5 Benefits of Downsizing Your Home After Retirement

 

This informative post was contributed to Leisure Freak by freelance writer Alison Smith. 

Your beautiful, spacious house with four bedrooms and three bathrooms was once a perfect home for you and your family. However, things change. Your kids fly out of the nest and start their own lives. They do come to visit, but the length of their stay doesn’t necessitate so much otherwise empty space. Also, large homes are expensive to maintain, and cleaning them is no easy feat. Especially once you retire, the reasons to stay in that house vanish one by one. And the reasons to move out begin to take their place. It has been your home for a long time. And it’s only natural that many fond memories make you hesitant to consider that maybe it’s time for another change. But if you think about it, there are many benefits of downsizing your home after retirement.

5 Benefits of Downsizing Your Home After Retirement

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1- You can address possible accessibility issues

If you live in a multi-level house, going up and down the stairs can become difficult at one point. Even if you don’t struggle with mobility issues at the moment, you may develop them later. Therefore, downsizing your home after retirement will allow you to purchase a house that provides better accessibility. It is definitely a much better option than spending tremendous amounts of money on renovations to make your current home better suited for your needs.

Single-level houses are a great option as they have no or few stairs. Also, open floor plans should be on your priority list as they are much easier to maintain and move around. Speaking of moving around, look for homes that feature wide doorways.  

2- Easier maintenance

As we have already mentioned, a smaller home is way easier to keep clean and tidy. It will take you much less time to put everything in order, so you will be able to get the most out of your retirement and do the things you enjoy.

Just think about how much time and energy you have to spend mowing your lawn, weeding, and taking care of all the plants. Not many people enjoy having to do this, even when they are in full strength. A nice patio and a low-maintenance garden are all you need for a happy life. 

Furthermore, older homes tend to require more maintenance and repairs. This is both physically and financially draining. As you can expect, the most common issues in older homes have to do with plumbing, electrical installations, inadequate insulation, drafty windows, outdated appliances, and we won’t even mention possible structural issues and toxic materials. All of these are very costly to fix, and they tend to add up. So even if you don’t have any troubles now, downsizing to a smaller home will spare you a lot of headaches in the long run. 

3- You get the chance to lead a more active lifestyle

Lack of physical activity is prevalent in older adults and retirees. The problem is that this inactivity can lead to the development of chronic diseases, for instance, diabetes and heart disease. It can also lead to a shorter life span.

If you live in the suburbs, where you have to rely on your car to get around, leading an active lifestyle can be difficult. So, if your goal is to stay active after retirement, moving to a more walkable neighborhood is an excellent idea. You can find an area that offers better exercise opportunities, such as places to go for walks. Also, look for neighborhoods with good transportation options so you can quickly get to different parts of town. A condominium is an alternative, too, as there are buildings that offer amenities like a swimming pool or a gym.

Moreover, you can decide to move to a completely different state. Perhaps you have always wanted to live in a warm climate. You will be happy to know that the US has a lot of senior-friendly places. Just think about Florida. If this sounds like an interesting idea, Sunshine State is definitely worth considering. It has everything you could possibly need to lead a happy life: affordable housing, low cost of living, no income tax, stunning beaches, excellent senior communities, a great health care system, and, as the nickname suggests, lots of sunshine. All that will motivate you to get on your feet and join many other active retirees who saw the benefits of living in this state.

4- You can lower your monthly spending

Smaller homes equal lower utility bills. You waste considerable amounts of money on heating and cooling the unused space in your big old home. There is also electricity, gas, and water. So, the smaller the place, the less you will spend to make it comfortable for living. Also, bigger homes come with higher expenses on lawn care and cleaning if you have to use these services. And we have already talked about the repairs. 

Furthermore, larger spaces may require you to spend money on more furniture and other decor, just to fill up space. But if you downsize, you will get a chance to rid yourself of all the unnecessary junk and lead a simpler, clutter-free life. Moreover, if you move to a smaller home, you can earn some money by selling the stuff you no longer have space for. 

All the money you save on lower utility bills, maintenance, and repairs will let you spend more on yourself. You deserve a bit of pampering. And you can invest that money into a new hobby that will keep you active and connected with other people.

5- Downsizing your home after retirement is a chance at a new start

Downsizing to a new home is a new beginning. So, you can use this opportunity to declutter your home and let yourself have a fresh start. As with all the excess furniture, you can sell the items you no longer need. You can organize a yard sale, which is always good fun. Or your family can help you sell some things online. Another option is to donate some of your stuff to a charitable organization. 

The reason why decluttering is necessary is that you have most likely collected an endless collection of items over the decades you have lived in your house. So, if you want to have a pristine new home, this is how you begin. Although sifting through all those belongings can be hard and emotional, you will feel a massive burden lift off your shoulders once you decide what you will discard. Only then can you get your fresh start.

Enjoy your new life chapter!

As you can see, there are many benefits of downsizing your home after retirement. Most of them are concerning financial advantages that will allow you to have a better quality of life. Also, downsizing will help you choose a home in a location that will keep you active, happy, connected with your community instead of being invisible to the world. 

 

The world is certainly anxious to get back to normal and on the move. For some, retirement offers a chance to cash in on a currently high home appraisal and opportunity to move to a lower cost area. Thank you Alison for contributing this timely post that explains the benefits of downsizing your home after retirement.  

Author Bio: 

Alison Smith is a kindergarten teacher. She has always loved expressing her thoughts on various topics, and since writing is her passion, she has become a freelance content creator for different websites. She loves reading and is very proud of her book collection. 

6 thoughts on “5 Benefits of Downsizing Your Home After Retirement

  1. Having read this I believed it was extremely informative. I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this content together. I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount of time both reading and leaving comments. Thanks

  2. The first thing to recognize is that not all seniors want to downsize their home. Some have a large family and want the space to have everyone over for dinner often, or have a large backyard so they can entertain friends and family outside. Others have mobility issues and cannot easily navigate the stairs in a two-story house. But if you are looking to downsize, here are 5 benefits of downsizing your home after retirement.

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