10/13/2026
Want to feel defeated fast when you’re downsizing? Start in the basement.
Somewhere down there is a box of forty years of tax returns, three broken vacuum cleaners, a ping-pong table nobody has touched since 1994, and a Christmas tree that only fits back in its box one way.
Then you open a bin of your kids’ school projects, and suddenly you’re sitting on the floor remembering instead of sorting.
That’s why the basement can be one of the hardest parts of a move. You’re making decisions about years of memories, unfinished projects, and things you thought you might need someday.
Our advice? Build momentum somewhere easier first. A bathroom drawer. A linen closet. One kitchen cabinet. Give yourself a few wins before tackling the space that holds forty years of “we’ll deal with that later.”
When you’re ready for the basement, keep the goal small: one shelf, one box, one corner. Sort into keep, donate, and toss. If something brings you to a standstill, set it aside and keep going. You don’t have to make every emotional decision in one afternoon.
If you’re looking around your home wondering where to begin, we get it. Our Downsizing Checklist gives you a plan for working through each room. Message us, and we’ll send it your way.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever found in your basement?
Marc, Lauren and Mitch
