Seniors Downsizing Secrets Make Moving Fun And Stress-Free

Transitioning to a new home is a significant step, especially for seniors. Downsizing may seem challenging, but it can also be a rewarding journey if done with planning and support. This guide will show how to make downsizing both fun and stress-free.

Understanding the Downsizing Journey

For many seniors, moving is not just about changing a location. It’s a journey that involves life changes, memories, and new beginnings. Recognizing the emotional aspect is crucial. Downsizing provides an opportunity to simplify life, focusing on what’s truly important, whether that’s more time for hobbies, travel, or being closer to family.

Why Downsizing Makes Sense

Less Maintenance: Smaller homes mean less cleaning and upkeep, allowing more time to enjoy leisure activities.
Financial Advantage: Reducing living space can lower utility bills and often result in a financially manageable lifestyle.
Better Fit for the Future: A smaller home with accessibility features can ensure comfort and safety as needs change.

Get your copy of the “Preparing to Downsize” guide

Preparing for the Move

Preparation is the secret to a smooth transition. Following a few steps can make this process comfortable and even enjoyable.

Step 1: Start with a Plan

Creating a plan is like drawing a map for the journey. Knowing what tasks are ahead and setting a timeline helps keep things on track. Consider writing down what needs to be done each week leading up to the move. Breaking it into small tasks makes it manageable and less overwhelming.

Step 2: Declutter and Decide

Decluttering is more than just getting rid of things. It’s about deciding what really matters. Walk through each room and make three piles: keep, donate, and discard.

Keep: Items that have value and are essential.
Donate: Things that others may find useful. Local charities can benefit from donations, and giving can feel rewarding.
Discard: Broken or unusable items that need to be thrown away.

Step 3: Involve Family and Friends

Getting help from family and friends can make the process faster and more enjoyable. It’s a chance to share stories behind cherished belongings, turning the task of sorting into a shared memory-making moment.

Step 4: Hire Professional Help

For those who find the task daunting, hiring professional downsizing services can provide expert help. These professionals can share personalized tips and offer practical support. They handle everything from packing to logistics, ensuring the move is seamless.

Searching for the Perfect Home

Finding a new home takes time and consideration. Here’s how to ensure the new place meets both present and future needs.

Step 1: List Priorities

Understanding what’s essential in a new home will guide the search. Consider factors like location, size, community features, and proximity to family or healthcare facilities.

Step 2: Explore Options

Tour various neighbourhoods and communities to explore different possibilities. Pay attention to the community atmosphere, noise levels, and proximity to amenities. Whether it’s a vibrant area or a quiet community, the feel of the place should fit personal lifestyle desires.

Step 3: Consider Accessibility

Look for homes with features that support aging in place. This might include single-story layouts, walk-in showers, or wheelchair-friendly entrances. Such features ensure safety and ease in daily life.

Making the Move

With a home selected and a plan in place, it’s time for the actual move.

Step 1: Schedule Wisely

Selecting the perfect time to move can make a big difference. Avoid busy seasons, and pick a date with mild weather, if possible, to ensure comfort during the move.

Step 2: Pack Smart

Packing is easier with an organized approach. Label boxes clearly with their contents and room location in the new home. Consider packing an essentials box with items that will be needed immediately upon arrival, such as clothes, medications, and basic kitchen supplies.

Step 3: Hire a Trusted Moving Company

Choose a moving company with experience in handling senior moves. They should be patient and understanding, helping relieve stress during the process. Ensure they have a track record of reliability and care.

Settling Into Your New Home

Once the move is complete, it’s time to settle in and make the new house feel like a home.

Step 1: Settle Strategically

Begin by setting up essential areas like the bedroom and kitchen. Familiar items can provide comfort during the initial days.

Step 2: Meet the Neighbors

A friendly chat with new neighbours can help create a sense of community and belonging. Neighbours can offer advice on local services and activities.

Step 3: Personalize Your Space

Hang favourite photos and arrange furniture in a way that feels inviting. Personal touches turn a house into a home, offering a sense of familiarity and comfort.

