Emil Ratti
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License Ref #: 0230905
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Coldwell Banker
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Downsizing Tips:
How to Make a Smooth Transition
Downsizing can often
mean independence for seniors after retirement, as it can give them a
chance to stay in their own homes without fear of injury. It also means
having a lot less to take care of, from total square footage around the
home to the yard space. The physical act of downsizing,
however, can be difficult in many ways. Moving takes a bit
of cash, and the timing needs to be right in order to ensure the
sale of the old house coincides with closing on the new home. It can
also be hard to leave behind all the memories made or to go through
belongings and memorabilia that bring up hard-to-face memories of a
loved one who has passed.
Fortunately, there are
several simple ways you can make downsizing go
smoothly. From planning well in the early stages to asking
for help from friends and loved ones, you can make moving into a smaller
home a breeze. The key is to get organized from the start so there will
be no confusion and so that safety is always a factor.
Keep reading for some
great tips on how to downsize to a new home.
Do Some Research
As with any major process, you’ll want to be well informed before making
any decisions. This means looking online at
the homes in your area to figure out which ones will meet your needs and
what the price ranges are. This can save you a lot of time and footwork
with a realtor and will give you a leg up on searching for a house that
meets all of your needs.
Decide What Your
Needs Are
It’s important to think not only about what your needs are now, but what
they will be in the future. You may face health or mobility issues five
or 10 years down the road that require your home to be easily
accessible, which means you’ll want to include features such
as a step-in shower, wider doorways, grab
bars and easy-to-grasp handles on doors and cabinets instead
of knobs. Some of the more simple modifications can be done after you
move in without breaking the bank, but larger jobs -- such as updated
bathtubs and opened-up kitchen space -- will need a contractor and be
much more costly, so they’ll need to be rolled into your budget.
Pack Smart
Packing for a move can be a really big job, especially if
you’ve lived in your current home for many years. This means you’ll need
to plan for several days of packing up, and be sure to ask for help from
friends and family members. During the first day, it’s a good idea to
simply go through your home and pull
the things that you know you either don’t want anymore or
won’t have room for in the new house. If possible, look at photos of the
interior of your new place to get an idea of where you can place big
items, such as furniture. Once you’ve done that, start going through
items that hold a lot of sentimental value and determine how best to
keep them safe. Many seniors give away a few of these items by passing
them down to a family member, but you can also condense them; for
instance, if you have a lot of photo albums, scan the pictures
individually and upload them to a thumb drive or hard drive.
Downsizing takes a lot
of work, but with a good plan and help from your loved ones, you can
ensure that it’s a smooth transition. Remember to take care of yourself
during this time and take plenty of breaks during the move to ensure
that your health and safety are a priority.
Article Submitted
(2019) By:
Janet Campbell
http://elderspark.com/
Janet Campbell is the
writer of this article and creator of ElderSpark. Her mission is to
encourage people of all ages to live their healthiest and happiest lives
ever. She strives to provide information on senior wellness and safety
as well as ideas for how to make the most of this beautiful chapter of
our lives.
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