How Much Does Downsizing Your Home Cost?

Downsizing often pays off long-term: less maintenance, lower utilities, and simpler living. But in the short-term, it can come with real costs, especially before you sell and while you transition into your next home.

If you’re early in the process, start with our companion post, “Downsizing? Here Are Our Top Tips”, which walks through the planning steps that make the financial side much easier.

Below is a clear, seller-focused breakdown of what to budget for.

The Main Costs of Downsizing

1) Preparing your current home for sale

This is usually the biggest “downsizing expense,” because it happens upfront.

Common costs include:

Small repairs and touch-ups (paint, handyman items)
Deep cleaning
Curb appeal refresh (mulch, trimming, exterior details)
Staging or light styling (when it will help buyers see value)

Not every home needs everything. The goal is to focus on what will improve first impressions and strengthen offers.

2) Decluttering and downsizing support

Downsizing is often less about moving and more about editing.

Potential costs:

Donation pickup or haul-away
Junk removal
Organizer or downsizing specialist support
Estate sale or consignment coordination (if needed)
Packing help (partial or full-service)

If you want a step-by-step framework for this phase, our downloadable Downsizing Guide is a great resource to link for readers who want structure.

3) Storage and “in-between” logistics

This is a common surprise expense, especially when timing does not line up perfectly.

Examples:

Short-term storage
Temporary housing
A second move (move to storage or rental, then move again)

If you’re deciding whether to buy or rent during the transition, we also cover that in “Is it Better to Buy or Rent When Downsizing?”

4) Moving costs

Moving costs can vary widely based on distance, volume, and access (stairs, elevators, building rules).

Even downsizers are sometimes surprised that a move can still be expensive if logistics are tricky. It helps to get quotes early and understand what services you actually need.

5) Buying the next home

Even with less square footage, your next home can come with:

Closing costs
Inspection and due diligence expenses
Immediate updates before move-in (paint, floors, lighting)
Furniture that fits the new layout
Condo or HOA move fees (where applicable)

A Simple Downsizing Cost Checklist

Here’s a quick seller-first checklist you can use:

Home prep: repairs, paint, cleaning, curb appeal
Presentation: staging or styling
Decluttering: donation, junk removal, organizing support
Logistics: storage, temporary housing (if needed)
Move: movers, packing, building fees
Next home: closing costs, inspections, immediate updates

Does Downsizing Save Money?

Often, yes. But the short-term math depends on:

how much you invest to sell well
whether you can avoid storage and a double-move
how efficiently you handle decluttering

For more on the “why” behind downsizing and homeownership costs, “The Cost of Homeownership: Why Downsizing Might Be the Solution”.

Thinking about downsizing?

If you want help understanding which costs are worth it, how to sequence the move, and how to avoid unnecessary transition expenses, we’re here to help you build a clear, realistic downsizing plan!