Embracing the New Chapter

Downsizing is more than moving—it’s about embracing a new chapter in life. It’s a chance to focus on enjoying newfound freedom, spending quality time with family, and engaging in hobbies and interests.

By approaching the process with positivity and preparation, seniors can transform the challenge of downsizing into an exciting opportunity for renewal and growth. Whether moving to Halifax or any other vibrant community, the key is to enjoy every step of this journey.

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9 Ways To Make The Bathroom Safer For Aging In Place

Falls in a home can result in minor injuries or may even become fatal, but a fall in the bathroom is a commonplace where people can get hurt. Take the necessary steps to increase bathroom safety for seniors who want to live independent lives. A few simple and inexpensive changes to your bathroom can decrease your chances of injury and make it a safer place. It’s also advisable to bring your cell phone or emergency alert gadget to the bathroom with you in case you fall and require immediate assistance.

Some medical conditions like diabetes make your skin less sensitive to water temperatures so ensure you turn the cold water on first and off last when having a shower and be sure to check the water temperature in a bath before climbing in. Do not grab onto the tap when entering the tub but hold onto a grab bar for better balance. Some seniors find it difficult to get into and out of the tub without assistance so it will become necessary to follow the tips listed below to prevent serious or fatal falls.

Improve Bathroom lighting

Place a nightlight outside and inside the bathroom to keep it well lit. Poor visibility due to inadequate lighting can also increase the risk of a fall so ensure the bathroom is well lit and the path from the bathroom to the bedroom has adequate lighting.

Non-slip-mats and bath mats

Use a non-slip mat that has a rubber back in your tub to prevent slipping. Rinse off your bath mat regularly as soap buildup will prevent it from securing snugly to the tub. Add a nonslip rug or mat on the floor in front of the tub, toilet, and sink to minimize the risk of falling on a slippery wet floor. Ensure your bathroom floor is free and clear of towels, face cloths and clothing, and other items to prevent tripping.

Install a Shower caddy

Install a shower caddy for holding toiletry items that can be accessed without stretching or bending. Install it at arm’s height so it’s easier to grab shampoos and soaps. Wall-mounted shower caddies are easy to refill and you don’t have to worry about shampoo bottles or soap falling out of your hands and into the bathtub or shower.

Install Grab bars

A wet slippery surface can be a hazard in your bathroom, so install grab bars in the shower, by the toilet, and other places in your bathroom but make sure they are installed properly and do not pull away from the wall when force is applied. A properly installed grab bar is essential for seniors who have difficulty getting into and out of a bathtub and provide assistance for better balance. Grabbing onto a towel rack for balance is not advisable and is not designed to support your full weight and could come to loose from the wall resulting in a fall.

Shower chair – transfer bench or walk-in tub

A shower chair or bench provides a place to sit and rest while showering as some seniors have difficulty standing and staying balanced. Purchase a chair with rubber tips on the legs to prevent slipping and sliding in the tub.

Raised toilet seat or install a taller toilet

A taller toilet with a grab bar nearby anchored to the wall will give a senior something to hold onto while raising and lowering themselves onto the toilet. Traditional toilets may be too low for a senior who has problems getting up and down. Also, a raised toilet seat provides better access by a few inches and provides assistance for getting up and down. Again ensure a grab bar is handy to reduce falls.

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Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here

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When you list your home for sale, don’t overlook the importance of your exterior landscaping as a tool for increasing the volume of potential buyers and selling your home more quickly. In real estate, while you can’t always “tell a book by its cover,” having a home with curb appeal is more likely to get people to request an appointment after seeing it on a website or from a drive-by. A home that looks neat and inviting from the outside is likely to be the same way inside.

Landscaping Upgrades That Add Resale Value

Just as with other upgrades you do to your home before sale, you should not go crazy with exterior landscaping or add features with questionable resale value, such as a pool, water feature, or a large garden. You want to present property that is well-maintained and attractive, while not seeming overly difficult to maintain. As a result, planting some colorful flowers, adding a hanging basket to the porch, upgrading the exterior doors, refurbishing an existing deck or adding a new one, and playing an attractive stone walkway may be well worth the money in resale value and speed of sale.

