Downsizing isn’t just a move — it’s a transition.
For many homeowners in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, and Newbury Park, the next chapter often means less upkeep, fewer rooms to manage, and more freedom to live the lifestyle they want.

But before you step into that next chapter, there’s one big question everyone faces:
“What do I keep, and what do I let go?”

At Lydia Gable Realty Group, we’ve helped hundreds of local families through the emotional and practical parts of downsizing, and we’ve seen how the right mindset (and the right plan) makes everything easier.
Here’s how to approach it with clarity and confidence.

❤️ Start With What Matters Most

Downsizing isn’t just about removing things — it’s about choosing what deserves a place in your life moving forward.

Ask yourself:

• Does this item serve me in the next home I’m moving into?

• Does it add value to my day-to-day life?

• Does it carry meaning I want to bring with me?

• Do I love it — or am I keeping it out of habit?

These simple questions help cut through the clutter and keep your decisions intentional.

📦 Step One: Keep the Items That Support Your Next Home

Most downsizers in the Conejo Valley transition into:

• single-level living,

• low-maintenance homes,

• townhomes or condos,

• or 55+ communities like Oaknoll Villas, Leisure Village, or Village Glen.

These spaces call for simplicity, functionality, and comfort.

KEEP:
✔ Everyday essentials
✔ Meaningful keepsakes (but not all of them)
✔ Items that fit the scale of your next home
✔ Furniture that works in smaller rooms
✔ Quality-over-quantity décor

LET GO:
✘ Bulky furniture
✘ Duplicates (kitchen tools, linens, old electronics)
✘ “Just in case” items
✘ Pieces that no longer fit your lifestyle

If it won’t serve you in your next home — it doesn’t need to come with you.

🧺 Step Two: Declutter in Small, Manageable Wins

The biggest mistake homeowners make is trying to downsize an entire house in a weekend. Instead, break it down into zones:

• Day 1 → Kitchen

• Day 2 → Living room

• Day 3 → Closets

• Day 4 → Storage spaces

• Day 5 → Garage / tools

Small steps make the whole process feel doable — and much less emotional.

🎁 Step Three: Donate, Gift, or Rehome With Purpose

Letting go feels easier when your items go somewhere meaningful.

Local Conejo Valley donation + drop-off favorites:
📍 Goodwill – Thousand Oaks
📍 Habitat for Humanity ReStore – Simi Valley
📍 The Assistance League – Conejo Valley
📍 Hospice of the Conejo – Agoura Hills
📍 Boys & Girls Club of Conejo Valley

Many clients also choose to:

• gift sentimental items to family members,

• donate home goods to new homeowners,

• or pass down heirlooms while memories are still shared.

Letting go becomes an act of giving — not losing.

🏡 Step Four: Prepare Your Home for the Market

Once your items are sorted, a lighter home shows SO much better — and often sells faster in the Conejo Valley.
That’s where we come in.

At Lydia Gable Realty Group, we:

• walk room-by-room with you,

• help you decide what to keep for staging,

• coordinate any needed updates,

• and use Compass Concierge (optional) to front the cost of cosmetic improvements.

A well-prepped home often sells for significantly more — especially in high-demand neighborhoods like:

• First Neighborhood (Westlake Village)

• Kevington & Lynn Ranch (Thousand Oaks)

• Old Agoura (Agoura Hills)

• Dos Vientos & Rosewood (Newbury Park)

Downsizing can actually maximize your return — not just minimize your space.

🌿 A Simpler Space = A Simpler Life

Once the boxes are gone and your new home is set up, almost every downsizer tells us the same thing:

“I feel lighter. I can breathe again.”

Downsizing gives you:
✨ more time,
✨ less stress,
✨ a home that fits your life — not the other way around.

And the best part? You get to take the memories with you, even if the items don’t come along.

💙 Ready to Start Downsizing?

You don’t have to do it alone.
Whether you need a plan, resources, or hands-on local guidance, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

📍 Serving Westlake Village | Agoura Hills | Thousand Oaks | Newbury Park | Simi Valley
💙 Lydia Gable Realty Group | Compass | DRE #01704493
📞 (818) 651-3909
🌐 www.LydiaGable.com