• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Blog
  • Gallery
    • Before and After Downsizing
    • Well-Appointed Small Spaces
  • Share Your Story
  • Resource Directory
  • For Downsizing Professionals
  • Contact Us

Downsize Today

Inspiration, motivation and guidance to ensure a smooth move to a smaller home.

Condo 1 Ad
  • Who is Downsizing?
    • “Reinventors”
    • Empty Nesters Love Downsizing!
    • Those Going Through Life-Changing Events
      • Divorce
      • New Job
    • Baby Boomers Downsizing and Simplifying
    • Retirees
  • What Is Downsizing?
    • Decluttering and Organizing
    • Downsizing is Basically Moving to a Smaller Home
    • Downsizing=Rightsizing, and It’s So Good for So Many Reasons
  • When Is The Right Time?
    • Downsizing Hesitation May Lead to Regrets
    • Ready to Downsize? Answer These Questions.
  • Where Do Downsizers Go?
    • Top Places to Live
    • Renting and Exploring Options
    • Downsize, Relocate, Reinvent!
    • Active-Adult Communities for the 55+ Set
    • Downsizing and Staying Close to Home
    • Staying Put Because No One Wants Your Large Home
  • Why Are They Doing It?
    • “Why I Downsized” Stories
  • How Do I Start?
    • Charities Need Your Donated Items
    • Explore Where You Want to Go
    • Estate Sale Specialists
    • Moving Companies and Storage Facilities
    • Professional Organizers Are Decluttering Specialists
    • Realtors® Who Specialize in Downsizing

downsizing process

Have You Considered Downsizing?

December 5, 2017 By Patty Lundy Leave a Comment

Contact us for guidance, motivation and inspiration. We’ll help you start the process!

downsize and reinvent by moving to a new home
Lock-and-leave living is perfect for people who downsize and want to live simpler lives.

As people who’ve downsized describe to me the process they went through, many say they either considered or actually experienced the “rent for a while” option. The real estate market may be entering its typical end-of-year lull, but it’s expected to slide into high gear in early 2018. It will likely be a sellers’ market, which means that if you’re considering downsizing but don’t know where to move, and your house sells quickly, you may put undue pressure on yourself to find the perfect (or perfectly suitable) smaller new home.
Of course, some people know exactly where they want to move after downsizing and they find the perfect place near their kids and grand kids, to their favorite vacation spot, or to the mountains. But others are indecisive, emotionally attached to their “old way of life” (even if they hate yard work and worry about keeping the big place maintained), or overwhelmed with the idea of downsizing.
When the idea of downsizing sinks in and you’re committed to it, rest assured that it’s safe to put the big house on the market and start the process. There are Professional Organizers to help you, charities ready to take your items and haulers to deliver it, estate sale professionals to empty the house after you’ve moved into the rental (or stored what won’t fit but which you can’t separate yourself!), and apartment and condo rental managers happy to help you find a temporary — or permanent — home.

Condo or apartment rental can be a good option during downsizing process
Duplexes in suburban areas and cottage communities on the beach are often available for 6- or 12-month leases. It’s a hassle to move, but it can be a good “resting place” in between selling the big house and finding the next one.

The number of baby boomers who are choosing to rent more permanently has increased significantly; between 2009 and 2015, the number of renters in the 55+ age group increased by 28% compared to 3 percent growth in the number of renters in the under-35 group (according to census data analyzed by RENTCafe, the apartment search engine). The trend is expected to intensify as boomers seek fun, hip, urban lifestyles near where they raised their children, or near where their children have moved. Other boomers look for laid-back college towns or resort-style communities near the beach.
“A lot of people like the convenience and ease of renting,” according to Phillip Salem, an agent at Triplemint in New York. When they’re not competing for the same properties, millennials and boomers in many communities (my own included) are mixing and mingling. This is true especially with “younger” boomers (55-65) and “older” Millennials (early 30s).
The downsizing process is a big headache, sure, but it’s also a huge relief to know that once you make the decision to downsize from the big house in the suburbs where you raised your children (or if you’re forced to downsize because of divorce or a career change), there are many options for next steps.

Filed Under: "Lock and Leave" Living, Uncategorized Tagged With: downsizing process, renting during downsizing, renting is an option

Primary Sidebar

Simplify You logo - Learn More
Bethesda Downsize and Estate Auction Ad
Victoria At Home Ad 2
JK Moving Ad
Let's Move Logo

Downsizing Tips Newsletter

Enter your email to receive a monthly Downsizing Tips Newsletter!

Search this site

Recent Posts

  • Can We Please Put a More Positive Face on Downsizing?
  • Estate Planning? Consider a Trust
  • Be Kind To Your Kids
  • Downsize, Then Redesign Life
  • Have You Considered Downsizing?

Follow Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Footer

WHO

  • Empty Nesters Love Downsizing!
  • “Reinventors”
  • Baby Boomers Downsizing and Simplifying
  • Those Going Through Life-Changing Events
  • Retirees

WHAT

  • Decluttering and Organizing
  • Downsizing is Basically Moving to a Smaller Home
  • Downsizing=Rightsizing, and It’s So Good for So Many Reasons

WHEN

  • Downsizing Hesitation May Lead to Regrets
  • Ready to Downsize? Answer These Questions.

WHERE

  • Top Places to Live
  • Renting and Exploring Options
  • Downsize, Relocate, Reinvent!
  • Active-Adult Communities for the 55+ Set
  • Downsizing and Staying Close to Home
  • Staying Put Because No One Wants Your Large Home

WHY

  • “Why I Downsized” Stories

HOW

  • Professional Organizers Are Decluttering Specialists
  • Realtors® Who Specialize in Downsizing
  • Moving Companies and Storage Facilities
  • Explore Where You Want to Go
  • Charities Need Your Donated Items
  • Estate Sale Specialists
  • Before and After Downsizing
  • Well-Appointed Small Spaces
  • Before and After Downsizing
  • Well-Appointed Small Spaces

Copyright © 2022 · DownsizeToday