According to Carson Arthur, landscaping designer, often seen on TV home shows, great landscaping can increase a home’s value by 7%, which amounts to $42,000 on the $600,000 home. Patios may add a 12% return, while decks, especially low to no maintenance types, have a 10% to 15% rate of return. An awning, pergola, or even a tree that offer backyard shade might increase your home value by $2,000-$3,000 each. In general, adding trees, a bench in your front yard, a stone walkway or driveway, and attractive plantings are among the key upgrades that pay off.

“Preparing to Downsize” please click here

Managing Exterior Landscaping

If you are selling your home because you are no longer able to keep it up as you like, the whole concept of exterior landscaping may be overwhelming. Given the extra value that great landscaping can add to your home, hiring someone to do the work will be well worth your investment. If you are up to it, putting some effort into the outside of your home can be the perfect closure for transitioning to a new place.

Any home will benefit from neatly trimmed lawns, gardens, and shrubs, along with a patch of color. If you don’t have much to spend on updating a moderately priced home, hiring a neighborhood kid to clean up the area, cut your grass, and plant some flowers might offer the boost you need. If you have a higher-end home where you are hoping to extract maximum value, or if your landscaping is outdated and out of shape, you should go to the next level of hiring a landscape designer or landscape architect to plan out your improvements. A professional will be able to suggest the proper plantings and upgrades and even do them in an eco-friendly way that appeals to many modern buyers.

Ask Me About Curb Appeal

If you are ready to sell your home and wonder whether your property needs more curb appeal, give me a call for an honest assessment as to what you need to do before we list your home.

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Is Now the Best Time to Downsize Your Home and Right Size Your Retirement

Most likely your home is your biggest asset. It’s also your biggest expense. Unfortunately, when it comes to retirement planning, the family home is often last on the list of later in life changes.

There are many reasons for this delay

Emotionally it’s difficult to let go of a home filled with memories. Moving can be a big process. For these reasons, many retirees delay for years moving into a smaller house, condo or apartment.

“Preparing to Downsize” please click here

However, in many cases, the benefits of downsizing sooner rather than later can be significant. The financial benefits may seem small, but they can extend the life of your retirement savings.

Cost of staying in your home

You may have a hesitation to sell a mortgage-free house and move to an apartment with a monthly rent payment. However, with a home, many of the expenses are hidden.

It’s the ongoing maintenance such as roof, furnace, windows, grass cutting and landscaping, snow removal, etc. Not to mention the annual costs of heat, electricity, and taxes on a large older home. These costs add up to a substantial amount.

Selling your home will eliminate any mortgage or other debt, reducing monthly expenses. Add in the income you will earn from investing the equity of your home and the savings from no home maintenance. Compare that to the monthly rental payment of an apartment.

Trading the variable and hidden costs of homeownership for the visible cost of a condo or apartment can help with planning and budgeting. You know what your fixed costs will be.

Let’s do some math

Even without a mortgage, housing often accounts for 30% of retirement expenses. You sell your $300,000 home and move to an apartment that rents for $1500 per month. This allows 10% of the selling price to cover all moving-related expenses. This leaves $270,000 to be invested.

That $270,000 could produce an additional $16,200 of income per year. On top of that, the savings from lower housing expenses could easily be $3000 per year. A total of $19,200 additional income to pay $18,000 in total annual rent.

Besides the financial benefits, this is simply the practicality. Many people fail to consider how the aging process makes it harder to move. The process is exhausting at a young age. It’s much more daunting for retirees.

As we age, illness or death can unexpectedly force a move upon you. Situations like this create stress and havoc for the entire family. In many cases, the bulk of the responsibility falls upon the children.

Making the move before one spouse dies can help prevent the surviving spouse or your adult children from having to empty and sell a big house.

Having A Mortgage In Retirement Can Cramp Your Style

At 65, will you still have a mortgage hanging over your head? Are you a Boomer over 50 who will still be making mortgage payments once you reach normal retirement age? If so, you’ll be like 35% of other senior homeowners, according to the Canadian Association Of Accredited Mortgage Professionals. As a senior, a mortgage obligation can take money away from the resources you need to carry you through the remainder of your life. Unless you are willing to cut expenses, you could be in trouble.

