4 Steps to Downsizing With Your Pet

Good Evening Folks—This is a special evening at ‘Finding the Better Way,’ as we have a guest writing our post, specifically Jessica Brody. Jessica Brody created ‘Our Best Friends’ (our best friends.pet) so others could find a place to share stories and photos of their beloved animal companions. So, enjoy the voice Jessica brings to our site, and feel free to reach out to her via her website. So, without further ado….

4 Steps to Downsizing With Your Pet

You’ve realized that your current home is just too large, and you don’t need nearly so much space. But even though you’re interested in downsizing, you’re worried about how your pet will adjust during the process. Going through major life changescan be anxiety-inducing, but you can read helpful advice for big transitions on the blog Finding the Better Way. This guide will help you downsize with your pet while reducing your stress.

Prepare Your Home for Sale

If you own a home that you plan to put on the market before you move, you’ll need to stage each room to boost your chances of attracting a buyer. Moving recommends taking care of minor repairs, brightening up rooms by upgrading your lighting, and using neutral accessories to decorate. You can hire professional cleaners to clear away any pet dander.

While you may want to put some of your personal belongings in storage as you show your home, it’s important to keep your pet’s items within easy reach – you can stow them in a closet or drawer during showings. Otherwise, they might feel confused when they can’t find their toys!

Finding the Right Home

First, deciding how much space you and your pet really need is key. MoneyCrashers recommends considering which rooms in your current home you actually use – if you rarely use your guest bedroom, home office, or storage room, you probably won’t need so many additional rooms in your future home. 

But before you start house hunting, it’s a good idea to get preapproved for a mortgage. Not only will this help you figure out exactly how much you can borrow, you’ll be able to get through the closing process on a faster timeline once you do find the perfect home. You don’t want to miss out on the right property for you and your pet, so getting preapproved is definitely in your best interest!

Finally, make sure that you’ve found a great real estate agent before you start checking out open houses. They will help you find homes that actually suit your requirements, rather than recommending homes with too much square footage. Let them know if you want a home with a sizable backyard for your pet, or if you’d be happy simply living near a dog park!

Decluttering and Packing

As you stage your own home and get ready to move out, you’ll have to start decluttering and packing up your belongings. Decluttering can feel liberating – you’ll realize that you were holding on to lots of things you didn’t need, and once you’ve donated these items or thrown them out, you’ll feel much lighter! Plus, decluttering first means that you’ll have much less to pack, which will make the entire downsizing process more efficient. However, don’t toss out any of your pet’s favorite toys or bedding, as they will need these comfort objects during the move.

Keeping Your Pet Comfortable

Making sure that your pet feels safe and relaxed during your move should be one of your top priorities. Consider hiring movers so that you can pay close attention to your pet on moving day. You can also pack a box with their belongings that will always be easily accessible. This will allow you to set up their bed and toy basket as soon as you arrive at your new home.

The downsizing process doesn’t happen overnight, so you’ll need to prepare in advance. But even if you’re a pet owner, downsizing can be relatively stress-free. With these tips, you’ll be able to get the keys to a home that will be just the right size for you and your pet to live comfortably!

Looking for inspiration during a big lifestyle change? Check out realistic personal development advice from Finding the Better Way. Browse the blog today for helpful tips and guidance.

Photo via Pexels