhood keepsakes—are difficult to part with. Even if they don’t fit in your new home, that doesn’t mean you’re ready to let them go. A storage unit provides a safe space to keep these treasures while you decide how to incorporate them into your life or pass them on to loved ones.

I have to pick on my mother again - sorry Mom! While I was helping her pack, I realized that she still help onto my elementary school drawings. Holy cow! Luckily, these items could also be kept in the storage unit and at a later stage, I took all these items and converted them into digital and photo books. By using Canva and Shutterfly, she not only didn’t lose those items, but now it’s easier to look at and smaller to store. It was a win-win for both of us.

Be creative with sentimental items. I have seen wedding dresses box-framed, family slides converted into digital form and photo books, wall canvas art from a collection of photos, storage bags and blankets made from old clothing, and many more. If you would like to get some ideas what to do with sentimental items, the internet provides endless creative ideas.

4. Safeguard Seasonal and Occasional-Use Items

From holiday decorations to sporting equipment, many items are used only at certain times of the year. Instead of cramming these into your new home’s limited storage, you can place them in a storage unit and retrieve them as needed. This keeps your downsized home organized and functional year-round.

Many people still love decorating around special events, but there seems to be no space for those items in most smaller living spaces. With most of the goods donated, sold or thrown away, get a smaller storage unit to keep these items. We all need to feel that we can keep our hobbies, our sports and the things we need, to keep on doing what we love. While we are alive, let’s act alive!

5. Protect Valuable or Fragile Belongings

Self-storage facilities often offer climate-controlled units that are ideal for storing sensitive items like artwork, antique furniture, or electronics. These controlled environments protect your belongings from extreme temperatures, humidity, and other environmental factors, ensuring they remain in excellent condition until you’re ready to use or sell them.

This is an important factor to consider. What type of belongings will be going to the storage unit and for how long. If your previous large home kept gallery-size artwork on the walls and now you have a 5x5 living room, rethinking what happens to the artwork is a great idea in a climate controlled unit. It provides peace of mind and also can be a benefit to antique buyers to know that your items are preserved for top dollar.

My parents had 3 massively large wooden loose-standing closets. These items were worth a lot of money and the storage unit gave us the opportunity to preserve them and later have them sold from the unit to an antique dealer. My parents were pleasantly surprised at the profit and the fact that the items (which they had no use or space for) are now utilized better.

6. Gain Peace of Mind During the Transition

Downsizing is a big change, and it’s natural to feel anxious about where everything will go. A storage unit acts as a safety net, giving you peace of mind that your belongings are secure and accessible. Knowing you don’t have to make irreversible decisions immediately can make the entire process far less stressful.

Some items from the storage unit made it’s way into my parents’ new home and I am very glad about it. It would’ve been tossed if we had to make urgent decisions and it turned out that we could utilize those items in a really clever and practical way. As an example, an old trunk came back - but with a twist. They really loved the trunk and needed some storage space for pillows and blankets. I had it re-upholstered to look like an ottoman at the foot of their bed and all the blankets could go in there as well as their robes when getting into bed. Another win-win!

I can honestly say that the storage unit saved my parents and me from going bonkers. It was the best money spent ever and something that made the process for my hoarder-mother a much easier experience.

Choosing the Right Storage Solution

When looking for a storage facility for downsizing, consider the following:

- Size Options: Choose a unit size that matches your needs, whether for a few boxes or larger furniture.

- Accessibility: Look for a facility that offers convenient access hours so you can retrieve items whenever needed.

- Security: Ensure the facility has features like surveillance cameras, gated access, and individual unit locks.

- Climate Control: Opt for climate-controlled units if you’re storing delicate or valuable items.

- Contract: Look for facilities that give you short and long term options

A Smarter Way to Downsize

Short-term storage is more than a temporary solution—it’s a tool for transforming your downsizing experience. By offering flexibility, security, and breathing room, it helps you navigate this life change with confidence and ease.

Whether you’re preparing to move, sorting through years of memories, or adjusting to a smaller space, a storage unit can make the process smoother and more manageable. Embrace the opportunity to downsize without compromise and enjoy the freedom that comes with a thoughtfully organized new home.

Your Downsizing Partner

Ready to simplify your transition? Book a consultation with me to find the perfect solution for your downsizing journey. With expertise in senior downsizing and related services, me and my team can make your selling and moving a good experience. Certified as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Probate Specialist, Price Strategy Advisor and a Notary Public.