Get A Home With Less Hassle

You’ll realise financial benefits.

You can unlock the money from your current home if you downsize to a smaller and less expensive property, however for many the actual money unlocked is modest as compromises on space and style are difficult to swallow.  On average downsizers release around £80,000. Reducing or eliminating your mortgage and cutting your utility and council tax bills all help fund a better retirement.

You can enjoy the newfound freedom

When you downsize your expenditure on your home is likely to decrease as well.  This gives you the freedom to live a little more.  It could mean you take up a new hobby, enjoy more travel or indulge in more cultural and entertainment adventures.

You can be debt-free

For many the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and get rid of old debts has a strong appeal, giving peace of mind and financial certainty.  Downsizing helps to release money from your old home that can be used to give you a fresh start, a certain budget and the ability to relax and enjoy life

You’ll reduce your time and money spent on your home’s upkeep.

Maintaining and keeping up your home and garden requires a sizable amount of time and money and this gets harder every year.   Downsizing to a new property, particularly an apartment reduces the time, money and effort in upkeep and maintenance.  Give yourself to enjoy life and not spend it on maintenance chores.

You’ll enjoy the right size space

A home that has the right size rooms to accommodate those living there and guest when they pop around to say hello will feel, cosy, warm and homely.  You can create and intimate environment and a warm and inviting atmosphere.

You can be part of a community

Many retirees who downsize choose a retirement living apartment because of the sense of community and belonging that this can bring.  Retirement Living provides communal spaces to socialising, chat with a neighbour and join in with activities as and when you choose to.  Retirement living helps combat loneliness and isolation and for many couples and singles is ideal.

You’ll have fewer spaces for entertaining.

Of course a smaller home means you may no longer be able to host large family gatherings — at least not in the way you might be used to — because of your smaller entertaining space. If you have traditionally had children, grandchildren and extended relatives stay in your home for the it could represent a significant loss for you, as your plans must adjust

You’ll find your smaller home may feel cramped.

While smaller spaces can feel cosy, they can also feel cramped. This is particularly the case if you’re accustomed to a much larger home.  One thing you can do to help ease the adjustment is to look for a home offering higher ceilings. Additionally, invest in a smaller home equipped with abundant windows that allow natural light to flow into the home, making smaller spaces appear bigger.

You’ll need to adjust your lifestyle.

Looking after and living in a large home is a lifestyle in itself. Moving to a smaller home forces you to adjust how you live. You will need to consider the way you shop, maybe shopping more frequently;  your hobbies and the space you need for them; how you entertain and how you accommodate visitors.

You’ll have less storage space.

You may have been looking forward to having less space to clean and care for however the reality, though, can be very different. If you downsize you need to reduce furniture and other possessions to account for the loss of some of your space.  However, there are a multitude of clever storage solutions, not least the ability to store thousand of treasured photographs, movies and even more extensive music collections and books digitally freeing up a lot of valuable space.

You’ll have to keep an eye on the costs

Moving home can be expensive.  You need to carefully consider the costs and how they will erode any equity that you release through downsizing.  You should consider legal costs for the sale of your old home and the purchase of your new home; Estate Agents fees for selling your home; Removal costs and handy man costs for getting your new home set up; Stamp Duty costs and the cost of new furniture as you may need new items to fit in your new home.