When the time comes, the benefits of downsizing your home are almost endless. This transition isn’t just about moving to a smaller and more manageable property, it’s an entire change of lifestyle – one that can make the next chapter of your life the best one yet!
That said, the process of selling your current home and finding a new one all while planning for the future can become overwhelming in a hurry. As a local Oakville real estate agent who has spent over 30 years working with downsizers, I’m here to help.
This blog is your all-in-one guide to downsizing your home in Oakville, Ontario. Let’s jump in!
Make a Plan
Like any major change in life, downsizing is easiest when you have a plan in place. So, before rushing into the process, take time to think about your reasons for downsizing, what you’re looking to get out of it, and when you’ll be ready to take the leap.
Have a Family Discussion
Downsizing is a big life change and it doesn’t just impact you as the homeowner. If you’re selling the family home, your now-grown-up children may want to be involved in some way. After you’ve had a chance to think about your reasons for downsizing and when you’d like to start your journey, get the family together for a discussion.
Moving on from the family home can be emotional. Some family members may have attachments to the home or worry about the logistics of the move. This is completely natural. Share your reasons for downsizing and how it aligns with your goals while being empathetic. Open communication can help family members understand and support your decision.
Helping your parents sell their Oakville home? Click here to read my blog about supporting their downsizing journey.
Partner With a Real Estate Agent
With a clearer picture of what you’re looking to accomplish with your downsize, it’s time to enlist the help of a professional Oakville real estate agent.
However, you won’t want to hire any old agent. Instead, you should seek out a dedicated professional who actually specializes in helping downsizers in Oakville – like me! In the world of real estate, downsizing is a unique type of move. There are two separate but equally important transactions, tons of logistics to sort out, and not to mention the emotions involved. You’ll want to work with an agent who understands the full scope of downsizing inside and out.
Looking for more advice about selling your home in Oakville? Read these related blog posts next.
- 5 Tips For Selling Your Oakville Home
- How to Find the Best Oakville Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home
- How to Get Your Home Ready For Sale
Get a Jump on Decluttering
Decluttering is usually one of the first steps involved in downsizing, and it can be one of the most effortful too. But if you give yourself lots of time and have a solid plan in place, you can get through it with minimal stress.
If you’ve lived in your current place for a long time, there’s a good chance you’ve accumulated lots of stuff – and that’s completely normal! However, when the time comes to move to a smaller home, you won’t be able to bring everything with you. If you have a fairly large home (or many belongings) decluttering can seem like a big mountain to climb. That’s why it’s almost never too early to get started.
One way to simplify decluttering is by splitting up your home into different categories. You can do this by room, or by certain types of belongings (clothes, furniture, decorations, etc.). As you decide what you’re going to keep and what will be donated, recycled, or thrown away, avoid the temptation to create a “maybe” pile. It’s not always easy to part with certain items, however, being as decisive as possible will pay off when it’s time to move to your next home.
It’s a good idea to check in with your family before you go straight to purging. Your kids may want to keep or inherit certain belongings so be sure to give everyone a chance to speak up before decluttering.
Get Your Home Market-Ready
After decluttering it’s time to begin the formal process of preparing your home for the market. This means making a few improvements or fixes to make sure your home shines in the eyes of buyers.
Even seemingly minor repairs can make a big difference in how potential buyers perceive your home. If you’ve got leaky faucets, cupboards that won’t close, missing roof shingles, or burnt-out lightbulbs, now is the time to address these issues. If there are more significant problems with your home that could require full-on renovations, your real estate agent can help you decide which projects will be worth it in terms of ROI.
The last step in optimizing your home for the market is staging. After all the work involved in decluttering, making repairs, and deep cleaning your home, staging is really about adding final touches to help you make the absolute most of your sale.
Staging techniques look different for every home, but it usually comes down to neutralizing and refining the space. This could mean swapping out furniture, adding a fresh coat of paint, taking down family photos, and anything in between. The goal is to create an environment that potential buyers can envision themselves in.
Pick the Right Price
Once your home looks its best, the last step in getting a great result is pricing. Many sellers don’t realize just how important (and intricate) the process of choosing the right asking price can be. Here’s why.
If you’ve lived in your Oakville home for several years or even several decades, there’s a very good chance that it’s gone up in value pretty significantly compared to when you bought it. That said, there’s no official market value assigned to your home. Rather, your home is ultimately worth whatever price buyers are willing to pay.
Here’s where things get complicated. If you choose the wrong asking price, either too high or too low, you may find yourself turning away buyers or simply leaving money on the table. This is another reason why working with an experienced real estate agent is so important. Using up-to-date data from Oakville’s entire housing market and trends exclusive to your neighbourhood, your agent can make an informed recommendation to help you get the best price possible for your home.
Downsizing isn’t just about selling your current home. Read these blogs next for more insights on home buying.
Discover Your Next Home
Once your home is on the market, it’s time to put some serious thought into where you’d like to live next. Selling is a very important part of the downsizing process as it can inform your buying budget as you search for the perfect place to spend your next chapter. However, the process of house hunting and buying a home can be just as involved in selling.
As I mentioned earlier in this blog, downsizing is so much more than just moving to a smaller home – it’s part of a major milestone in one’s life. With that in mind, you’re not just shopping for a new home, you’re laying the groundwork for your future. If you’ve already spent time thinking about how you’d like to spend your next chapter, your agent will have valuable insights about what type of home will suit your needs best.
Finding the perfect home as a downsizer is only one piece of the puzzle. In Oakville, you may find yourself competing with other downsizers who are looking to buy the same home as you. Therefore, you’ll want to set yourself up as a priority buyer to give sellers a reason why they should choose you over your competitors.
There are a few ways you can do this – for example:
- Getting pre-approved for a mortgage ahead of time
- Making a compelling offer while being selective with conditions
- Adding a personal touch such as a letter to your offer
Not sure where to move next? Click here to read my blog comparing Burlington and Oakville for retirees.
Downsizing in Oakville? I Can Help!
When you’re ready to start the next (and best) chapter of your life, I’m here to help! With more than 30 years of experience, I directly specialize in working with downsizers in Oakville and surrounding communities.
Using my time-tested selling techniques, I can help you prepare and optimize your home for today’s market – ensuring maximum results with minimal stress. Looking ahead to your next purchase, I’ll help you identify properties that align with your new goals, and find the neighbourhoods that speak to your ideal lifestyle.
I believe that downsizing isn’t a transaction – it’s a journey. That’s why I keep in touch with you well after your move to ensure you have everything you need to make your next chapter a success.
Need Help Selling Your Parents Home?
If your parents are getting older (or they’ve passed away) I can help you and your family manage the sale of their home with as little stress as possible. Having represented numerous estate sales over three decades, I’m comfortable navigating the complex process, working with POAs, executors, legal representatives and anyone else who may be involved.
When you’re ready to downsize, I’m ready to help. Get in touch with me at stacey@staceyrobinson.com or call 905-346-8188.

At Your Service
I’m here to guide your real estate venture with an education to empower you. Let’s chat about what your needs, and I’ll tell you how I can help you meet them.