For many people, overpriced McMansions are so out. Smaller and affordable is so in. And those moving are also taking less stuff with them when they go. Whether this is a permanent trend toward greater simplicity remains to be seen. But the numbers do indicate a shift in the thinking of a significant portion of the population.
According to a recent study by Mayflower Transit, the average shipping weight of households moved by the company has been steadily decreasing. An article in the Birmingham Business Journal states:
Shipping weights have decreased for four consecutive years. The average household shipping weight in 2008 was 6,751 pounds, a 2 percent decrease from the 6,830 pounds recorded in 2007.
According to the study, the average moving weight has decreased by 10 percent since 1997, when the company began collecting information.
More people are also finding greater joy in living in smaller places. Genevieve Ferraro of The Jewel Box Home has put together a collection of reader testimonials as to the benefits and special joys of living in a smaller house. Ferraro also has a slideshow of pictures from her own home.
So as Americans re-evaluate their personal and financial priorities, one thing is certain. The definition of home and what it is filled with is undergoing a change for a significant portion of the population. How this will play out in the coming years in a economy based on citizens being consumers in a nation with a glut of McMansions remains to be seen.
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