At a certain age, people may decide to make lifestyle changes they feel are best for their medical, financial, and familial needs. One such lifestyle change may be downsizing to a smaller space. Some older adults may choose to leave their homes, sell their property, and move somewhere that’s more convenient and more affordable. Moving in with children, grandchildren, or other close family members might also be an option some people consider. However, others may decide to move into retirement communities with other adults of similar age, apartment communities, or continue to live independently.
Relocation from a home you’ve lived in for many years can be a stressful event. Sorting through your belongings and packing them, scheduling movers, unpacking your items, and furnishing your new home can seem like an endless process. Additionally, buying a smaller home requires you to decide what you’re taking with you, forcing you to part with some of your possessions. Following the tips listed below, however, can make the downsizing process easier.
1. Begin with a floor plan of your new place.
A floor plan is essential because it can show you how well your furniture will fit inside the space, helping you decide if you’ll need to buy smaller furniture and where you will place it when you’re in your new home.
Besides knowing that your new home can fit your belongings, a floor plan will also help you plan for any safety updates you need to make to new space. The susceptibility to falling and injuring oneself increases with age. Additionally, older adults are more likely to deal with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Consider downsizing to a house that can handle modifications for fall prevention such as adding bath rails: wheelchair-accessible walk-in showers, entryways, and doors, staircase rails, non-slip floors, reliable locks, and security cameras. Additionally, improving the rooms’ lighting and installing easily accessible light switches can help older adults see better and avoid accidents.
Consulting a local professional realtor can help you find a property that suits your needs regarding your accessibility, finances, and home preferences. Older adults downsizing in Texas, for instance, can benefit from working with a real estate agent from a Texas realty management company, such as Venterra Living in Austin, TX. Venterra Realty is known as an excellent workplace for women, employees of all orientations and ages, and people of color and they treat all customers and employees as family. Venterra has an atmosphere that promotes employee growth, learning, and excitement and prioritizes home buyers and their needs. A professional realtor can provide information regarding the home buying process, locate homes in senior-friendly communities, and negotiate deals to ensure a low price on your new great place.
2. Leave the packing and transporting to professional movers.
Utilizing the services of a local professional moving company can ultimately make your move a more efficient process. Searching for “local moving companies near me” can help older adults find the best local professional movers. A reputable moving company will send professionals with years of experience to help you securely prepare your furniture, dishes, linens, and other belongings and ensure your items are safe across the entire move, whether it’s a short distance move or a long-distance move. The best movers have the right equipment to safely support and transport your belongings across a local move or a big move to a big city, preventing you from doing any extra strenuous work.
3. Reduce the number of items you have to move.
Downsizing can be easy when you have fewer items to transport. Some movers provide a packing service, but you should still minimize the belongings they have to pack so that you don’t spend too much on packing up things you could be giving away. Sort through what you own and determine what you should take with you. Consider giving some of your most prized possessions to your children or other family members. Other good ideas include having a yard sale or donating items to charity. If you’re not ready to part with particular objects or you’re unsure about whether or not you’ll need some belongings in the future, consider putting them in a storage unit.
A search for “storage facilities near me” can direct you to a service that makes finding storage units from reputable U.S. storage companies in your local area easier. Renting a self-storage unit can help you reduce clutter in your home and enable you to have lighter moving trips.
4. Follow a sorting system.
Keep track of your belongings by using a list and note which items you’ll donate, give away, get rid of, or bring with you. Tracking your items this way throughout the moving process, rather than designating recipients of your belongings as you sort them individually can save you time. Using colorful stickers to identify these items according to their categorization can help you and the professional movers you hire to help you pack your house and move.
5. Dedicate a certain amount of time to working each day and stick to it.
Creating a plan for starting and ending your preparations at a specific time each day can help you stay focused and get a lot accomplished without being sidetracked. A schedule can also keep you from spending long days and nights preparing for your move.
6. Start packing in areas of the house you no longer use.
The process of removing your belongings from your home each day can take a lot of time, which can threaten to disrupt your everyday life and routine. Consider starting your sorting and packing in rooms you don’t use often or at all.
7. Focus on one room of your house at a time.
Trying to deal with the entire house each day can make the moving process more stressful than it has to be. Following the advice above, begin with areas of your home you don’t use daily, but be sure to work in these rooms in sections. Focus on small areas of each room at a time and then move on to the next area. That will break up the hard work into a manageable task.
8. Use what you can before moving.
Using up any paper products or perishable items ahead of moving day can keep you from packing and moving extra items with you. Instead, you can replace these items when you move to your new home.
9. Clean the house with each step.
You can save time and energy by vacuuming and dusting each area as you pack. Cleaning up little by little with each bit of progress you make can go a long way, being more efficient than cleaning the entire house right before it’s time to leave.
10. Pack items that you will need the first day.
When moving from one place to another, be sure to pack a box or bag of essentials with you. Prepare cleaning supplies, kitchen supplies, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and tools that will enable you to function in your new home until you officially get settled. You’ll need to pack some dishes, towels, sheets, and outfits to get you through the first days and nights.
It’s also crucial to pack any prescriptions or other health solutions you use daily or regularly. For instance, if you use a health solution such as Swell No More — a natural water pill, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory tablet — it’s crucial to pack it with your essentials. Continued use enables you to harness its anti-inflammation and water retention-reducing qualities. This product reduces inflammation, puffiness, and swelling (edema) in the legs, ankles, feet, and throughout the body.
Once you finish the moving process, you can enjoy taking the first steps to make your new house functional and design your new residence to your liking. For instance, many people gift plants to new homeowners. If you’re a plant lover with a green thumb, you can take the time to arrange the houseplants you receive in aesthetically pleasing ways, according to the sunlight they need. All plants need sunlight, water, and nutrients, but different plants can thrive under various conditions. Determine if the living room, dining room, and kitchen in your new home have bright light, medium light, or low light and if it comes from a direct or indirect light source. Plants with air purification qualities and without toxic properties can be suitable and safe for all homebuyers. You can enjoy arranging your new plants, simple wall art, and décor to create a comfortable space in your downsized home.
