Having a large home has benefits for many families. While you have ample space for your family, the bills and upkeep of a larger home might take away from the enjoyment of the house. If you are looking at downsizing, there are lots of considerations to make.
There are lots of reasons you might consider when it comes to downsizing. Maybe the kids have left home, the bills are too excessive, or some other reason under the sun. Whatever the reason for the move, downsizing does not have to be a stressful thing at all. However, it is important to ask yourself some questions before you move. Downsizing has a lot of great benefits, so, let's look over what you should consider before downsizing.
1. Cost
One of the most significant considerations when making the decision to downsize is the finances. Is your electric bill way too high in your home? Will selling your home and downsizing help you better meet your financial goals?
Before downsizing look over your finances to see how much you might realistically save if you downsize. Remember, when downsizing it is important to be realistic. Make sure when you sell your home you sell it for more than the amount of what you want to downsize into.
2. Lifestyle
Downsizing means a total change in lifestyle. Look at your lifestyle, how drastically will it affect you?
This involves transportation, are you getting rid of your car? Also consider shopping for groceries, your normal routine, and even your hobbies. Will you still keep those things? If so, will it affect how you downsize?
3. Neighborhood
Of course, downsizing means moving to a new neighborhood. This doesn’t just include your neighbors, but also your proximity to town. Remember it is important to have access to stores, healthcare, and food.
This also includes your social and familial life. Will you be too far away from your friends or family? Keep your social life in mind when deciding to move.
4. Amenities
When looking to downsize, a factor you should keep in mind is the available amenities to you. Will you miss your big backyard if you move to an apartment? Will you be giving up your own washer and dryer, or even dishwasher?
What you will need to determine is whether those amenities are worth losing. Keep in mind that compromises can be made, such as moving into a place that has the appliances you want.
5. Family Size
How large is your family? Is downsizing even feasible if you have lots of kids? Your family size is what determines how small you can go. Here are some things to look at when downsizing:
- Are the kids going to share a bedroom?
- Is there enough play space for a young child?
- How many bathrooms are there? Are you comfortable sharing one or two bathrooms?
Again, be realistic about your family and the amount of space you’ll need for them. You don’t want to be crammed in somewhere because you wanted to downsize, so find someplace that will fit your needs.
6. Personal Space
Can you and your spouse spend large amounts of time together? Your personal space needs to be a factor when looking at downsizing. Are you someone who requires a lot of personal space? If so, downsizing may not be a great idea if you have a partner or a large family.
Alternatively, do your kids or spouse need personal space? Take into account what space you might need and be realistic about your future home. Keep in mind that your outdoor space can be an oasis if you set it up how you want. So, while you may not have your own private room in your home, you can always extend your living space outside.
7. Storage
If you downsize, are you going to need a storage unit to hold all your belongings? Will you have a garage in your new house? These are all things to consider before you buy a new home.
We recommend decluttering before you begin packing. Toss out any decorative items that gather dust, donate clothes that are old or worn down, and toss any appliances that you don’t use. Alternatively, you can sell those items in a yard sale.
8. Furniture
If your furniture is large, it may not fit well in your new house. Just like with any other move, it is important to consider whether you want to keep your furniture or buy new furniture.
If you are moving into a much smaller home, large furniture will not fit, and it will overwhelm the room. Instead of a dining room, you might end up with a small breakfast nook. This means selling your old furniture and buying smaller furniture.
9. The Future
How long do you plan on staying in this smaller place? Is this a temporary respite from the ordinary life, or is this something you can foresee yourself staying at for a long time? If you’re elderly, you will have a difficult time with stairs the older you get. Remember those points as you are looking for your home.
Another idea to keep in mind is future visitors. Do you host parties a lot, or do your kids have a lot of friends that come over? When looking for a home to downsize into, keep the idea of guests in mind. If you move to a more touristy area and you know your family will be coming out to visit, then plan accordingly and maybe make sure the outdoor area is large enough to hold however many guests you want, or that your home can comfortably fit everyone.
10. What to Downsize Into
The final consideration is, what will you be downsizing into? You have traditional options such as a condo or an apartment. There are alternatives to that, including buying a tiny home or living in an RV. Each of these options all have positives and negatives.
A good place to get ideas is Zillow. Not only can you see the house prices in the area you are considering, but you can get an idea of the size of the home from the pictures. Alternatively, if you’re looking at RVs, you can always check out local dealerships around you and look at the RVs either in person or on websites.
Again, be realistic with your options and choose what best works for you and your family. As we already said, how much are you willing to give up downsizing? What positives are there to staying in your current home? We recommend making a list detailing the pros and cons of moving. Sit your family down and work on that list together. As hard as it is, try to take your emotions out of the equation and you’ll be able to come up with a better list.
For all your moving needs, check out Movers.com. Our team of experts can connect you to a reliable moving company quickly. We also feature guides and how-to's to help make your move easier. We wish you the best of luck in your move and thank you for choosing Movers.com.