4 Steps Seniors Should Consider When They Want to Downsize After Retirement

Downsizing is a great way for you to simplify your life and potentially save yourself some money, but that project is easier said than done. If you have recently retired and are ready to downsize, then you need to come up with a long-term plan that is going to streamline that process.

Cleaning

When it comes to any move, decluttering is always going to be one of the most important steps. Spending a little bit of time cleaning up your home and the rest of your property is going to make each following step that much easier. 

If you own the home and plan on selling it, then you might want to consider getting it professionally cleaned as well. Professional cleaning services are very affordable, and they could save you quite a few hours of work and get a deeper clean than you might be able to get.

Categorizing Your Belongings

Once your home has been cleaned, it is then time to begin the process of categorizing all of your belongings and decluttering. While that task might seem daunting, you can turn each room into its own separate project, going as quickly or as slowly as you need. 

As you go through your possessions, you should break them up by items that should be thrown out, given away, sold, and kept.

Finding the Ideal Living Arrangement

After you have gone through your entire home and all of your possessions, it will be much easier to determine exactly what kind of new living arrangements you are going to need. 

For example, you might be looking for an apartment or condo if you don’t want to deal with a lot of space or yard maintenance. If you expect to have family over regularly, you might want something with a little more space.

Instead of looking for a new home on your own, you should consider working with an experienced real estate agent who understands the local market. 

Explain to them exactly what you’re looking for in terms of location, space, maintenance, and other considerations. As long as you start your search early on, you will have plenty of time to find the perfect living arrangement.

Preserving the Items You Want to Keep

Even if you are able to get rid of a sizable portion of your possessions, you will still probably need to put at least some of your belongings in storage. 

Many people are surprised to hear that quite a few everyday items require climate-controlled storage so that they don’t become damaged. Luckily, those units are often fairly inexpensive if you sign an annual contract.

Older adults who are getting ready to retire and downsize should try to start this process as early on as possible. Downsizing is going to be easier and less stressful if you take the first steps a few years before you plan on retiring and moving to a smaller residence.