Downsizing Timelines
How long does it take to downsize?
Real stories from recent moves
"How long does the downsizing process take?"
Short answer: It depends—on your timeline, your space, and how much "pre-work" you do.
But "it depends" isn't very helpful when you're trying to plan a big life transition. So here are some real examples from families Songbird has worked with to help you visualize what your downsizing journey might look like.
The Long-Term Planner Approach: Nearly a Year of Preparation
This past spring, we helped eight families move into the beautiful new independent cottages at Otterbein Granville. We started working with these families nearly a year before their move—right when they signed their agreements with the community.
Why start so early? These families wanted to approach their move incrementally while they awaited the completion of the construction. Over those months, we visited their homes multiple times for what we call "pre-move clear out" sessions. During these visits, families could sort through belongings at a comfortable pace, making decisions about what they wanted to keep and move to their new home.
The benefit? By the time moving day arrived, the process of going through years of accumulation had been distributed across many months instead of condensed into a few overwhelming weeks. Additional benefits included utilizing Songbird to help make design selections such as paint colors, cabinets and flooring choices.
The Pre-Move Clear Out Approach: 2-4 Months
Not everyone has a full year to plan, and that's totally ok! On average, the majority of Songbird clients work with us for two to four months before their move date. Here's how this timeline typically works:
Visit 1 (2-4 months before move): We assess your current space and new space and create an initial floor plan. We then focus on a specific rooms or sections of the house and work with you on the decluttering and curating process to identify items you do and don't plan to take to your new home.
Visit 2 (1-2 months before move): We return to focus on other areas of the house. We work with you to decide what stays and what goes and we can deliver donations, ship items to family members and clear out any items that can't be reused.
Moving Week: With most of the sorting decisions already made, we can focus on the actual move, unpacking and setting up your new space.
Our client Trish experienced this approach and told us: "I'm just going to sit back and marvel. This is actually fun!"
And as our client Helen put it: "We've moved a lot of times… no one does it quite like you."
Both Helen and Trish participated in pre-move clear outs, which meant that by moving day, essentially everything left in their existing homes was intended for their new spaces.
Bob & Helen
Moved from: Single family home with walkout basement
Downsized to:1,542 square foot senior living villa
Approach: Pre-move clearout
Started downsizing process: March 2025
Completed move: March 2025
Advice: "Start early. Working with Samantha and her crew was a great experience. They have the expertise and know how to help people make difficult decisions in downsizing. They also try to minimize moving adjustments by making areas (kitchen, bath, etc.) organized similarly to the home you are leaving. "
Trish & Phil
Moved from: 2,100 square ft 100 year old house plus potting shed/workshop
Downsized to:1,542 square foot senior living villa
Approach: Long-term planner
Started downsizing process: August 2023
Completed move: March 2025
Advice: Start small and start early. Downsizing a lifetime's worth of accumulations is daunting to think about, but it doesn't need to all be done in a week. Be realistic and ruthless.
The Quick Move Approach: 2-3 Days
Life doesn't always give us months to prepare. Sometimes a health change, an unexpected housing opportunity, or family circumstances mean you need to move quickly.
Part of the beauty of what we do at Songbird is that we can help families move in as little as two to three days when necessary. This compressed timeline works, though it does require more intensive decision-making in a shorter period and also is dependent upon our existing client commitments.
In many cases, a quick transition relies more heavily on your instincts as it relates to what is truly functional and necessary versus a curated space of keepsakes. Although it can be more emotionally burdensome to abruptly say "goodbye" to your previous home, it does create an opportunity to swiftly shift lifestyles and focus forward on the new space as opposed to all that you may be leaving behind.
What Affects Your Downsizing Timeline?
Every family's situation is unique, but here are factors that typically influence how long the downsizing process will take:
The size & length of time you've lived in your current home: Typically, a large family home filled with decades of memories, milestones, and accumulated belongings requires more time than a more modest space you've lived in just a few years.
Your attachment to belongings: Some families are ready to find new homes for their stuff; others need more time to process each item and decision.
Your deadline: A firm move-in date requires more focused work whereas an open-ended timeline allows for more flexibility.
Family involvement: When adult children are involved and available to help, it can speed up decision-making—or sometimes add complexity!
The Hidden Gift of Pre-Move Clear Out
Regardless of your timeline, we encourage every family to consider some form of pre-move preparation.
When you tackle the downsizing process in stages—months or even weeks before your move—you shed layers of stress over time. This allows you to:
- Make thoughtful decisions instead of rushed ones
- Find new homes for special items
- Involve family members in the process without pressure
- Reduce the physical and emotional exhaustion of moving day
- Actually enjoy settling into your new space
Your Downsizing Timeline Is Personal
There's no "right" amount of time for downsizing. What matters is finding an approach that honors your needs, your timeline, and your emotions throughout this transition.
Whether you're starting to plan a year in advance or facing a move next month, Songbird Transitions is here to help you create a timeline that works for you—and to walk beside you every step of the way.
If you or a loved one plan to downsize or relocate within Central Ohio, contact Songbird for a free initial consultation.
If you live elsewhere in the country, consider Downsizing Done Right, our step-by-step video-based guide & resource book. We are also available for personalized downsizing consulting, training and coaching services via Songbird Support.
Discover more downsizing resources from Songbird Transitions below.
