It has been a lot of packing, selling, and donating. Top Tips & Further Questions Watch the Workshop here: RELATED BLOG THE 4-STEP DOWNSIZING ROAD MAP ABOUT BELINDA Belinda Woolrych, author of Rightsize Your Home: The Empty Nester's Guide to a Stress-Free Downsize, contributes every fortnight Tuesday at 4PM to the community by her Rightsize Your Home Online Workshop. If you've ever waited until the last minute to start packing before a move, then you understand the stress that can sink in when the moving trucks arrive. Let us know about your sticky possessions or other downsizing tips. And in condos or apartment buildings, you might not have that . 8. Research shows that over two-thirds of Sydneysiders want to age in a familiar place. Hale's last rule of downsizing keeps things smooth when it comes time to unpack: Create an "open first box . People tend to acquire more and more things as the years go on and once you see everything piled up, having to deal with it all can be very overwhelming for homeowners. If your move to downsize also involves a major lifestyle change, such as becoming an empty nester or moving into an active adult community, considering your new lifestyle will help you make hard decisions. Closet-Hanger Method: Face all closet hanger hooks away from you. However, if you are eliminating the costs that come with a larger home, you may be in a great position to be more selective with your next living space. 1. For me, it is so much more than this. An Idaho Hard Money Loan Makes Financing Simple. Define your reason to downsize your kitchen. Now is the time to get rid of excess baggage (literally!) Calculate your current mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance and other costs, and lay them out alongside those of your potential destination. Step #6: Digitize Important Paperwork and Keepsakes. It all starts with that word: downsizing. Tags: retirement . In the past fourteen months time we have gone from a 3,500 sq ft home to a 1,100 sq ft rental apartment and in ten days we move into our new 1,800 sq ft condo. To give you an . Retirement. This list should include downsizing your home. Use an Over-The-Sink cutting board to get extra counter space. Downsizing your home is a great way to lower monthly housing expenses because typically, a smaller home means smaller monthly housing expenses. All the music and movies you want are on the internet now or can be stored on a hard drive. Changing your location that may come with downsizing your home can be a tough decision. 7. While downsizing, that unresolved conflict can resurface. Moving is never a simple proposition. Downsize your home office by going paperless. Take stock of items. You may be able to save money by reducing or eliminating mortgage payments, enabling you to pay off credit cards and other debt, or possibly retire sooner. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Also, there will be numerous tasks waiting for you after the move is complete. Create an 'open first box'. At 4.5% interest, you could pay off a $200,000 mortgage in less than 10.5 years, saving more than $25,000 in the process. downsizing your home is hard Posted on by For example, that onesie your 11-year-old used to wear as an infant can go to your niece or nephew to keep it in the family and continue providing use. Choose your favorites and downsize the rest. Create an 'open first box'. and pare down to the essentials. Someday, you may take up exercising, but the treadmill /Stairmaster/Bowflex has been gathering dust for some time. In 1974, it was 1,560 square feet. In fact, when asked about their primary reasons for downsizing, 36% of baby boomers, 18% of Gen Xers, and 19% of millennials said they did so because their previous homes were too difficult to maintain. Changing your location that may come with downsizing your home can be a tough decision. This phase involves getting rid of the most "valuable" or meaningful items you own, mainly, the family heirlooms. Downsizing your home forces you to remove baggage. Storage for 2 months. But if you've lived in your home for many years, and/or if you live in an expensive real estate market and expect to make more than that, you'll want to factor in the taxes you'll have to pay. Let's imagine you can get $100,000 more for your home today, only you downsize to a smaller space listed for $300,000. For example, if you sell your home, and move to an active lifestyle community with an indoor and outdoor pool, pickleball courts, and an art studio . This means that they will not sell their property because it is normally hard to find a place to move to in their neighbourhoods. Published December 2, 2021 | Category: what does the name lotte mean . Downsize your home office by going paperless. Having to do it quickly is quite stressful and very emotional. Here are 7 tips to make downsizing to a smaller home easier and more manageable: Give Yourself Plenty of Time . What are the three types of downsizing strategies? You might also consider uploading pictures and files into a data center like the Cloud or a Google drive. Stuff you'd planned to use in the future. 