Downsizing: Moving to a Smaller Memphis Apartment
Aug 10th, 2007 by Memphis Apartments
There are a number of reasons you may move to a smaller Memphis apartment. The three most common reasons are related to cost, space, and accommodation. Regardless of the reason, moving to a smaller Memphis apartment does not have to be a hassle.
You may decide to downsize to save money. A smaller Memphis apartment often means less rent, particularly if you are moving within the same Memphis apartment building or complex. If you had to change jobs and take a pay cut in the process, downsizing is a great alternative to finding a new Memphis apartment or new landlord. Your landlord will try to keep you if you have been a good tenant.
If you are head of a family and your children move out, you might decide a smaller Memphis apartment is a better fit with your new lifestyle. Less space means less to clean and maintain. If your life is busy and you are rarely home, downsizing might appeal to you. You might decide to downsize just because you like the coziness of a smaller floor plan.
You can ask your landlord to move you to a ground level unit if you become disabled, can no longer climb stairs, or are limited in your ability to walk long distances. A ground level Memphis apartment may be closer to the parking lot. Your landlord can make a reasonable accommodation and allow you to move to another Memphis apartment. He does not have to make a Memphis apartment available to you. In other words, he will not ask a current tenant to move out so you can have their Memphis apartment. In that case, you might have to take a smaller unit to stay in the building in which you currently reside.
Just because you are downsizing does not automatically mean you have to eliminate any belongings you have currently. How much smaller your new Memphis apartment is determines the use of your current furniture. You might be able to use all of your furniture by placing pieces closer together. Consider alternative organizing options. You can use the backs of most doors in your Memphis apartment to hang storage bags.
If you do not have enough space for all of your belongings, ask your landlord if on-site storage space is available. The additional fee is well worth the convenience of immediate access to your stored items. If on-site storage is not available, try to locate appropriate off-site storage space that has 24-hour access. Try to determine your storage needs prior to your move. You can ask your movers to take your extra stuff to the off-site storage unit. This will lower moving costs for you.
You decide you just are not interested in storing anything. You can sell your excess belongings. Depending on your Memphis apartment rules, your landlord might allow you to post information about the items you have for sale so that your neighbors can purchase them. Once you sell all of the items you can, consider donating the remaining items to a local charity. Some charities offer a pick-up service. You will get a tax receipt for your donation. Most donations to a charity are tax deductible. If the tax deduction is important to you, ask the charity about their donation process. Many agencies will give you a tax statement immediately, while others prepare the statements once a year.
Plan your move to minimize stress to your pets. Some pets do not adapt well to new living space. The chaos of packing and unpacking can unsettle cats and dogs. This is especially true if you are moving to a completely different rental property. Other pets will probably handle the move with no problems.
Downsizing to a smaller Memphis apartment can be great. You save money. Or you are able to stay in the same building or on the same property after you experience a life-altering event that prevents you from staying in your previous Memphis apartment. Talk to your landlord before making any downsizing decisions as he can provide additional guidance.