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Downsizing

Downsizing · Miami-Dade & Broward

Keep what matters. Make the next home fit.


Start with your routines, your must-keep belongings, and the work you want to leave behind. Use the worksheet below, then connect those decisions with a realistic sale and purchase plan for Miami.

Pinecrest & East Kendall specialists Downsize Concierge Service Bilingual English · Spanish Since 2007
Your Right-Size Worksheet

Start with what the next home must hold.


Before you sort a lifetime of belongings, define the space you want to live in. Use these four prompts on paper with anyone taking part in the move.

Keep the daily routine

List the activities you want room for: cooking, working, hobbies, grandchildren visiting, outdoor time. Write down which need a dedicated room and which can share space.

Measure the keepers

Choose the furniture you definitely want to take. Record dimensions, including room to walk around it. A dining table that fits through the door may still overwhelm a condo living room.

Name the work you want to stop

Be specific: pool maintenance, lawn and landscaping, hurricane shutters and storm prep, roof and air conditioning upkeep, extra bedrooms nobody uses. Then check who would handle each job at the next property.

Set the boundaries

Write your comfortable monthly housing budget including association dues and insurance, your preferred moving window, must-have features, and the compromises you will consider. Ask the relevant professionals to verify the numbers.

Your one-sentence brief: “I want space for ___, I am ready to stop ___, and I am not willing to give up ___.” Bring that sentence to our first conversation.

The Belongings Plan

Sort in three passes. Skip the whole-house marathon.


Pass 1 · The Easy Decisions

Start with a drawer, not the garage.

Choose one small area. Separate obvious keepers, usable items you no longer want, and items needing disposal. Confirm donation acceptance and pickup arrangements before promising a load.

Pass 2 · The Space Decisions

Match belongings to the floor plan.

Use room measurements to decide which furniture and storage pieces belong in the next home. Give offered items a pickup deadline so the house does not become a free storage unit for the family.

Pass 3 · The Sentimental Decisions

Give the difficult items their own time.

Set aside photos, collections, and heirlooms for a separate session. Ask intended recipients what they actually want. A photograph or a smaller selection may preserve the memory without requiring another room.

This week’s manageable task: choose one area, one recipient or donation destination, and one date to finish it. The house did not fill up in a weekend. Our Downsize Concierge Service can coordinate organizers, movers, and donation pickups when you want help with the heavy lifting.

Your Next Move, Planned

Don’t sell until you know where you’re going.


Should you sell first, buy first, or arrange both moves together? Explore a personalized approach to your next move, including timing, next-home options, and anticipated costs.

Pinecrest

Market data and guidance for selling a family home in Pinecrest.

Pinecrest market →

East Kendall

Our monthly downsizing report for Pinecrest and East Kendall sellers.

Downsizing report →

Brickell

Compare condos, new construction, and rentals if the skyline is calling.

Brickell options →

Downsize Concierge

Hands-on coordination of the sorting, the move, and the sale.

Concierge service →

Keep the Next Decision Separate

Is the real goal less upkeep, or no stairs?


If the layout is driving the move, use the showing checklist to test one-story homes, elevator condos, and ground-floor living against your daily routine.

A Florida detail worth asking about: if your current home is your homestead, portability may let you carry part of your Save Our Homes assessment benefit to the next homestead, which can make a smaller home’s tax bill smaller still. Confirm the details with the county property appraiser.

How It Works

A five-step downsizing plan


1

Talk through the whole picture

Discuss the current home, possible destinations, finances, timing, and the concerns keeping you stuck.

2

Build the sequence

Compare selling first, buying first, or coordinating both, then involve the lender and title company when needed.

3

Prepare and search

Prioritize the current home’s preparation, with concierge help if you want it, while identifying realistic next-home options.

4

Market and negotiate

Launch the listing to Miami and international buyers, evaluate offers, and coordinate the purchase strategy.

5

Manage the move through closing

Track dates, documents, inspections, movers, and final details through both transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions homeowners ask before downsizing


Do I need to know where I am moving before we talk?

No. Many conversations start with “somewhere smaller, somewhere easier.” We help you turn that into options you can compare, from a villa in Kendall to a condo in Brickell or Coral Gables.

Should I sell my current home before buying another?

It depends on your finances and your tolerance for a temporary move. Our move-up and downsizing plans compare the three sequences so you can choose with the numbers in front of you.

Do I need to renovate before selling?

Rarely. Buyers in Pinecrest and East Kendall often plan their own updates. We focus on repairs that affect insurance and buyer confidence, then on presentation.

Is a condo or a 55+ community automatically the best choice?

No. Association dues, rules, and reserve requirements change the monthly picture. We compare the full cost of each option, not only the price.

Can you recommend movers, organizers, estate sale companies, or attorneys?

Yes. Our Downsize Concierge Service coordinates a vetted network we have worked with for years.

Your Advisors

Ana Maria and Nicolas Pol


A family owned boutique brokerage serving Miami since 2007, in English and Spanish, for local families and international buyers alike.

Ana Maria Pol

Ana Maria Pol

Principal Broker & President

954.270.8759
ana@polrealty.com

Nicolas Pol

Nicolas Pol

Real Estate Agent & Marketing Coordinator

954.604.2415
nicosellsmiami@gmail.com

Dedicated to you. Committed to excellence.

Pol Realty · 9825 SW 77th Pl, Miami, FL 33156 · info@polrealty.com · Equal Housing Opportunity. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This page is general guidance, not legal, tax, lending, or insurance advice.