Downsizing is two jobs at once. First you decide what goes, then you pack what stays. The right supplies make both easier, and they keep the move safe for the person moving. This list comes from LiteMovers senior move crews, who have helped Philadelphia-area families move into smaller homes and senior living communities since 2007.
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Start With Sorting Supplies
Sort the whole house before you pack a single box. A clear color system keeps family members, estate sale staff, donation pickups, and movers on the same page.
Sorting and planning
Cheap supplies that prevent the biggest downsizing mistake: moving things that will not fit.
- ✓Removable color dot stickers — one color each for move, family, donate, sell, and discard.
- ✓Painter’s tape and a marker — label furniture without marking the finish.
- ✓25-foot tape measure — measure every piece you want to keep.
- ✓Graph paper — draw the new floor plan to scale and test where furniture goes.
Mover’s tip: Ask the new community or builder for a floor plan with measurements. Place furniture on paper first. Anything that does not fit on the plan gets a donate or family sticker before packing starts.
Packing Supplies for a Smaller Move
Use small and medium boxes. Lighter boxes are safer to lift and easier to unpack at a steady pace in the new home.
Core packing supplies
Prefer U-Haul brand where it exists, as in our main supply guide.
- ✓U-Haul Box Variety Pack, 25 boxes — small boxes keep weight down for books and kitchen items.
- ✓U-Haul Paper Box Tape, 3 rolls — paper tape is easier on hands than clear tape.
- ✓U-Haul Packing Paper, 500 sheets — for dishes, glassware, and frames.
- ✓U-Haul Dish Packing Kit — cell dividers protect fine china and stemware.
- ✓U-Haul Large Bubble Roll, 100 ft — for lamps, mirrors, and framed art.
- ✓U-Haul Shorty Wardrobe Boxes, 3-pack — clothes move on hangers and go straight into the new closet.
Heirlooms, photos, and papers
Items that cannot be replaced deserve better than newspaper.
- ✓Acid-free tissue paper — wrap quilts, linens, christening gowns, and textiles.
- ✓Archival photo boxes — keep loose prints flat and sorted by family.
- ✓File boxes with lids — wills, deeds, tax records, and medical records.
- ✓A fire-resistant document bag — passports, checkbooks, and papers that travel with the family, not in the truck.
Want a crew to pack the kitchen and fragile items? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
Moving a Sleep Number or Other Air Bed
Sleep Number and other air beds have air chambers, a pump, and hoses under the cover. Most adjustable bases add a motor and wiring too. They move well when they are taken apart the right way.
- ✓Photograph every connection before anything is unplugged, then label each hose with painter’s tape.
- ✓Bag the small parts. Put the remote, the pump’s power cord, and any hose fittings in one labeled zip bag.
- ✓Protect the chambers. Deflate them and keep them flat in a mattress bag. Do not fold them tight or set heavy boxes on them.
- ✓Check the base. Adjustable bases are heavy and have wiring underneath. Mention them when you book so the crew plans time.
- ✓Ask Sleep Number whether they offer relocation service or replacement parts for your model before the move.
Air bed supplies and repair kits
Useful if a hose cracks or a chamber gets a pinhole leak during the move.
- ✓Heavy-duty mattress bag — sized to match the bed, including split king.
- ✓Replacement air hoses — older hoses and fittings can crack when disconnected.
- ✓Vinyl patch repair kit — fixes a small pinhole leak. A torn chamber or failed pump needs a replacement part from the manufacturer.
- ✓Gallon zip bags — for the remote, cords, and fittings.
Safety Supplies for the New Home
A new layout at night is where most trips happen. A few inexpensive items help in the first weeks.
- ✓Motion-sensor night lights — hallway, bathroom, and bedroom.
- ✓Non-slip rug grippers — keep area rugs from sliding.
- ✓Plug-in lamp timers — lights on before dark in a new place.
- ✓Large-print labels — mark kitchen drawers and cabinets so things are easy to find.
What to Skip
- ✓Big boxes. They get too heavy to lift safely. Small and medium only.
- ✓Moving everything and sorting later. The new home has less space. Sorting after the move costs twice.
- ✓Newspaper for heirlooms. Ink rubs off onto fabric and china.
- ✓Packing medications and important papers in the truck. Keep them with the family.
Where LiteMovers Fits In
LiteMovers plans senior moves around the person moving. We pack, move, set up the bed and furniture, and hang art so the new home feels ready on the first night. We also handle junk removal and donations and storage for items that are not ready to go. Learn more about our senior moving services, downsizing services, and packing and storage for seniors, or start with the Senior Moving Resource Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What supplies do I need to downsize a home?
Start with color dot stickers, painter’s tape, a tape measure, and a floor plan of the new home. Then buy small and medium boxes, paper tape, packing paper, a dish kit, and acid-free tissue for heirlooms.
How do you move a Sleep Number bed?
Photograph and label every hose, bag the remote and small parts, deflate the chambers, and keep them flat in a mattress bag. Tell your mover about any adjustable base so they plan time for it.
How far ahead should we start downsizing?
Start sorting six to eight weeks before the move. Packing takes two to three weeks after the sorting is done.
Can LiteMovers pack and set up the new home?
Yes. Our senior move crews pack, move, reassemble beds, place furniture on the floor plan, and hang art across the Philadelphia suburbs.
More Moving Supply Guides
- ✓First Apartment Move-In Supplies — packing, move-in day, and first-week gear for a studio or one-bedroom.
- ✓College Moving Supplies — dorm and off-campus move-in list, plus summer storage.
- ✓Moving Supplies Buying Checklist — the full list and how much to order.
- ✓Moving Box Calculator — box counts by home size.
Planning a downsizing or senior living move?
LiteMovers helps families across the Main Line and the Philadelphia suburbs move into smaller homes. Get a real estimate from a real local mover.
Call (610) 755-5535 · Toll-free 1-877-798-8989
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