1. If you're still sentimental about the home you raised your family in, or you expect to have company at your house often, then . Whether you choose to stay in your home or move . Declutter 90 Days Before the Move In the month leading up to your move, it's too late to do a proper job of decluttering and removing everything not coming with you. Before you begin the home buying and selling process, be sure to calculate how much house you can afford on a fixed income. Choose your favorites and downsize the rest. Eliminate the maybe pile and make the hard decisions right away. Moving to a smaller space can be both inherently stressful and sad, but the trick . It is a very personal experience, often likened to a journey of self-discovery. It helps us to simplify our life on a fundamental level. downsizing your home is hard. Souvenirs and mementos. The lack of time is amplified when you're downsizing to a smaller home because you have to take decluttering into account. Consider making more than one to-do list so you are prepared for the moving day. Mary is 67, owns her home, and is considering downsizing. Since her children no longer live with her, it's more than enough space, she says. And while this may be the reason that some people purchase bigger homes, I think just the opposite should be true. Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of choosing to downsize as well as the reasons for driving the action. When you move into a smaller living space, you will be introduced to certain changes in your lifestyle, and . 3. Start three months in advance, and aim to finish before the last month in your old home. With this, you are probably thinking about the benefits of downsizing your home now. For example, if you are moving into a community where some of your daily meals will be provided, downsize . Eliminate the maybe pile and make the hard decisions right away. Start as soon as possible. "Whenever anything is 'down,' there's a negative connotation," says John Hall, president of Caring Transitions of Chester County, a company that specializes in relocating seniors. The process of downsizing from a house to an apartment will give you the unique chance to turn the page and start writing a brand new chapter in your life. Spending more time at home offers a good opportunity to sort and organize your current living space, as well as research and mentally prepare. There is no maybe in downsizing. 9. Take Inventory of Your Belongings When you're downsizing to a smaller home, you naturally won't have as much space for all the items you've accumulated throughout the years. Step 1: Overcoming Emotional Barriers to Downsizing. Also, beware of costly add-ons that could boost the price of your new home beyond the estimates. Understanding the triggers for these feelings and using strategies to navigate them . Downsizing to a smaller home that costs less and requires less maintenance frees up funds and time for other things. Cha-ching! Today, the Census Bureau reports that the average size for a new home stands at 2,457 square feet. How to Downsize: Frame Decisions as 'Yes' or 'No'. This is one of the most common reasons people look into downsizing. Steps 1 Assess your actual needs. It helps to start planning your furniture and other large items first. Downsizing could bring great benefits to you, your family, and your finances. The mental obstacles of downsizing. Before downsizing, ask yourself if you really want a smaller home. However, if you are eliminating the costs that come with a larger home, you may be in a great position to be more selective with your next living space. Here are a few things to consider to keep your emotions at bay, and stay focused on your goals: Reduce costs - A smaller home can mean less maintenance, lower heating/cooling bills, and lower insurance premiums. This multi-purpose approach is the way to go, if at all possible. Downsizing has little to do with the money. After a lifetime of accumulating "stuff," downsizing allows us to create mental space. This might affect your proximity to work and friends. Focus on what you'll gain rather than what you're losing. 10. Be Realistic The first downsizing tip is that this process would be much easier to handle over a longer period of time than it is over a short period of time. With the $507 you saved from downsizing every month, you can . Realtor's commission - The fee you'll have to pay your Realtor is typically 4 percent to 6 percent of the sale price. The decision to downsize your home can be difficult to makeand following through can be even tougher, even when you know it's the best move . 2. As we age, most older adults will consider the option of downsizing or moving to a smaller space. Downsizing moving to a smaller home that cannot possibly accommodate all of your current possessions adds an additional complexity to the . But, the move would eliminate their mortgage, saving around $11,500 each year. This way, you'll make a profit through downsizing, then afford to either pay in cash or provide a larger down payment. Our 5-Step Photo Downsizing Plan. August 12, 2018 by Linda Holt 44 Comments. It is true what everyone says, once it's gone you really don't miss it but it's hard to let it go none the less. Apply the $500 you saved from downsizing to your new monthly payment. With a longer period of time, you can help diffuse the onslaught of the concentrated stress and emotions. Focus On One Room At A Time The thought of decluttering or organizing your whole home might be daunting, so remember to take it one step at a time. No matter the reason, preparing to downsize your home involves many moving parts that require planning, coordination, decision-making, and motivation. For the most part, the average home's square footage has increased by 30 to 60 square feet every year. About the Author: The above Real Estate information on how to know it's time to downsize your home was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Your Home. The latest average cost to live as a family is $7000 a month in America, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Step #6: Digitize Important Paperwork and Keepsakes. 