Downsizing
According to professionals in the field, January and February are very busy months for selling and buying residential real estate. The reason is simple: people like to move in the spring so they start looking early in the year.
There comes a time in the lives of baby boomers when they consider downsizing to move to a smaller home, a condo unit or an apartment. It’s a time of life when children are grown and on their own so that continuing to live in a large home is no longer suitable to needs.
Having done it myself, I know that downsizing involves a lot of planning. While living in a smaller place will mean reduced costs such as energy, property taxes, etc., you have to make certain your new abode fills your current needs. That may mean ensuring that you are close to shopping and public transit.
While moving and downsizing is a lot of work, it can be cathartic. Like any other major life change, downsizing can be stressful , but with proper planning it can be very positive. The idea is to take your time so that it doesn’t become overwhelming.
We tend to accumulate so much over the years. As a friend of mine says, the more space you have, the more you fill that space. Downsizing means that you have to reduce years of accumulation. I found that the most time-consuming task was to sort through personal papers and photographs. It’s a good time to throw out papers that are no longer relevant and to clearly identify and file what must be kept. As to years of photographs, it’s the perfect time to have them transferred to a digital format so that children and grandchildren can enjoy them for years to come.
As to furniture and clothing, don’t simply toss them out. What “good stuff” the children don’t want can be sold through antique dealers or auction houses, while good quality clothing that no longer fits can be sold through consignment shops. And don’t discount putting items for sale on Internet sites. For the rest, charitable organizations always welcome donations.
After a move, it takes a bit of time to adjust to a new home, but don’t discount that downsizing is a positive life transition. Free from the demands of a larger house, you will enjoy a new sense of freedom. I know. I no longer have to worry about such things as arranging the mowing of the grass in summer or the shoveling of snow in winter so that I have more time to devote to many more pleasurable interests.
