Downsizing Considerations

People downsize for a variety of reasons, from the “empty nest” syndrome to convenience or hardship. Here are a few things to consider as you contemplate moving to a smaller home.

“Before any move, focus on how you want to live. People don’t think enough about why they’re moving,” said Mary Jo Zeller, director at Gero Solutions, which manages moves for seniors. Increasing numbers of downsizers these days want to exchange the worry and expense of maintaining a large property, for the luxury of low maintenance and the opportunity for more leisure time.

But don’t forget Thanksgiving and the other holiday seasons; don’t go so small you can’t accommodate those lovely grandchildren you waited so long to enjoy.

Emotional ties to the family home is one of the main barriers to downsizing, but equally, deciding on where to move to ranks high on the list of considerations.

You have probably spent many years in your family home, you have made lifelong friends with your neighbors, your children’s friends have eaten diner at your house…these are the things that contribute to buying your retirement home near where your family home was. Close enough for the kids to visit their old friends when they come home for a visit, and close enough for you to have some of your friends out for a visit.

Another thing to consider: is the area I am downsizing too “senior friendly” or just tolerant of seniors. Obviously the southern states, especially Florida, have won that debate. However, many areas in the North East have now shown up on the “Best Places to retire” lists, such as the North Fork. The North Fork doesn’t cater to the senior community exclusively, but they have been very progressive with programs and services for the aging seniors who reside here.

Another consideration high on the list is what style of property will best suit me. This can be a daunting prospect. Today the Ranch house with its’ single-story living has been the most popular design for most seniors, but the newer construction homes with two-stories are featuring “downstairs masters” as a great selling point.

During the downsizing process you may be surprised at how attached you have become to your possessions and how difficult it might seem to part with them. A good tip is to start getting rid of your items long before your move so donate, recycle, E-bay and give away some of those items you really don’t need anymore. This will make the move much easier and your smaller home less cluttered.

Distribute the memorabilia to your children as another way of building the bond of family across the generations.

Decorators recommend sketching floor plans for your new home to see where all your current furniture will fit. You shouldn’t wait until you move in to discover that there’s just no room for that armoire or extra stools. You may also find that this is the time to say good bye to Dad’s lounge chair and the family couch that got moved to the TV room.

For those already on the top of their property ladder, they will find that reversing course and heading down is not as difficult today. There are very attractive designs for new construction which takes advantage of our need for openness and entertaining, without extending the footprint of the home into the” Mac Mansion” size but still feeling big enough.

The right decision is different for each of us. Every one of the variables above has sub sets and tangents to make it even more difficult. I went through the process 10 years ago and ended out here. Close enough to get home or to Manhattan to see a show or visit a daughter, but far enough to experience an entirely different life style highlighted by the farms and water of the Bay and Sound.

Take a day, come check it out!

Find me at:

www.elliman.com/egiordano