3. The rest I get from the library or read on a tablet. Step #1: Stop Saying the D Word. Take stock of the things that are actually important to you, and the things that you could live without, or could actually replace or downsize along with your living space. Moving into a smaller home forces you to intentionally pare down your belongings. "Identify it and understand it.". Clothing. Here's how you can tell if it's likely to pay off. Hale's last rule of downsizing keeps things smooth when it comes time to unpack: Create an "open first box . It all starts with shifting our focus away from . 9. You might also consider uploading pictures and files into a data center like the Cloud or a Google drive. The reason may be finances, health issues, or a desire to simplify your lifestyle. Sixty-four percent of seniors say they plan to stay in their current homes. Downsize. Less upkeep: Smaller yards have less to mow, rake, water, or mulch. 3. It would also hypothetically reduce their housing-related expenses by about $7,000 a year, thanks to decreased taxes, maintenance, and utilities. If you can't pay cash, aim for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage and put at least 10-20% down on your new home. That "detoxifies" the feeling, he says. That includes $3,250 a year just from reducing property tax burden and the costs of insurance, maintenance, and . You may be able to work fewer hours and still pay off your mortgage faster. 4. Set a goal. According to a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors, downsizing was one of the top reasons individuals between the ages of 54 and 63 decide to move. Scan important documents into your computer and save them in folders on your desktop or on a separate hard drive. Or maybe moving to a new home would mean admitting that you've reached a certain age. 7. Once you sell your current home, you can use the proceeds towards a smaller home in a less expensive area. So rip them and make some space . Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 34+ Years. But making the transition can bring a host of emotions: sadness, grief, stress, or anxiety. The first $250,000 (if you're a single filer) or $500,000 (married filing jointly) of profit you make on your house is exempt from capital gains taxes. She says her smaller house is "more cozy" and involves less responsibility. But for many, getting the ball rolling on a move to a smaller space is easier said than done, especially because of all the things that can't come with you. You might be considering taking this step for a variety of reasons - it could be to boost your finances, reduce your expenses, help you pay for care, or to move into a more suitable home or a better location. It's an exercise in saving both money and time. Downsizing from a $250,000 house to one that costs $150,000 could increase yearly income by $3,000 and reduce annual expenses by $3,250, saving $6,250 a year, Boston College's Center for Retirement Research found in 2014. Maybe you need to take a nap every once in a while without feeling guilty about the things you aren't doing while you do take said nap. Downsizing to a smaller home means less upkeep, lower bills and more time to do the things you love. Downsizing your home isn't that hard when you have enough time to organize . Put simply, downsizing is the process of moving into a smaller property. After 6 months, donate any clothes that are still facing away. Here are the most popular reasons for downsizing your home: Combating debt Turbo-charging your retirement fund Paying off your mortgage instantly Saving money after retirement Reducing home upkeep and maintenance 2) Ignoring hidden costs That maybe pile is probably going to follow you to your new, smaller place. There are countless tasks that must be checked off the to-do list and sometimes-complex logistics that must be coordinated. Ideally, you'll make . CDs and DVDs. Closing costs - Depending on the real estate market you live in, you . Downsizing from a large home to a smaller one is a fact of life for many older adults. downsizing your home is hard. 10. She wants to buy a small apartment for $500,000 and have $300,000 left to invest. Downsizing and letting go of family memorabilia. CDs and DVDs. Once you wear an item, turn the hanger hook toward you. But to cash in on those benefits, you'll first have to overcome your emotions. Here are some sure fire signs that it may be time for you to downsize: 1. How to downsize your home with ease? This one's a no-brainer. That maybe pile is probably going to follow you to your new, smaller place. A few excellent tips for downsizing to a smaller house include: adding shelves inside the closet, keeping organized storage containers under your bed, and upgrading open shelf room dividers to closed cabinets that can double as additional storage. Step 1: Review all photos (10,000+ estimation), and remove from the current photo albums and frames. Twitter: @PhilMoeller. Greg Gunderson, president and owner of Gentle Transitions, offers this advice to downsizers. According to a study conducted by Productivity Commission, around 20% of people over . Downsizing a house in Carson City can feel frustrating, sad, and burdensome, especially if you have been in the home for a long time. Frame the decision as a need versus a want, if that helps. It may be that normally, that smaller home would only sell for $250,000. Emotional Reasons That Prevent Downsizing. 7 Most Effective Downsizing and Decluttering Tips 1. Step 2: Discard those of poor quality (there were many of these and we guess we kept them because we had paid for them in the many rolls of film that we took.long live digital cameras, that is all I can say .