The kids have moved out and are living their own lives, and now you’re left hanging out in a big house that you hardly use. You’re still fairly young, and naturally, you still want to enjoy your life. Maybe it’s finally time to downsize to a smaller, easier-to-manage home. The pros of downsizing usually outweigh the cons. Here’s a close look at some of the benefits, brought to you by Beauty Harmony Life.
Less work
Keeping a large home clean and tidy can be a lot of work. Even if you don’t use all the rooms, dust still settles there, and it needs to be cleaned regularly. Yes, your kids might come home to visit, but what are the chances that they’ll all need to bunk with you at the same time? You’ll have a smaller (or no) yard to maintain and less work on outside maintenance and repairs.
Less clutter
As Architectural Digest notes, the bigger your home is, the more you want to fill it with stuff. If you downsize to a smaller home, you’ll be forced to get rid of a lot of unnecessary junk. Having less space makes you prioritize and focus on what you really need in your life, and toss out what is only wasting space.
Less expenses
There are many expenses when you own a large home. For starters, a bigger home means a bigger utility bill. Smaller spaces are easier to heat and cool, meaning more money in your pocket. Smaller homes also require less maintenance, lower homeowner’s association fees, lower homeowner’s insurance premiums, and more. Plus, if you sell your larger home and move into a smaller, less expensive home, you’ll have all that extra money from the sale to fund your retirement. You can also sell your extra furniture!
More travel time
Having a smaller and less expensive home makes it easier to leave town at a moment’s notice. Now that the kids are gone, it’s time to see the world. If you move to an apartment or condo, you’ll have less work to do before you travel, and your neighbors will be closer to keep an eye on things, too.
More organization
Having smaller spaces forces you to be more organized, which is never a bad thing. You’ll be focusing on the items that really bring you joy instead of a lot of stuff that just found its way into your home over the years. Be sure to make some hard decisions about what you’re taking with you – and what items aren’t needed. Once moved into your next abode, carefully consider what necessary items will fit into your new lifestyle.
More community
If you move to a smaller home or a condo, you’ll find you have more opportunity to connect with your neighbors. Smaller houses are on smaller lots, which, as Part-Time Money points out, means you’ll interact more. Plus, having a small home forces you to get outside more, which is good for your health. Be sure to first research the housing market to find out what neighborhoods are affordable and close to shopping and senior care services, as well as what the houses are going for.
Increasing Your Home’s Resale Value
Before you put your house on the market, consider updating it a bit to get a better resale value. You’ll already be decluttering by getting rid of stuff, but you want to stage it, too. Remove personal items, such as photos and trinkets, and go ahead and pack them for your move. Work on the yard to give it some curb appeal and spruce up any peeling paint on the outside.
Consider doing smart renovations but don’t sink a ton of money into them. You want the home to be similar to the rest of the neighborhood because you don’t want it to be over-renovated. Just update it enough to sell the home. The new homeowners can put their money into making it just right.
If you decide to downsize, take your time in getting rid of the excess things in your house. Forcing yourself into a tight timeline will only cause more stress, which is what you’re trying to get away from. Start studying the market and looking at the housing possibilities available to you. You might be surprised at what you find. Once you are settled into your smaller, calmer home, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it years ago.
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