The bigger your house, the more money you will waste on it.
Most people have a sentimental attachment to their home. It’s where many of their life’s most significant memories have taken place.
But at what point does practicality outweigh sentimentality?
It could be time to downsize your living situation. Maybe you aren’t sure yet. Luckily, there are a bunch of key signs to look for when mulling over this big decision.
This doesn’t have to be a depressing issue to face. Downsizing your home can bring you a new lease on your life. With a smaller house comes less responsibility and more money saved!
There will come a time when buying a smaller house will make sense. But when is that time? We look at 10 sure signs that it’s the right time to downsize.
1. Your Health Is Deteriorating
As you age, it will become harder and harder to move around your home. Especially if you have a multi-level place. Getting up and down stairs is not only difficult: it can also be dangerous!
A small, one level home is a sensible living situation for a person with deteriorating health. If you want to still live on your own, a smaller home will let you continue to have your freedom.
2. You Can’t Afford It Anymore
Some choices are made for you. If you can no longer keep up with the financial demands of your big house, you have to move.
If you’ve just retired, don’t waste all your pension. Downgrading to a smaller home will help that money last longer into your later life.
A smaller home makes your golden years that much more golden.
3. The Nest Is Empty
You probably bought a big house so you and your partner could fill it with kids. The house served its purpose for 18 wonderful years. But now all your kids have gone to college.
All of a sudden there’s a couple of unused bedrooms. Now that it’s just you and your spouse, you don’t need all that room anymore. Downsize to a smaller house that still has a comfortable room for the kids when they visit.
4. The Bills Are Too High
As you know, it takes a lot of money to maintain a large house. The more rooms you have, the more area you have to heat in the winter or cool in the summer. Your electricity bill is also inflated from having to keep the big, old place lit.
Cutting down on space will also severely cut down on your bills. Why pay for services that you don’t need?
5. Too Much to Clean
Along with inflated utility bills, another hazard of too much space is too much to clean. Even if rooms go unused, dust will pile up and dirty the rest of your home. You don’t have the time and energy to keep up with these cleaning demands.
You can hire a cleaning person to take care of these spaces, but that adds to your monthly expenses. If you find yourself cleaning too many unused rooms, you need to downsize.
The smaller the home, the less to clean!
6. You Have Too Much Stuff
Believe it or, some people actually feel too cluttered in their big homes. After living with that much space for years, you’ve filled every corner with stuff.
Downsizing your home will force you to reorganize your life. You’ll be able to throw out or donate all the things you can’t fit in the smaller space.
It will be eye-opening to realize how much of that stuff you never needed in the first place!
7. You’ve Changed Your Taste
Once upon a time, the design of your home was exactly what you wanted. But now your tastes have matured.
Selling your home and getting a smaller one allows you to be pickier when it comes to design. You may have thought a sleek, modern home was out of your price range. But at the right size, you too can be hip!
8. Too Many Memories
You may not believe in ghosts, but some homes are still haunted by people you’ve lost. No, not actually spirits. These hauntings come from every inch of the home reminding you of the person you’ve lost.
Some people worry that after leaving their home they’ll also be leaving the person they lost. On the contrary, your loved ones would want you to be content without them. By downsizing, you can live a better life in their honor.
9. You Feel Like You’re Under House Arrest
For many of the reasons above, a big house might make you feel trapped. There’s so much upkeep that you’re never able to leave. You also have less money to actually go out and enjoy yourself.
Don’t let your home become a prison. Downsizing will give you the freedom you need to enjoy your life again. Sure you’ll miss your home, but you’ll be better off without it.
10. You Can Make Some Serious Bank
Perhaps the best reason to move out of your house is that it’s now worth a lot of money. Maybe your neighborhood has changed over time and all of sudden your property value has shot up.
You’ve given so much to your house. Isn’t it time it gives something back to you?
You never know when the real estate market will dip again. Take advantage of this seller’s market and sell, sell, sell! The profit you make off that sale will help you get a new, size appropriate home for yourself.
Is Buying a Smaller House Right for You?
There are many good reasons to want to do this. Buying a smaller house could really change your lifestyle for the better.
What are you waiting for? Make the most of the rest of your life! If you are ready to downsize, contact us and we’ll help you sell your home!
