As you enter retirement, you might find yourself spending more time at home (when you aren’t travelling the world, of course!). And with this newfound time around the house, you may start to feel a little lost; the house could feel bigger than it once did, with some rooms sitting empty and others barely used.
If this is the case, it makes sense to consider downsizing your family home in exchange for something more practical for your new lifestyle.
Here are five tips to make your downsizing experience stress- and anxiety-free, with information on the merits of planning ahead, preparing for the ‘big clean,’ and the employment of senior downsizing services.
1. Get Referrals
If you can, be patient. Selling your home can be an overwhelming and emotionally draining experience. It’s a complicated process for the most seasoned of movers, so please do take your time.
Seek advice from a financial advisor who can recommend if now is a good time to sell or if you should wait until a later date. If this is a good time to sell, ask friends, neighbours, and family members for their recommendations when it comes to finding a realtor. Cross-check recommendations with online reviews.
Go with your gut feeling. You’re wrapping up a house filled with many years of memories. You want a realtor who’s going to understand any emotional attachments you might have, be empathetic and incredibly patient with the process. It could be that you’re able to find a realtor who specializes in working with older adults.
2. Strategize
Before your home is on the market, create a plan. Draw up a mock timeline (with some wiggle room in case of hiccups along the way — it happens!). Having a clear idea of what you need to do in advance will guarantee that nothing gets missed — like rerouting mail, moving your insurance to your new address, setting up with a new internet provider, and making plans for your pets on the day of the move.
Have a dedicated notepad with your lists and timelines. Be sure to include the names, email addresses and phone numbers of your professional contacts, too.
3. Repair
This tip depends on whether money is a motivator for your move or if you’re simply looking to make the maximum amount on the sale of your family home.
If you’re eager to earn the highest amount possible, you may consider investing in some minor renovation and maintenance projects — whether you’re able to do them yourself or if you need to hire out.
While it’s usually not recommended to undertake substantial renovation projects in advance of your sale (you’re unlikely to recoup costs), it is suggested you manage some small cosmetic projects, such as:
- Touching up the paint in high-traffic areas or repainting rooms in neutral tones. Some reports suggest that paint colour can affect the cost of your sale by up to $5,000 (USD).
- Cleaning curtains (or buying new ones).
- Creating ‘curb appeal,’ which is a popular buzzword among the house-selling community. Spruce up any paintwork on your deck and ensure your lawn is neatly mowed and the bushes are kept and tidy.
- Amplifying lighting. A nicely lit room is both warm and inviting. It also lets buyers know you’ve nothing to hide.
4. Pack
Packing is arguably one of the most stressful components of moving home. It can feel like a never-ending feat with so many questions: ‘Should I keep this? Will I need this? What is this?’ If this rings true for you, consider hiring professional organizers (i.e., downsizing specialists) to help you and your family when it comes to packing up your home.
Downsizing specialists will be able to help you organize and edit your belongings. They’ll take the stress out of packing by providing compassionate and patient advice. For the things you no longer have a purpose for, they’ll suggest and organize places where you can donate, sell or dispose of items. And they’ll often do this on your behalf.
This approach guarantees a smooth and successful packing experience where family treasures and keepsakes won’t get lost (or damaged) in the mayhem.
If your professional downsizers are able to sell some of the items you no longer need, you might even come out of the experience with a little extra cash!
5. Prepare for Cleaning
Leave cleaning supplies to one side when packing up your family home. Knowing where your sprays, cloths and brooms are located will make the house very easy to wipe down and vacuum as you depart. Similarly, you’ll have everything immediately at hand when moving into your new home to give it a spruce up right away.
Conversely, consider hiring a cleaning team to clean your new home before moving in. In some cases, if you do hire downsizing specialists to help you with the move, they may be able to provide or connect you with a cleaning service.
Moving can be stressful — especially when emotions are attached to a family home — so take your time, ask your family for help whenever you need to, and plan, plan, plan. Once the hurdle of the move is complete, you’ll have a new home to create wonderful memories with your friends, family and loved ones.
