Downsizing tips for seniors in New York: a practical guide

New York Downsizing introduces people to agents on the operating team at eXp Realty, so this is not a search of the whole market and we do not claim to be neutral. The guide that follows is about the practical work of downsizing, which is the same whichever agent you choose, or whether you use an agent at all. It is not financial, tax or legal advice.

If you are still deciding whether to move, read aging in place or downsizing first. If you are helping a parent, helping a parent downsize in New York covers the family side.

How to downsize your home: start with the new space

Most advice on how to downsize your home begins with the old rooms. In New York it works better to begin with the new ones. A pre-war one-bedroom, a co-op with a galley kitchen and a townhouse floor-through have very different limits, and you cannot decide what to keep until you know what the next place can hold.

• Get a floor plan and measurements of every room, closet and built-in in the new home, including ceiling height and the swing of doors.
• Measure the large pieces you are tempted to keep: sofa, dining table, bed, bookcases, desk. Then measure the route they would take, including the front door, hallways, stairwell turns and the elevator.
• Sketch each room on paper with the furniture drawn to scale. A piece that fits on paper can still block a door.
• Decide how you will use each room. If the second bedroom becomes a study or a guest room, that sets what furniture comes along.

Apartment-scale space shifts the arithmetic. Houses hide a lot in basements, garages and attics. A New York apartment has closets, perhaps a storage room in the building and whatever sits under the bed. Plan for that smaller total before you start sorting, not after.

A decluttering checklist for a New York home

A decluttering checklist is only useful if it is specific. Work in this order, one room or one category at a time, and finish an area before starting the next.

• Begin with the least emotional spaces: the hall closet, bathroom, linen shelves and kitchen cabinets.
• Use four boxes or zones: keep, donate, sell and discard. Add a fifth marked "ask the family" for items someone may want.
• In the kitchen, keep what you cook with now. Duplicate pans, extra serving pieces and small appliances that stay in a cabinet are the first to go.
• In the bedroom, sort clothing by what you wear. Clothes that no longer fit and spare bedding are easy decisions.
• Collect old medications, paint and cleaning chemicals in one place for proper disposal, covered below.
• Gather paperwork into one pile: deeds, tax records, insurance papers, medical directives, warranties and manuals. Keep what you need and ask your attorney or accountant about the rest.
• Do photographs, letters and heirlooms last. Photos can be scanned so they take no space on a shelf.
• Go through the basement, storage cage, garage or attic if you have one. These hold the most that you have not looked at in years.

Sentimental items need their own approach. Ask family directly which pieces they want before assuming. Photograph items that mean something but will not fit. A small number of cherished objects carried to the new home often matters more than a full set of everything.

Space and storage in a smaller New York home

Closet space is the limit in many city apartments, and storage elsewhere is rarely free. Before you decide how much to bring, ask the building or the seller what storage exists.

• Building storage. Ask the managing agent or the seller whether the building has storage rooms or bins, how they are assigned and whether they carry a separate charge. Do not assume a space comes with a unit.
• Off-site storage. A rented unit adds a monthly cost to the budget and a trip each time you need something. Treat it as a short stop, not a place to park everything you could not decide on.
• Furniture that does double duty. Beds with drawers, tables that extend and shelving that reaches the ceiling use space that would otherwise sit empty.
• Vertical space. Shelving that uses wall height frees floor area. In a building, ask whether fixing it to the wall needs approval under the rules below.

Plan how you will live as well as how you will store. A home with fewer things to reach, clear floors and furniture placed with room to move helps anyone with a cane or walker. Co-ops, condos, townhouses and houses compare differently on this, so measure first and decide after.

Building rules that affect downsizing

If you live in a co-op or condominium, the building has rules for both ends of a move. The Attorney General notes that co-op owners are both shareholders in and tenants of the same corporation, so the proprietary lease, by-laws and house rules decide a good deal of what you can do. Ask the managing agent for the current rules before you plan anything.

• Is the freight or service elevator available, and does it need to be reserved? Are there hours and days when moves are not allowed?
• Does the building require a certificate of insurance from movers, haulers or an estate sale company? Who issues it?
• Is there a deposit or fee for a move, and is the elevator padded by the building or by you?
• Where may large items be left for removal? Can contractors clear out an apartment and on what schedule?
• What approval does the building need for any work in the new unit, including built-in shelving or flooring changes?

Do this for both buildings: the one you are leaving and the one you are entering. Moving day in New York goes through the elevator, parking and timing questions, and estate sale, consignment or donation covers what a sale company needs from a building. In a house there is no board, but check with any hauler or mover about how they will load and where the truck will stand.

Getting rid of things: DSNY rules and what to do instead

New York's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) sets the rules for what goes to the curb. They change, so check each page before a big clear-out.