Why Seniors May Still Have Mortgages

With the 25-year mortgage common, you might be in that situation if you took out a mortgage past the age of 40. You may have become a homeowner later in life, but many seniors are still paying mortgages because they refinanced their homes at an earlier time to pay for a wedding or a loan to their kids for a down payment or some other purpose. Your thinking might have been that the kids would inherit the money anyway, so they might as well have it when they need it.

The Trade-off For Having A Mortgage In Retirement

This generosity makes some sense, but the great risk is that it will tap into monies that seniors need to live on. With people living longer, the average senior will need to keep working into retirement, cut expenses, and not take on a new debt areas to make it. In contrast, according to Jeffrey Schwartz, executive director of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, Inc., many seniors are not changing their spending habits to match their coming reality. Seniors are both adding new debt and taking on new mortgages which could put them in trouble if interest rates rise and the payments follow. “It could send them into a tailspin,” says Schwartz.

How Do Your Finances Line Up?

During your retirement years, what does your financial picture look like? If you are thinking of taking out a new mortgage or even if you find yourself holding a mortgage or considerable debt, you need to ask yourself some hard questions:

How far into your retirement does or will your mortgage extend?
How far into retirement are you planning to work?
How much debt do you have and how do you plan to extinguish it?
Are you making it every month or feeling squeezed?
Are you prepared to cut your spending so you can both pay off your debt and save for the future?
Do you have any other assets you could extinguish to reduce your debt or monthly living expenses?
Whether you are paying house or only it out right, can you still afford the extra expenses associated with homeownership, such as taxes, landscaping, repair, and maintenance?

The answers to these questions might influence your housing plans in your retirement years. Your concern should be to have the resources to hold you through the rest of your life.

Call Me For Expert Senior Housing Services

Looking to sell your home? Give me a call today. When you are buying or selling a home, don’t waste time. Give me a call for experience, market knowledge, correct pricing, and a sincere interest in helping you fulfill your real estate goals. If you are ready to sell your home for maximum value, the best place to start is by clicking here and scheduling an appointment.

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Over time our housing needs change. The kids leave to get married and start their own families and your housing needs changes. My senior clients decide to sell and move to something smaller. This process Is called downsizing. Not just getting something smaller but finding a new place more suitable. More accurately called Rightsizing.

Common questions I am asked by my clients are “When do I downsize and sell my home?” These are really two questions rolled into one. The first question “what time of year is best to sell” and the second “based on our situation, when is the time for me/us to sell”.

The first question has a very simple answer. Whenever you want to sell can is the best time. There are certain times of the year that have unique advantages. January to March period are good because there are fewer homes listed for sale means you have less competition.

The selling market in the Spring / Summer market (April to July) usually the busiest market and when the most buyers are actively looking. Spring and Summer are also when most homes are for sale and you have the most competition. The Fall market (September to November) usually the second busiest market of the year.

The second question is difficult to answer because situations are different for everyone. To decide for yourself when you to make a move, ask yourself these questions.

How much longer can I realistically stay?

If you are in the mid-60s, in good health, still able to mow lawns & shovel snow, and enjoy gardening, staying for 5-10 years or longer possibly makes sense. But if you are in the ’80s, experiencing health issues, unable to maintain the property, and rarely able to leave your home, make the move.

What are the advantages of staying?

Emotionally it’s hard to leave your home, but look at it objectively and make a list of the advantages of staying. People stay to maintain their independence. However, selling your home and moving to accommodations more suitable to your current needs could increase your independence. You may end up closer to necessary amenities and family.

What are the financial benefits of rightsizing?

The vast majority of my clients and seniors, in general, prefer to move to a rented apartment to enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle. This frees up the equity in the home for investing to produce an income. If you netted $300,000 from the sale and invested it at 3% it would produce $9,000 in annual income.

Eliminating expenses like property tax and maintenance you could free up another $5,000-10,000 (or more) per year. Let’s say an average of $7,500. Add that to the $9,000 and it gives you $16,500 to put towards the cost of the rent. And of course, the original principal stays intact and untouched.