10 Feb Your Guide to Downsizing in a New Home

If you’ve been feeling the winds of change and mulling over downsizing, it pays to know what to look for, whether that’s a new home in Alliston or beyond.  There are plenty of reasons to find a smaller space, from the kids moving on to getting away from costly bills, but it isn’t as easy as it sounds.  What’s the best way to go about it?

Doing It for the Right Reasons

Repackaging your life is no small task.  Before you do, you should take a good look at your situation and make an informed decision.

The first thing you should analyze is your expenses.  You most likely have room you don’t need.  This means paying more in utilities to keep the heat inside and the elements outside.  Downsizing to a new home means a much more energy efficient space.

If the move feels right, start looking at homes objectively.  Don’t let attachment cloud your vision and make you jump into a new place because it looks great at first glance.  Condos the size of a shoebox are creatively branded as “cozy” and “secure”.

Get familiar with all the details of your prospects and know what you’re looking to gain and you’re well on your way to ‘smart-sizing’ to a better home.

Comfortable Fit

So, you’ve narrowed down a list of places that look interesting.  What should you look for?

The easy answer is:  Whatever fits your lifestyle.  Picture what you want your day-to-day to look like in your new place.  Some things that stand out as pluses include:

• Condo or house?  If you need more than two rooms, look for a small house.
• Perimeter:  Do you intend to mow a massive lawn?  Hire a gardener?  Shovel a long driveway?
• Location:  How far are you willing to go for groceries?  Is there a doctor nearby?  Do you want to be isolated or be in the thick of it?

You’re giving up space so you might as well gain some convenience.  Don’t forget to treat yourself; reduced property taxes, maintenance costs and mortgage mean you can start thinking about all the things that were out of reach before.

Getting down to It

Downsizing takes a fair bit more planning than moving in to a great big space.  You’ll have to jettison some of the clutter weighing you down and really think about what you’ll want for the new place.  A great way of doing this is to take a home inventory and mark what should make the trip and what should stay behind.

Do this a few months before moving day and you’ll have pace of mind.  Paying a visit to the new space and laying it out the way you want it also mitigates the chaos of moving and can give a lot of confidence.