Downsizing Starts With Everyday Life
Picture an Ordinary Tuesday
Before you sort every closet, picture a normal day in your next home. Where would you make coffee? How would you get to the laundry? Where would a visitor sit? It's a simple exercise, but it shifts the conversation from how many rooms you have to how you want to use them.
You don't have to solve the entire move in one afternoon. Start by noticing which parts of your current routine work well and which parts you'd like to change. Smaller is a size. Easier is personal.
List What You Want Less Of
Draw a line down a piece of paper and label the first column "Less Of." Maybe your list includes yard work, rooms you rarely use, or stairs between the spaces you visit most often. Your list may look different from someone else's, and that's the point.
Be specific where you can. "Less upkeep" might mean a smaller outdoor area to care for. "Fewer stairs" might mean having the laundry and your everyday living spaces on the same level. These are features to look for, not things to assume based on a home's size.
List What You Want to Keep
Label the second column "Keep." Include the parts of your life you don't want a move to squeeze out: a table for family dinners, space for a hobby, room for an overnight guest, or a comfortable place to sit outdoors.
Think about the furniture you genuinely want to bring, too. You don't need a final moving inventory yet. A short list of important pieces gives you a practical starting point for measuring rooms and planning how you'd use them.
Turn Each Preference Into a Question
Bring the two lists together and turn your preferences into questions you can answer for each home.
- Where is the laundry?
- Are the spaces you use most often on the same level?
- What outdoor space would you need to maintain?
- How do the rooms connect?
- Where would the furniture you want to keep actually fit?
- Is there space for the activities and gatherings that matter to you?
Look at the specific property instead of assuming the word "smaller" answers those questions. A floor plan, room measurements, and an in-person visit can help you compare the home with your priorities. Make a note of what you've verified and what still needs a closer look.
Take One Manageable Next Step
Choose a few things from your lists that matter most, then start there. Your next step might be measuring a favorite table, talking through daily routines, or exploring how a particular layout would work. You're building clarity. You don't have to commit to every decision at once.
If you're thinking about a move in Sandy or a nearby Wasatch Front community, I'd be happy to talk through what you want your next chapter to look like. My video-led approach to real estate starts with understanding the home and the people making the move.
About Jordan
Jordan Sheffield is a REALTOR® and television personality for Real Estate Essentials on ABC4, Hulu, and Telemundo. His approach combines full-motion property video, social content, website resources, and practical AI-assisted marketing grounded in the actual home. Individual property broadcast placement is not guaranteed.
Jordan Sheffield, REALTOR®
Real Estate Essentials
(801) 834-5333
jordan@jordansheffield.com
