How early should I take this?

As soon as downsizing is a real possibility, even without a date. Everything gets easier with runway, and the assessment is most valuable before decisions get forced.

What if I don't know where I'm moving yet?

That is fine. Answer with your best estimate of the new space — the recommendations focus on sorting and sequencing, which apply regardless of the address.

What happens after I finish?

You see your results immediately on the page — no waiting for an email. Maria reviews the answers personally and follows up the way you asked to be contacted. There is never a charge, and you are never handed off to a call center.

Do I have to give my contact information?

You answer every question first and only share contact details at the end, so you always know what you are getting before you decide. Your information is used to send your results and follow up — it is not sold.

Home Planning Tools

Downsizing Planning Assessment

Thinking about downsizing? Answer a few questions to discover your readiness level, identify priorities, and create a practical plan before making expensive mistakes.

About 3 minutes

Before you begin

What this assessment helps you understand

Reviewed by Maria BanouHome Life AdvisorAssessment guidance

Where you are in the downsizing process — practically and emotionally — and what the sensible next step looks like.

Who it's for: Homeowners considering a smaller home, helping a parent move, or simply ready for less to take care of.
Why it's worth it: Downsizing stalls when everything feels equally urgent. Sorting the sequence makes the whole thing feel possible.
What you'll receive: A readiness picture, what to decide first, what to keep, and how to pace the work.
How long it takes: About 3 minutes. Your results stay on this page, and the Homeowner Journeys path keeps the longer plan in one place.

What you'll learn

Whether the timing is right or worth waiting on
Which decisions to make before anything leaves the house
How to judge what will genuinely fit the next home
Ways to reduce the emotional weight of letting go
Who to bring in, and when

There are no right or wrong answers, and nothing here is a test. Answer the way things really are — that's what makes the guidance useful.

There are no right or wrong answers — just tell us how things really are.

Step 1 of 8

Why are you considering downsizing?

About the Downsizing Readiness Assessment

Downsizing goes wrong in a predictable way: the decisions about what to keep get made in the last two weeks, under pressure, in the wrong order. This assessment moves those decisions forward. It looks at what you own, what will actually fit, what you are emotionally attached to, and how much runway you have — before any of it becomes urgent.

What this assessment looks at

Space reality: The honest gap between what you have now and what the new space will hold.
What earns its place: A workable way to decide between keep, pass on, sell, and let go.
Timeline pressure: Whether your timeline is comfortable, tight, or already behind.
The emotional pieces: The items that are not really about square footage, and how to handle them without regret.

The households that downsize well start sorting eight to twelve weeks out and never touch a box in a panic. If you are earlier than that, you are in good shape — this is the moment the process is easiest.

Common questions

How early should I take this?: As soon as downsizing is a real possibility, even without a date. Everything gets easier with runway, and the assessment is most valuable before decisions get forced.
What if I don't know where I'm moving yet?: That is fine. Answer with your best estimate of the new space — the recommendations focus on sorting and sequencing, which apply regardless of the address.
What happens after I finish?: You see your results immediately on the page — no waiting for an email. Maria reviews the answers personally and follows up the way you asked to be contacted. There is never a charge, and you are never handed off to a call center.
Do I have to give my contact information?: You answer every question first and only share contact details at the end, so you always know what you are getting before you decide. Your information is used to send your results and follow up — it is not sold.