Downsizing Your Home

Maybe you have just retired or are planning to retire or just no longer need a large home. Deciding about downsizing your home and moving can be a stressful time for most of us. Some embrace this as an opportunity to meet new people and try new activities. See planning a move and selling your home.

Staying in the family home for some can mean new colors and a renovation project. Renovation often means dust, noise and less access to some parts of the home. See remodeling your home. So it may be simpler to move especially if home down sizing is warranted.


Here are some tips for changing where you live.

Research It!

1. What is the cost of buying compared with rent? See buying costs and financing and buying a home guide.

2. Do you have the energy and money to manage gardens, lawn, snow removal, furnaces, home exterior repair and maintenance and so on? Would you rather own a condominium where you pay a fee and a management company looks after all the exterior work? This can include replacing roofs and windows when necessary. See buying a condominium.

3. If you are going to move. Where? Check out the activities and events available for different interesting areas. See sustainable living communities.


Check It out!

4. Visit towns, villages, neighborhoods where you think you might want to live. How does it look and feel? Talk to the people in that area. Do they seem to be friendly? Can you see yourself living there?


Downsize!

5. If you choose downsizing your home take only the furniture, clothes, mementos you love. Giveaway the rest, have a garage sale or take them to a recycling depot.
Younger family members are not usually interested in memorabilia or china dishes. Times changes and besides dishes have to be dish washer safe.
Empty the top shelf. Whatever is there has probably not been used or looked at for a long time.
Fill a box a day.
Take 15 minutes a day to declutter.
Try to arrange to have several days to move into your new downsized living arrangement. Try out some of your present furniture in the new space. Keep what works for you. Dispose of the rest.

Enjoy!

6. Remember a change or a challenge can be a chance to grow.

7. Retiring can be an opportunity to do all the things you did not have time to do while working.

8. If you move away from your home area can friends and family visit and be visited?


9. Like a GPS system you can always recalculate!

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Selling Your Home Guide