Downsizing Experiences

[Burnthurst187]

Hi,

In the very near future my DP, DD (16 mths) and I are hoping to downsize to a nearby town. Downsize because the town is more expensive than the city we live in and it's the only way we can afford it

Currently in a three bed semi with driveway, garage and small front and rear gardens as it's the end house. Looking for a two bed with driveway, ideally a garage and room to extend in the future if required/needed/money allows

We aren't having another child so a two bed shouldn't be a problem

My question is to people who have downsized, ideally from a three bed to a two bed but I'd still like to hear from others. Has it worked out for you? Was it a mistake? Why did you downsize? Is there anything I'm not taking into account?

TIA

We downsized from 5 bed family home to large 1500 sq feet flat. Got rid of a load of rubbish before doing this. Good storage is the key. We are having more built and have not yet unpacked all our stuff as we don't have cupboards to store it. Apart from that we gained a lot of money (different in your case) so I'm about to have my dream kitchen installed.

The kids had left home so we downsized from large 4-bedroom, 3 recep semi to detached 3-bedroom, 3 recep (smaller rooms) in order to clear our mortgage completely, and now live mortgage-free instead of getting deeper in debt each month. We miss the space as we are mad collectors of junk and love books. The first thing we bought was 3 large sheds! Now planning an extension with my inheritance - up-sizing is better than moving, as we love it here.

We got rid of one-third of our stuff before moving - wise decision!

Yep, from what I've read here and after a bit of googling it seems that if you're going to downsize you need to have a big clear out first and probably be fairly ruthless

My parents downsized from a massive 5 bed to a 3.5 bed and for them the biggest concern wasn’t total space but social living - so they could be near friends and have the entertaining space needed for them / family / grandkids. They ended up buying a place that while smaller actually feels bigger on the ground floor because it does away with ‘wasted space’ like corridors / hallways / recesses cupboards etc.

Went from 7 bedrooms and 4 floors with dodgy basement to a 4 bed semi...still took most stuff with us as not hoarders etc..but have since cleared stuff as like space.. don't miss all the stairs and was freezing cold as no Ch..now warmer and cheaper to run !