Condos, Small Footprints and Stuff

Your condo footprint means coveted “stuff” only!

With all of the condos and infill houses in Austin, TX being snatched up quickly by investors, first-time buyers, transplants from Houston, Silicon Valley, Colorado and those native Austinites who wish to down-size, our city’s density continues to be on the rise. And, with it comes “stuff”. With the interest rates coming down even further than any of us could have imagined, you may be thinking that:

1. Now is a great time to buy an investment property
2. Now is a great time to buy my first property and get my own space and stuff
3. Now is a great time to downsize and get rid of a mortgage and stuff
4. #1 and #3

Newer condos and skinnier in-fil housess are generally eco-friendly(er),  well designed and come with challenges for “stuff” given the smaller footprint,

Translation:

1. With an investment property you may rent it out unfurnished (no stuff) or furnished (with stuff)
2. First-time buyers will need stuff and your parents may be offloading a few things thankfully or not but, hey, “beggars/choosers” as they say
3. Downsizers you have years of memories and stuff than space you will have to put it  all in – which means taking your favourite things or buying new

Wondering what to do with all of your stuff?  We’ve categorized a few thoughts for you below:

Loan it:  If you can’t part with it just yet then think about loaning things like desks, chairs, couches, beds and outdoor furniture. Your friends’ kids or grandkids may be going off to university or college or just be getting their first place. They’ll both need and appreciate your loan and be happy to return items back to you in a few years.

Family ties: For more expensive that won’t fit into your new place, check with your immediate and extended family. These may have sentimental or practical value to them.

Sell it: Online marketplaces: EBay, Craigslist, Kijiji offer you cash for (your now) unwanted items. Good old fashioned yard sales (with physical distancing of course) can be both fun and profitable.

Donate it: This would be the most philanthropic thing to do with items that won’t fit in your new place, so make sure to consider this option before storing or throwing away something that you won’t ever actually use down the road. Consider that someone else might have a really good use for your futon, pots and pans or old suits and dresses. 

Store it: There are tons of storage options throughout Austin,with storage on demand, temperature controlled facilities. Be careful because these are potentially one of the biggest wastes of cash on the planet! Monthly fees add up after a year, two years, ten years. Unless you’re living under a rock and not seen Storage Wars… need I say more.

Put it on the curb: In Austin, if you put a piece of furniture, old electronics, a box of books out on the sidewalk – someone will likely take it within a few hours. Your trash might be someone else’s treasure. Try it! You’d be amazed what disappears over night!

If all else fails put it in the garbage:  Some items just are not worth saving and they’re destined for landfill. We’re not big fans of this approach, but sometimes it just makes sense. Austin will pick up your large garbage items if you make arrangements.

A smaller space might not sound like an appealing notion at first. However, what you’ll gain is appreciation for things that truly matter most. Whether you’re buying your first condo, modern in-fill home or simply downsizing your footprint remember, it is never about four walls. It’s about the memories and experiences you build and share over a lifetime.

If you want help finding your next place, let’s connect. We’d love to help you.