Your family home holds a lot of sentimental value. It’s a place where you raised your family and shared a life together. But, as you age, you may notice you’re not living life to the fullest. Maintaining the yard has become increasingly difficult. Spare bedrooms are beginning to collect dust from not being used. While there is no perfect answer to “when is the right time to downsize?”, there are some signs that can help guide your decision. Here are some of them.
1) Home maintenance is becoming overwhelming
As you age, it becomes harder to keep a property in tip-top shape. It may seem that home maintenance — such as mowing the lawn, cleaning gutters, or simply regularly cleaning the house — become unmanageable tasks. This is especially true if you have health issues that limit your mobility and strength, making these things hard to maintain on your own. If you find yourself struggling just to keep up with these little everyday tasks, then it might be time to downsize your home.
2) You feel isolated at home
Living in a large home by yourself might feel lonely at times. Maybe you’re used to having your family around, or you no longer go out as much since your mobility is limited. As a result, your home ends up feeling far too big for just one person. You find yourself holed up in one room and rarely going outside or interacting with others because it’s just easier and more comfortable. Downsizing could be the answer to this problem – and physically moving to an aged care home could be the best option. One of the best things about Glenvale Villas is our community – whether you’re taking a stroll or relaxing in the dining room, there’s always something to do and someone to talk to.
3) Your health has changed
As you get older, your health can begin to decline – and that can have an impact on your home. For example, if you have trouble getting around or walking up the stairs, you’ll likely find it harder to easily get to the second floor. Health changes are a completely natural part of ageing and simply mean that a different living situation may be better suited to fit your needs.
4) A lot of rooms are unused
If you find yourself having more and more empty rooms, it’s time to take action. It’s easy to think a secondary family room will be used for entertaining guests, but it doesn’t always turn out that way. Instead, these extra rooms become storage areas or simply sit empty most of the year. While a four-bedroom house may have been practical at the time you were raising your family, children do age and move out of their home, leaving behind an unused room. It may be beneficial to downsize to a smaller space to lessen the burden of having extra rooms that you don’t need anymore.
5) You’re thinking about your retirement financing
Downsizing your home can help you plan for retirement. Many retirees move into smaller houses or apartments, which helps lower their monthly expenses of living. Older adults typically choose to downsize to ease some financial concerns and budget for other needs and wants, like travel and hobbies. Additionally, your current home may have gone up considerably in value through the years, so downsizing in today’s market could be the smartest way to earn the highest value of your home.
Knowing it’s time to downsize is a big decision. It should not be taken lightly as it can truly impact your overall quality of life. In the end, it will come down to weighing all the factors. As you make your decision, remember to make sure that you’ve got a suitable space to serve your needs and maintain a comfortable lifestyle.
