How Seniors Can Make A Big Move Into A Smaller Home

Making a move is a serious decision, and it can be an overwhelming task even when you’re prepared. For many seniors who decide to downsize and move into a smaller home, the planning stage is the most important. Knowing what you want, what you don’t want, and how to find help when you need it can be invaluable, yet many seniors don’t have all the information before they make these key decisions about their future, and this can lead to stress, anxiety, and a lengthy, drawn-out buying process.

Here are a few tips on how to make the right decision for you and find the perfect place to live.

Make a plan

Having a plan is essential before you even put your house up for sale. Think about the type of residence you want; do you want to buy a home, or rent? Do you need something that doesn’t have stairs, or a smaller lawn that won’t require much upkeep? How easy will it be to find a home with the amenities you’re looking for if you or your spouse is confined to a wheelchair or uses a walker? It might be advantageous to consult a real estate agent who can help you find exactly what you need and narrow down the field to save you time. They can also help you find financial assistance, which is available to seniors in many states.

Downsize

It’s imperative to go through your belongings before you pack and pull aside items marked for “trash,” “keep,” or “donate”. It may be difficult to consider getting rid of some of your things, especially if you’ve lived in the same place for a long time and have accumulated a lot of memories, but remember that it will be a good thing in the end. You can get help from a friend or family member; in fact, it might be best to have family there if you want to pass down some of your belongings to them.

Also, keep in mind that things such as photo albums can be downsized if you scan the photos and upload them to a thumb drive, which can be used in a digital picture frame. This is a huge spacesaver and can also help with eliminating clutter around the house or freeing up shelf space.

Pack smart

If you’ve lived in the same place for a long time, it might be overwhelming to look at the rooms in your house and think about packing it all up. However, if you start in one area and pack smart, you can get it done quickly and efficiently. Prepare with lots of different-sized boxes and try to pack things from each area together, so they’ll be easy to find and put away in the new house. Make out a packing list to tape to the outside of the box; this will especially come in handy for kitchen items and necessities.

Ask for help

Moving is a big job, and getting it done will take some help. Enlist friends and able-bodied family members to help with the smaller things, and, if you have the extra cash, hire a moving company to help you get the heavy pieces to your new place. If you don’t have family members who live nearby, you might be able to ask your church or a nearby senior center for help.

Thanks to our Guest Author: Jim Vogel, for these excellent tips on how seniors can make a big move into a smaller home. Photo via Pixabay by Meditations