Successful Downsizing Tips

[pulpJarvis]

Not just yet, but at some point in the next few years we'll be retiring. Early 60s. We have a large family house, and it's too big now everyone left home. I'd like something smaller, easier to heat, with a spare room and room for DH and I to have a bit of separate space and a garden (I enjoy gardening). Got a healthy budget so that's not really the issue.

It's more what makes a succesful downsize?

We've talked about moving away and living somewhere new - we love the Lakes - but I think family caring responsibilities means that's a non starter and we'd be better off staying near family and friends.

I’d start decluttering now. It takes longer than you think. Ask adult children to sort through and sell/ donate or collect any of their belongings.
As you sort out box up and label anything you are keeping but won’t need for a while. Store in the garage or loft.

If you are staying local decide on an area and keep an eye on the market. Browse Right Move.
We downsized last year from a large detached to a small bungalow. We’ve renovated it completely but it was in really good condition.
The stand out features were the beautifully landscaped outdoor areas and extra sitting room.

I’d recommend local family firms for EAs if available. We sold via one and they went the extra mile.
The people we bought from sold via a different local family agent. We had viewed several properties with him and he knew us and our situation. He actually said “ you’ll buy this one” when we viewed our new home!

We downsized fairly recently. DC have left home and we moved area. My top tip is to declutter and radically reduce your stuff before you make the move. Even then you will probably need to get rid of more things once you’re in situ. If you have a large house that you’ve lived in for a while you will have accumulated far more than you need.

Also if you have family that live away make sure you still have room for them if you’d like them to visit in the future. We live in a smaller house that cost less than we sold our bigger house for but we still have enough bedrooms to house our visiting children and their spouses. All of our rooms are smaller than before so it’s much easier to keep on top of but DH and I still have space to do different things and not be on top of each other.

Our new house also has great storage so I’d be on the lookout for that (or buy somewhere where it would be easy to add storage) as it’s the key to keeping smaller spaces looking great.

Agree with both pps.
We are in the same situation as you.

Decluttering is taking a lot of time and energy. You don't realise how much stuff has been tidied away and is out of sight, out of mind.
I'd start by emptying the places you don't go into much - the loft, the shed, the garage, maybe the spare rooms.

Easy things are taking things round to your dc that they have left there. More difficult things are things with emotional attachments of course.

I've been browsing Rightmove for over a year, as I declutter - it is actually quite difficult to find places that fit our criteria, even though I started out thinking I was quite open minded. DH doesn't browse Rightmove or Zoopla, so every now and then I send him links to what I quite like at the moment as he needs to get his mind round what we will lose when we downsize, the same as I do.

In terms of 'where' - that is really personal. For us, we want to stay in the same area. Our dc live locally, we have a huge community of friends and acquaintances here, and we have good access to all facilities here, which includes hospitals and includes the ability to be able to get about when we can no longer drive.
In our 60s, I 'get' the idea of moving somewhere isolated picturesque but I think when you hit mid 70s it becomes less appealing.

There really is no better advice than to declutter and then do it again. If you have furniture in rooms you aren’t using, sell or get rid of it.

I agree that smaller local EAs are best. Ones with a few branches in the area. In our experience, they’re more motivated to get you moved. Avoid the national chains with no local experience and don’t go anywhere near the online EAs or conveyancers.

If you’re downsizing, it’s inevitable that rooms and spaces will be smaller, so decide where your compromises may be and what your non negotiables are.

Could try reading The Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, as there’s some practical tips for a downsizing transition. I found it useful more as recognizing or acknowledging a mindset shift for this stage of life rather than step-by-step processes.

Being environmentally friendly (donations, free stuff, responsible disposal) when downsizing your stuff takes a lot more time than one thinks.

You can also start thinking about your household paper records storage (not sure what to call it). I’m in the process of digitizing most of our family information (prescriptions, car titles, most of our photos, etc.) just so we don’t have to physically store it anymore.