• Large items. DSNY's large items page says pick-up appointments are no longer offered. You may put out up to six items on a collection day. Mostly metal or rigid plastic items go out with recycling; other large items go on the trash-only day. Items may be refused or fined if the requirements are not followed.
• Furniture, mattresses and rugs. Per DSNY's furniture and mattress page, mattresses and box springs must be sealed in plastic bags and set out on the trash-only day, and you may be fined up to $300 if they are not disposed of correctly. Take furniture apart where you can, and roll and tie rugs with twine.
• Refrigerators and air conditioners. These are an exception. DSNY's CFC removal page says an appointment is required. The removal is free curbside for residential customers, up to 10 appliances per appointment. Call 311 or use the online form.
• Electronics. DSNY states it is illegal to dispose of certain electronic devices with trash or recycling. Its electronics page lists drop-offs, events and manufacturer takeback. Buildings with 10 or more units can enroll in ecycleNYC.
• Paint, chemicals and medications. DSNY holds SAFE Disposal Events for NYC residents, taking household chemicals, paint, pesticides, automotive products, electronics and medications. Proof of residency may be requested. The page lists dates by borough.

You can reach DSNY's information through NYC311: call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675), or text 311-692. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Donate, sell or hand down what is left

Good furniture and housewares do not have to go to the curb. Each organization sets its own rules, so confirm before loading a car or booking a truck.

• Housing Works Thrift Shops accept gently used clothing, housewares, books, furniture, art and lighting at drop-off. Call ahead for furniture, because some shops do not take it, and mattresses, electronics and appliances are not accepted. Furniture pickup has a minimum of five pieces. See their drop-off page.
• Goodwill NY/NJ takes clothing, shoes, accessories and household goods at stores and donation centers, with home pickup scheduled through its donation page.
• The Salvation Army schedules pickups by ZIP code at satruck.org or 1-800-728-7825, and accepts unbroken furniture and clothing but not broken or gas appliances. See its Greater New York page.
• Big Reuse in Gowanus takes large furniture, appliances and building materials, and is open daily 10 am to 5 pm. Its donation page lists what it will not take, including beds and mattresses.

For higher-value items or a whole household, an estate sale company or consignment may fit. The estate sale, consignment or donation guide compares the options and what to ask each. Get commission and fee terms in writing, and ask about insurance for work in your building. Our resources page lists move managers, estate sale companies and donation options we have checked.

Help for downsizing from NYC Aging and move managers

You do not have to do this alone. NYC Aging, the Department for the Aging, describes more than 300 older adult centers with free art, fitness and daily meals, caregiver programs, elder safety services and social adult day care. Aging Connect, at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469) or 311, is the entry point. NYC Aging is not a moving service, so use the call to ask what support exists for you or a family caregiver.

NY Connects, the state's No Wrong Door system at 1-800-342-9871, offers free information on long-term services and supports, housing options and caregiver support. For the wider range of housing choices, see senior housing options in NYC.

A senior move manager is a paid professional who handles sorting, floor planning, packing, unpacking and arranging sales or donations. Several that serve New York City say on their own sites that they belong to the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (NASMM). Ask for a written scope and fee terms, and confirm insurance. A family member helping is another route; getting around New York after 65 may help you plan a new place around transit.

Timing, money and the paperwork that comes with a move

Downsizing is also a financial event if you sell. Decide the order of buying, selling and clearing out early: buy first or sell first sets out the trade-offs. The net proceeds calculator estimates the state and city transfer taxes on a sale, and costs and money explains what a sale and a move involve. If you own a home, the senior property tax exemptions guide covers programs that apply while you stay.

Take questions about the sale contract, estate planning and tax to a New York attorney. The City Bar and the State Bar both run lawyer referral services, and our resources page has the details. Where you move next also matters. Where to downsize describes neighborhoods across the five boroughs, and the 55+ communities page covers Long Island options.

Rules, fees and program details change. Check the linked pages and your building's own documents before you act. This guide is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice.

A timeline you can adjust

Here is one way to spread the work. Shorten or lengthen it to suit your own dates.

• Early on: choose the new home, get the floor plan and measurements and speak with the managing agent about moving rules.
• A few months before: sort the rooms you rarely use, start donations and bring in an estate sale company or move manager if you want one.
• A few weeks before: reserve the elevator, arrange insurance certificates for movers, schedule any DSNY appointment and finish sorting paperwork.
• Move week: pack an essentials bag, label boxes by room and walk both homes with your movers.
• After the move: update your address and keep a list of what needs cancelling or forwarding.

When you are ready to look at smaller homes, you can ask to be introduced to an agent on the eXp Realty operating team. There is no obligation to move.