Tips for Seniors on Downsizing to a Smaller Home
Tips for Seniors on Downsizing to a Smaller Home
Tips for Seniors on Downsizing to a Smaller Home. For seniors who wish to age in place, downsizing and moving to a smaller home may be a necessity. Dealing with the upkeep – cleaning and yardwork – at a large home can be overwhelming, and many seniors also face mobility issues that make it hard to live with large and multi-level floorplans. Downsizing and moving can trigger a lot of emotions, and it can be a stressful time. Here are some tips to make it go as smoothly as possible.
Know some tips and tricks for downsizing your possessions
How does one begin to downsize a life’s worth of possessions? You just have to start somewhere, it turns out. Preferably you should begin the downsizing process by figuring out what you simply cannot live without. There are a few tricks to help you achieve this. First, you should make a list of 10-20 items that are the most important to you. Usually, what comes to mind first are truly the most important. By listing your must-need items before actually going through everything and seeing it all visually, you will reduce the strong inclination to hoard items once you lay eyes on them.
Another trick is to think of the “house fire” scenario. It may sound a bit morbid, but it works. Think about what you would save if your house were on fire. Next, enlist the help of your family, who can provide some perspective for you on what is truly necessary and what can be donated, thrown away, or passed on to other family members.
Think about your new house as a guide for what to keep
There’s a good chance that if you’re moving as a senior, you’re moving to a smaller residence. Mathematically, there’s simply no way you can fit all of your current belongings in a smaller house. By focusing on the literal floorplan of your new home, you can make smarter decisions on what stays and what goes. Visit your new home and measure! As Caregiver.org suggests, you want to know exactly how much space you’ll have for everything you plan to move, so make sure measurements of doors, windows, cabinets, and appliances are as accurate as possible.
Know how to hire quality movers
Hiring movers will likely cost you a couple hundred dollars, but the benefits completely outweigh the costs. The obvious main benefit is that movers will handle all the heavy lifting, which can range from inconvenient, to dangerous, to outright impossible for many seniors. It’s also nice to be able to focus on the end of your move – the arrival of your things and the unpacking of your new life – instead of the sadness that comes with packing up your long-time home and moving out.
It’s vital that you know how to spot shady movers. Not all moving companies can boast the same level of experience, and you certainly want the best movers handling your precious items. Make calls to at least three different companies and be wary of any quoted prices that seem way too low (they may be cutting corners to reduce cost). Demand that a moving company does a thorough inventory of your belongings and gives you a firm price based on this. Any moving company that wants you to sign a blank contract or appears bothered by your questions and special requests may not be a reputable company. Always be on the lookout for scams, which disproportionately target the elderly. Check here for more on that.
Downsizing and moving to a smaller home can be emotional and stressful for seniors, but in the end it’s a great way to begin a new chapter of your life and make it easier for you to age in place and maintain self-sufficiency.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Carol Gilles, of the RealEstate Group, has a Senior Real Estate Specialist designation SRES®. She has been helping buyers and sellers for over 37 years, including a focus on working with those over 55! Carol can be reached at 310-864-9738 or Carol@CarolGilles.com
Michael Langdon, author – ElderFreedom.net