Will I regret downsizing so much?

[SpyouttheLand]

I have a large 4 bed detached house with a big garden. I've never loved it but it gave us lots of space when DC were young, which was a particularly godsend during lockdown when we had 3 adults wfh and one on furlough! I find the responsibility of owning and mainyaining a large home quite stressful. There's always something that needs doing and finding tradesmen etc is hard work!

Tbh I've often longed for a small but perfectly formed home just for me without all the people getting on my nerves. Be careful what you wish for because in the last 2 years I've gone from a houseful to just me. Last DC moves out on Monday.

I've seen a very expensive new build bungalow. It's about a mile from here but also a whole other world. Still on bus links and close ish to amenities but also quite rural, much nicer area and spot.

It will cost about the same as my house and is basically one large room with kitchen, living room, dining, bifold doors to a small but beautifully done garden with large patio, plus a nice bathroom and 2 good double bedrooms. Driveway for 2 cars but no garage.

It seems perfect for me, but I'm going to have to get rid of so much stuff, leave the place where DC grew up (and DH died). Also not much space if GC come along...

Go for it! Less maintenance, less cleaning, open-plan is fab if you live alone and if further down the line if you do want more space, then a small extension or 'garden room' could be built. You sound ready for a change, you're still young. They also say, we should downsize whilst we still can, before we 'need' to - its hard to declutter/thin out 'things' but your life will seem simpler and clearer after you have a ruthless and thorough declutter of everything. And speaking as someone who had an unbelievable amount of clearing out and decluttering to do after a relative's death, your children will, in the long run, thank you for doing this from the bottom of their hearts. I think it's the best inheritance you can give a child.

We downsized from a 4 double bed/ 2 bath Edwardian house to a 2 bed detached 1980's bungalow 15 years ago.

I loved my house, but we seemed to spend all our time, cleaning/ decorating/maintaining the house.

We updated by extending the principal bedroom and changed the bathroom to a wet room, ( I struggled to get in and out of the bath even before we moved) Added a sunroom and a utility room. Plus installed solar panels, and a heat pump system, it was important to future proof our home even down to door handles and taps!

It takes no time at all to maintain, we now have time for our hobbies, gardening is a joy not a chore, and best of all we travel, lots!

Do it, you won't regret it. Good luck with your decision.

It's not quite time for me yet, 2 out of 3 kids at home - but when they are established I will be moving out of this house, which I love but is far too big for just me ... I will chose a 2-3 bed in an area I love - and if I need more space for visitors I will put them up in an airBnB / hotel for the few days required ...

Do it !