Whatever reasons you’re considering downsizing — retiring, divorcing, dealing with the loss of a spouse, looking to simplify because of an empty nest or simply to take advantage of a hot housing market (where there’s limited supply, high demand and great prices) — the biggest challenge you may face is where to go. While many know exactly where to go, such as to a neighborhood near their children or grandchildren, to the nearest college town, to their favorite beach or mountain community, or to a vibrant city center near where they raised their children — others feel their have few options. Often a couple cannot agree to even move, much less agree on where they’ll move. Other times, they find they cannot afford their next move. And still others, they are afraid of the uncertainty of it all, so they stay put.
Many suburban downsizers are dismayed because they find the supply of smaller homes in desirable neighborhoods is extremely limited, and expensive! What many don’t consider is a staged process:
- Declutter the current house of stuff you don’t use that the kids don’t want
- Hire a Realtor and a staging expert to make it look incredibly appealing to potential buyers
- Put the big house on the market and start looking for interim rental housing in a vibrant community
- Assume you’ll move to a place half the size of your current one and get rid of large, outdated furniture
- Start visiting trendy neighborhoods, beach towns, quaint communities near your favorite beach or mountain
- Accept that it will be a gut-wrenchingly difficult process and keep your sense of grit and good humor intact
- Get excited about all the new people you’ll meet, expect a lighter and brighter countenance, and commit to do it
- Anticipate the relief associated with being done with one of the biggest challenges associated with mid-life